@irish rifle posted:When is the release date for the 2021 Volume 2 catalog? The answer may have been posted earlier, but I can't find it. Thanks.
Pat
Last I heard was July, I’m not sure if an exact date has been released yet.
@Csxcellent posted:Last I heard was July, I’m not sure if an exact date has been released yet.
I believe that it correct and when it comes out, we will be reminded yet again why catalogs, especially Lionel catalogs, still bring us excitement.
@Csxcellent posted:Last I heard was July, I’m not sure if an exact date has been released yet.
As per the Lionel gods on Mount Concord, the release date is set for 15 July.
In addition to a future catalog wish list, maybe a new wish list thread for "custom runs" should be initiated.
LionScale O scale PS-2-CD in the ILLINOIS CENTRAL scheme of a light gray body with black and white graphics.
IC series 56800-56899 built by Pullman-Standard, Lot 9410, May-69. To ICG 764600-764699.
Andrew
Falcon Service
@das boot posted:As per the Lionel gods on Mount Concord, the release date is set for 15 July.
In addition to a future catalog wish list, maybe a new wish list thread for "custom runs" should be initiated.
I’m not sure how that would work. The 200 page Lionel catalog comes out on July 15th. Would it make any sense to send an email in August or September for a “custom run”? Why not just include it in the catalog you just released?
The same for later in the fall. Maybe you have an early sneak peak announcement a month or two before the winter catalog but otherwise, why not just include the “custom runs” in the catalog you will be releasing in a month or two?
i’m not saying that there shouldn’t be an occasional mid catalog announcement but why do more than that when you are releasing two giant catalogs a year?
@Madockawando posted:I’m not sure how that would work. The 200 page Lionel catalog comes out on July 15th. Would it make any sense to send an email in August or September for a “custom run”? Why not just include it in the catalog you just released?
The same for later in the fall. Maybe you have an early sneak peak announcement a month or two before the winter catalog but otherwise, why not just include the “custom runs” in the catalog you will be releasing in a month or two?i’m not saying that there shouldn’t be an occasional mid catalog announcement but why do more than that when you are releasing two giant catalogs a year?
"How that would work?"
Just one example of a Lionel custom run blueprint would be METCA (Stu is thinking outside the box) and their great selection of initiated custom runs of engines from current and more recent catalogs. Also, Pat's and Muffins train shops among others are really stepping up to the plate with a wide variety of stream and diesel options from Lionel and MTH (one could also include Atlas).
Custom runs (BTO) seem to be the norm these days along with those great Lionel catalogs, our O gauge heads and eyes are spinning, keep on wishing, keep on dreaming.
Club cars like METCA are a special case and is different situation than special runs from dealers in lieu of traditional catalogs.
Relying on small unannounced runs 100% of the time is a marketing strategy for small train companies. An email, however interesting, should augment, not replace the twice a year catalog.
@Madockawando posted:Club cars like METCA are a special case and is different situation than special runs from dealers in lieu of traditional catalogs.
Relying on small unannounced runs 100% of the time is a marketing strategy for small train companies. An email, however interesting, should augment, not replace the twice a year catalog.
The Lionel Legacy and MTH Premier custom runs have historically augmented what has been offered by Lionel and MTH in their catalogs by offering diesel and steam engines that have different road names and/or road numbers than those offered in the catalogs. Custom runs were never intended to replace the catalogs. In MTH's case, the custom run game has now changed with the sale of most of their product lines and tooling to ATLAS and the end of the MTH catalogs and much of MTH's business. I still don't fully understand how that will all work for MTH in the future. For now, MTH is flooding the market with a variety of Premier and Rail King custom run diesel engines and freight cars which are being offered by a number of dealers.
Pat
@irish rifle posted:The Lionel Legacy and MTH Premier custom runs have historically augmented what has been offered by Lionel and MTH in their catalogs by offering diesel and steam engines that have different road names and/or road numbers than those offered in the catalogs. Custom runs were never intended to replace the catalogs. In MTH's case, the custom run game has now changed with the sale of most of their product lines and tooling to ATLAS and the end of the MTH catalogs and much of MTH's business. I still don't fully understand how that will all work for MTH in the future. For now, MTH is flooding the market with a variety of Premier and Rail King custom run diesel engines and freight cars which are being offered by a number of dealers.
