Trainmaster tractor trailer - dealer item?

[Anonymous]

Hello, This is a post I am copying from the model railroader forum that I posted earlier today. Sorry for my not knowing my way around, I'm new and didn't know that this one was specific to O gauge. Post follows. Thank you!!!!

 

I was at a train and hobby shop in Virginia a couple weeks ago, and in his layout the guy had a truck that I wanted to buy for my dad. The (grumpy) shopkeeper said, "I forgot I had that in there, it must have been a dealer item." and that he didn't have it and that was pretty much all the info I could get from him. He wouldn't even show it to me (I just wanted to see if there was any identifying info on the bottom).

 I can't remember the phrase but I'm pretty sure it was a trainmaster slogan of some sort (putting the power in your hands? or something along those lines?)

It was just cute and cool and now I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone have ANY information on this at all (manufacturer/when or how it was available/where I might find one)?

Thank you!!!!

 then in response to questions:

I think it was O gauge... perhaps about a foot long, tractor plus trailer.

I'm sure it is long out of production and perhaps never available to the general public. I know he wasn't about to tell me any more about it. Is Trainmaster copyrighted to Lionel or is it a seperate entity?

I just wish I could find out enough to create a watch on ebay or something. I don't really know of anywhere else I will ever find this (don't live at home anymore so I've sadly lost my free trips to York :)

Thanks for any input!!!!

Jenny

[Anonymous]

well while i was sitting here waiting for an answer to my own question i went ahead and put all sorts of terms in ebay and google, but could not find anything, sorry, but there are plenty of cool things to get a train enthusiast as a gift.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Carl, for trying. I hope you're having more success with your own question.

Jenny

[sessal]

Jenny,

Back in 1998-99 Lionel catalogued a special "Trainmaster" train set comprised of a TMCC command-equipped steam locomotive, Lionel Visitor's Center Trailer-On-Flatcar, and a boxcar with the graphics you describe, in addition to a TMCC command base and CAB-1.

Lou

[Pete in W'brg]

TRAINMAN'S DAUGHTER,

It is a dealer item. Lionel issued one to each dealer in the early '90s to promote TMCC. I got my dealer's when he wound up owing me some money. The dealers were supposed to take them to the York TCA meets and have them autographed by Dick Kughn (owner of Lionel at that time) and Neil Young (musician). They developed TMCC in a joint venture type setup. Mine was autograhed by Neil Young before I got it. 

TMCC is Lionel's "Train Master Command Control" system. That's why the trailers were imprinted with "Trainmaster", plus whatever - mine is packed away somewhere, haven't seen it since we moved in 2005.

Value?:  You will occassionally find them for sale in the train club "buy/sell" lists. I've seen them listed for around $100; no idea what they sold for.

If you would like to discuss further, pls email me as I don't log on here all the time. 

[csxt30]

Pete !!  I have quite a few of those trucks & trailers and have also seen that trainmaster one for 100 dollars too !!  Very collectable !! 

Hope you stop by more often !!

Thanks, John