York

So it is written: "Thou shalt not take pictures at York."

 

Don't ask why, it's the way it is and many, many, many electrons have given their lives belaboring the point.

 

Rusty

York... YIPPEEEEEEE!!!  Finally, a couple days away from the wife!!

 

Rick

My apologies!  I meant to post this on the s scale sub forum.  I rushed the post from my iPhone I guess.  I know there are no pictures in the halls, I was thinking more about the manufactures presentation at the TCA museum.  Sorry for the confusion!

Ben

I moved your topic to S Scale.

Ah, but this is the S SCALE forum, Allan.  This is the forum of Peace and Bliss.  The forum where all persuasions of the chosen scale mix peacefully and with respect to one another.

 

Yessiree... we all play nicely together in here.

 

Don't we guys?  Guys??  GUYS????

 

I agree Andre.

AF, Highrail and Scale: Together like it was always meant to be.

 

Yep, we're one big, happy scale!!

 

Even if we don't agree on the height of the rails, at least we know the proper number of rails to use...

 

Rusty

Good Day,

 

Did anyone get a look at the ES44AC's?

 

I'd like to see these offered in BNSF and Union Pacific next year! NS too to go with NS Heritage engines.

 

Regards,

Frank

 

Yes, Lionel had a complete production Conrail ES44AC on display. Decorated in glossy blue. I was permitted to inspect it in hand and it looked great. Build and decoration quality are equal to the latest SD70's. Because a complete finalized production sample was present, the ES44AC's should be arriving at dealers pretty soon.

 

Samples of some of the more whimsical pieces of L-AF rolling stock were on display (e.g., the Mint car). Matt Ashba informed me that the new Berk and tender will be scale-sized, but not super detailed, in a fashion similar to traditional Gilbert practice. More highly detailed and featured versions will be doable in the future using the new tooling as a basis for a fancier version.

 

The display of new S gauge at the M.T.H. display was less than hoped for. Four unpainted test shots of freight rolling stock bodies (e.g., wood sided reefer, boxcar, covered hopper, ore car) were shown. Nothing more.

 

Bob

Bob

Did Lionel happen to have the new water tower and shed or fastrack turnouts there at all? 

Ben

Not that I recall, Ben. Lionel did have their new S scale telephone pole set on display. The three poles with differing details (one has a small street light on it) looked pretty nice.

 

Bob

I stopped in the Lionel booth and asked specifically about the Berkshire.  The fellow I spoke with said they had not started the tooling yet but expected to deliver late 2014. 

....given the way deliveries have gone I would amend the date to 2015.

Nick C.

Did anyone ask about the shipping date of the FasTrack turnouts? This is getting kind of ridiculous. The catalog came out in the spring and here we are almost at Halloween and there is still not even an ETA on the shipping schedule for the command controlled turnouts. The regular turnouts are going on what? 18 months since they were announced.

 

If Lionel wants people to use their track system they are going to have to deliver some turnouts. Otherwise, what is the point?

The lack of so much as a test shot on the switches doesn't inspire much confidence on delivery this year.  On the plus side, though, one of our club members was told that Lionel has placed 15 QC people in China to oversee the assembly and test of their product.  That can only be a good thing.

Nick C.

The delay for the FasTrack S turnouts is not good. However and for example, MTH is late in getting out their version of the SHS sectional track (there were no samples at their booth at York) and some varieties of Atlas O track are not currently available. So it would appear that there may be an industry wide set of problems.

 

For what it is worth.

 

Bob

That would be my guess too. Really unfortunate. I've been patiently waiting for a wide radius or numbered turnout to get announced. I guess I'll be waiting for a while longer. Even if it is announced, who knows how long it may take to actually get delivered.

 

I know MTH has the designs for a #6 from SHS. Wonder how many years before that sees the light of day? It seems like common sense that the track system would be the first thing you would want to get out the door... I guess there must be other factors at work.

Hi jonnyspeed:

 

Have you decided to return to S scale?  I may have misunderstood, but I was under the impression the lack of product in S scale caused your return to 3 rail?

 

If so... welcome back!

 

Andre

Actually, S Scale should probably be changed to P Scale.  P for Patience...

 

Rusty

Hi Andre,

 

I am indeed considering a return to S. Actually I've decided that I just can't narrow it down to just one gauge ;-) We do in fact have an O gauge layout. That has been the only constant in this journey. I wanted to build a new layout in my recently vacated home office. I wasn't happy with any of the plans that I drew in O gauge so I thought why not do an S Hi-rail pike? If I can come up with a plan I like that is probably what I will do. By not strictly focusing on S the delays and lack of offerings doesn't bother as much. 

 

The track situation makes it really difficult though. The only option right now for Hi-rail if I want to start building now is American Models. And they only have a single turnout. Using scale track isn't an option because I don't want to bother converting the new Lionel steam offerings every time. Ahhhh the joys of S. I still love the size of the trains though

 

Thanks for the Welcome.

I spoke to Mike of MTH about the larger switches and he stated it depended on interest from the S Scale community.  Right now the only one making switches is American models in anything larger than traditional Flyer 20" radius!

Of course, MTH has to deliver product before S Gaugers can buy it.  Interest can not be gauged on promises alone.

 

Rusty

I was put off by the remark also. I am going to be building a hi-rail layout soon. Since MTH and Lionel does not have larger size switches I will use American Models track. I know their switches will handle scale length passenger cars and container well cars.

What's not to understand?

 

Nothing piques the interest like a decorated item in all three dimensions that can be touched, felt and looked at close up, available for purchase at your friendly dealer.

 

And for the record, I do have some MTH S on order.

 

Rusty

I was talking about Mike's comment. How are they going to judge interest when there is no product to be interested in...

Ah...

 

That I can agree with. 

 

After all, MTH has been showing the undecorated sample freight cars for several shows, now.  One would think at least decorated pre-production samples would be available by now, particularly as the target delivery date for freight cars was this October-November.

 

Rusty

MTH told me on facebook that they just received painted shell samples for the freight. They said to look for the freight and track in Late Nov - Early Dec