Pat
And to take a step slightly further, custom runs suggested by both large and small organizations are influencing what we may see in a future catalog. There is a comingling of decisions, a bit like Macbeth's witches in Act One. 
Keep wishing, it may come true.
VISION LINE freight car
The American Car & Foundry ACF CENTER FLOW 4600 Cu. Ft. Capy. 3-compartment/3-bay covered hopper
Sturdy and close to scale thickness stainless steel body that has 3 compartments built exactly like the real cars.
Opening roof hatches.
Operating gravity discharge gates.
Operating pneumatic discharge gates with pipes that have a screw-on cap on a chain.
Many railroad names when they were built from 1965 to 1990.
Many have been repainted and are still in service.
Andrew
I absolutely love—and really look forward to—the recent trend of custom-runs. They provide the opportunity for some of us to get the road names and/or unique paint schemes that might otherwise get overlooked (or don’t make the cut!) by the manufacturers/importers…and therefore not offered in the “regular” catalogs.
For example, I jumped on the opportunity to purchase 3 of the custom-run Lionel Legacy ALCO C-420’s that Mr. Muffin offered in 2019…two of the Lehigh Valley “Yellowjackets” and one of the D&H “Blue Dip” paint schemes. I had been waiting and hoping for both of those for a long time.
So….PLEASE dealers, clubs and importers…keep the custom-run, uncatalogued items coming!!
@CNJ #1601 posted:I absolutely love—and really look forward to—the recent trend of custom-runs. They provide the opportunity for some of us to get the road names and/or unique paint schemes that might otherwise get overlooked (or don’t make the cut!) by the manufacturers/importers…and therefore not offered in the “regular” catalogs.
So….PLEASE dealers, clubs and importers…keep the custom-run, uncatalogued items coming!!
Ditto. I like having a plethora of products to pick from like it used to be buuuuut I have grown to enjoy the custom run stuff because they're often overlooked items. I've bought more custom run rolling stock than regular stuff in the past year or two.
An item never produced before has been a CANADIAN NATIONAL GM-EMD SD75I diesel-electric locomotive in O scale that is equipped with a TMCC mode to operate with the Lionel CN C44-9W locos with TMCC.
Andrew
@CNJ #1601 posted:I absolutely love—and really look forward to—the recent trend of custom-runs. They provide the opportunity for some of us to get the road names and/or unique paint schemes that might otherwise get overlooked (or don’t make the cut!) by the manufacturers/importers…and therefore not offered in the “regular” catalogs.
For example, I jumped on the opportunity to purchase 3 of the custom-run Lionel Legacy ALCO C-420’s that Mr. Muffin offered in 2019…two of the Lehigh Valley “Yellowjackets” and one of the D&H “Blue Dip” paint schemes. I had been waiting and hoping for both of those for a long time.
So….PLEASE dealers, clubs and importers…keep the custom-run, uncatalogued items coming!!
Don't beg the dealers, push your fellow hobbyist to purchase them. While yes the dealers take credit for getting these runs made, if few purchase them the special runs will dry up. It's really on us the consumer.
These need to be done in another generation of LEGACY.
@Peter Araujo posted:These need to be done in another generation of LEGACY.
I like the idea of reissued Legacy locomotives with new numbers.
@Peter Araujo posted:These need to be done in another generation of LEGACY.
I had never seen one of these in Legacy, though in the pics, the fuel tanks look off. Maybe a bit small. Are the actual models accurate? And new road numbers are always a good option.
@Madockawando posted:I like the idea of reissued Legacy locomotives with new numbers.
They made Santa Fe in LEGACY once, but hasn't been re-issued since.
I own the Santa Fe B40-8W #562. It is a great engine with great sounds. I would love a BNSF H3 Swoosh version.
@Peter Araujo posted:They made Santa Fe in LEGACY once, but hasn't been re-issued since.
Well then! Let’s make it again!
i would like an amtrak pepsi can or amtrak california version of the b40-8w
The fuel tanks are too small, but I would still be interested in one. The Santa Fe ones are like hen's teeth and the other versions were all TMCC.
