What new engine, freight car, accessury or a set of passenger cars would you like to see built by the above mentioned manufactories.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
An affordable steam engine.JohnA
I would like for MTH to start making starter sets again. And if I can be picky, I’ll take a bloody nose Southern Pacific diesel set!
I would like Lionel to make gray rubber roadbed for their O Gauge track.
I would love to see Atlas give steam engines and steel industry rolling stock a shot. I think they could make some impressive stuff.
I think MTH and Lionel should expand their rolling stock eras. MTH has probably done a better job of this already but it seems to me like they make a lot of 1950s-modern rolling stock. I'm not an expert though so I could be wrong.
Menards should up their rolling stock game juuuuuust a bit. I mostly mean their trucks. But I also can't complain too much.
I'd like Menards to offer locomotives without their proprietary command control system for $ 40 - $ 50 less. And a caboose that is different from Lionel's.
I'd like Lionel to put a lead truck on the 0-8-0 to make a nice chunky 2-8-0. And a USRA tender. Put 6 wheel trucks under it and you'd have a Nickel Plate Road style tender for Berkshires.
I'd like Atlas to bring back the Industrial Rail Atlantic, with choice of knuckle, Marx tilt, or Gilbert link coupler. The Marx and Gilbert couplers would mean you'd have a modern locomotive for Marx (deluxe and 3/16") and prewar Flyer 3/16" trains.
The photo is an Atlas 4-4-2 with a prewar Flyer 3/16" O tender from a K5 Pacific. It'll pull 4 of the diecast Flyer cars.
Attachments
Images (1)
Lower prices and more robust engines which are not so prone to failure!
Single motorized units like RDCs, doodlebugs, articulated light rail, PCCs.
I'd like to see Lionel...um...er..well..uh...nevermind🙁
I'd like to see smoke units on Lionchief diesels, legacy 0-6-0 engine in US steel, and a fantasy prr Tuscan red. Lionel to use the purple paint from the Aberdeen in different colors for some fantasy paint schemes. Menards to offer containers in JB Hunt, and reissue the Schneider ones.
Since you asked...I would like to see Atlas bring back their train sets. They made them in 3-rail and 2-rail. I would also love to see any of the manufacturers offer PRR, PC, or Conrail ore jennies (G38/G39). I'm sure they would be very popular.
Dave
I'd love to see MTH make a bit more Rail King rolling stock than what they currently have been producing. I've long wanted to see an Erie Flat w/Trailer. Some new Double Door boxcars would be awesome too.
I'd love to see more 1:48 scale die cast autos from Menards (something outside of Mopar would be nice, but if Mopar, bring on the Muscle Cars!)
MTH PREMIER NP Z5 Yellowstone (or the more accurate model as made by 3rd Rail some years ago)..
Much more tinplate. Something large and spectacular...e.g. GN Z6 or NP Z8...along with matching Showroom passenger cars for each road name.
More Atlas intermodal. 53' spine cars, Trinity 40' well cars (5 car set), and JB Hunt containers. I'd also like to see modern reefer cars.
The former Weaver line poles from Atlas - as I understand it, they have the tooling.
@jim sutter posted:I would like Lionel to make gray rubber roadbed for their O Gauge track.
Well since they no longer make tinplate track I think this would have to fall to Menards.
How about EP-3 engine that operates on 0-36 track
I'd like them to make more B-B power from the 1980s that can navigate 36" curves for smaller layouts, such as an Atlas Master (or 3rd Rail/Sunset) EMD GP50, GE B23-7 or B30-7 (in 2-rail and Missouri Pacific). Atlas did the GP60 and U23B previously, so there's that.
I would like to see Menards manufacture a modern diesel without their proprietary command system which could easily be upgraded with either MTH or Lionel command system.
Marty
Modern plastic cars for the Lionel Auto Loader. . .Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, small SUV and pickup.
Lionchief Plus 2.0 Hudson with the Pacemaker fantasy colors like this https://www.lionel.com/product...0-pacemaker-2131560/
Ideally using the old Lionmaster Hudson tooling and details but I'd settle for the current LC+2.0 Hudson tooling.
A LC+2.0 671 Turbine using the PW tooling NOT the Bantam.
A Milwaukee Road 2-6-6-2 Mallet. Preferable with a coffin feedwater heater. I was hoping 3rd Rail would do this model but they don't seem to be pumping out the steamers as they have done in the past.
Lionel already has the 2-6-6-2 tooling. I think if they could tweak the tooling a bit they could make it work.
I would like to see MTH do a rs-1 in Penn Central in the white mating worms logo.
Enough already with the engines and rolling stock, the hobby is lacking in buildings, accessories and figures. How about a Ready-to-install hi-rail track system, catenary system, and remote-controlled vehicle system that's a step up from "Streets."
I would love to see Lionel bring back the Hobo Series of accessories.
Menards please add tubular 'S' Guage track and switches to their tinplate line.
Oh, boy.... A never to be honored wish list; the molds don't exist, and it is not from the high population area. Well, l still want a small two truck Heisler, (same in Shay and Climax would not be sneered at) the Little River 2-4-4-2, a variety of doodlebugs, but not one road specific ones, a D&SL Mike with coffin FWH, a version of Colorado Midland power, and it's side door cabooses, sorry, just the same old list, and Santa is gonna bring none of them
True Madison cars lettered for the Polar Express.
If you want a Polar Express your choices are
- Baby Madison cars with cheap plastic trucks that are too light.
- Full scale 18" cars.
- 48' streamliners; these are very rare.
@martind posted:I would like to see Menards manufacture a modern diesel without their proprietary command system which could easily be upgraded with either MTH or Lionel command system.
Marty
Could be an expensive proposition Marty with the high prices of the upgrade components plus labor for us who are not very mechanically inclined! Locomotives/engines from the major manufacturers also tend to be well detailed with additional features.
The manufacturer not mentioned in this thread is making everything I am currently interested in so I'm good! 
Eliminate bundling. Bundling is having to take things you don't want to get things you want.
One example is selling passenger cars in sets of 5 different cars and 2 different cars. You're out of luck if you want a different assortment like a baggage, 3 coaches, and an observation.
Another one is selling 3 freight cars of the same kind. You're out of luck if you can only afford one car.
Make all car types for each paint scheme. I've got the green with yellow striping "Lionel Lines" 11" streamliners. They're common enough that you could sell a baggage car, diner, dome, and full dome.
Just a Base 3 and WTIU that work (and works with an untethered remote) so when my current TIU and 990 die I will be able to run command control again 
From Lionel specifically, a Legacy Phantom set and the new Avelia Liberty (Acela replacement). Since MTH had great success with European models, would be nice to see a bullet train, i.e. TGV, ICE, etc., come across their lineup. I'm all about passenger service so there you go.
Edited:
I would like to see Menards make - new O27 size passenger train sets, without locomotives, and an Acela or fictional high speed train set with locomotive also in O27 size for small layouts.
"MADE IN AMERICA" Marked on the item somewhere