A statement from Lionel addressing how they are going to improve their paint and quality issues.
@CNJ #1601 posted:So….PLEASE dealers, clubs and importers…keep the custom-run, uncatalogued items coming!!@MartyE posted:Don't beg the dealers, push your fellow hobbyist to purchase them. While yes the dealers take credit for getting these runs made, if few purchase them the special runs will dry up. It's really on us the consumer.
Thanks, Marty. That wasn't intended to be "begging the dealers" (but I can see how you took it that way)...and I couldn't agree more with your statement that it's ultimately on us, the consumers.
I was simply trying to encourage all parties involved (manufacturers/dealers/clubs...and certainly customers) who have made these recent uncatalogued special runs a reality to continue to work together on future special runs.
I think they are great for our hobby...even if I may only be interested in one out of every 25 or 50 or 100 special announcements. Why? Because special announcements/custom runs most likely mean that some folks, somewhere, are getting what THEY want--and may have been hoping/wishing a long time for--rather than having to wait with their fingers crossed for the next catalog to be released...and then the next one...and then...
I would like Lionel to follow MTH's lead with 3 - 2 rail convertibility with replacement wheel/axle capability.
@Rapid Transit Holmes posted:I would like Lionel to follow MTH's lead with 3 - 2 rail convertibility with replacement wheel/axle capability.
Now THAT (and fixed pilots and full-length handrails while we’re at it 
) would be great!
A limited-run BTO release of Lionel’s PA-1s in the New Haven’s Orange with pinstripes paint scheme.
B units for the E8/9.
@vash44 posted:Haven’t looked this week. Mr Muffins had some UP ones last week.
The B units Mr Muffins did were E7 units, not E8/9. To my knowledge Lionel has never produced E8/9 B units.
How about a Centipede
i would like for 2022 more New Hope and Ivyland stuff and more Reading and Northern stuff like engines sets ect since those two railroads are the ones i've decided to loosely base my railroad on
I love running a long string of Lionel’s 86 ft box cars on our club’s layout I really wish Lionel would offer some 86 ft box cars with sound The existing sound cars just look so small riding in between the 86 ft cars The cars could even have two speakers
I would like to see more PS-1 box cars in both prototype and non-prototype road names. The same goes for PS-4 flatcars, PS-2 hoppers, PS-5 gondolas. I would like to see more Lionel Lines items in scale rolling stock and locomotives.
I have already said I want to see a new Siemens Charger (this would make a great Vision Line loco), but I have still been thinking about this, and here are some other thoughts.
Modern passenger cars would be nice. Reasonably priced Amfleet cars or Superliners. Viewliners would be awesome, though that would definitely require new tooling.
Another thought would be a Lionel made 5-car articulated deep well intermodal set. I think with as much intermodal traffic that flows through this country, this form of car is still greatly underrepresented.
Legacy P&LE A2 Berkshire from MTH tooling.
@NYC Fan posted:Legacy P&LE A2 Berkshire from MTH tooling.
I gotcha one better than that Skip,…let’s hope they get the Dreyfuss tools, …..with the PT tender having the water scoop effect,…..😳😳😳……imagine that pulling the limited ……ooooohhh,…and roller rod bearings,….😁😁😁
Pat
@NYC Fan posted:Legacy P&LE A2 Berkshire from MTH tooling.
That is definitely an interesting loco.
Did they ever paint any of this with actual P&LE markings, or were they all lettered for the NYC?
Not sure how many times I've said this, but since this topic is back: complete the AFT!
And since you started making Friendship Train cars, how about a few more (with usable trucks/couplers this time).
@Carl Peduzzi posted:That is definitely an interesting loco.
Did they ever paint any of this with actual P&LE markings, or were they all lettered for the NYC?
At the time of the A2’s, the P&LE was still an adopted child of the NYC, thus, they all wore “ New York Central Systems “ ….had the A2 come before the change of Railroad Roman to Railroad Gothic, they might have worn “ New York Central Lines”….however all P&LE locomotives at that time had their initials on the coal bunker,,,,
Pat
