I have a collection of Lionel Catalogs and Flyers from 1961-2011 (actually through 2015, but I haven't added all of the newer ones). I'd like to fill in the holes in my collection, but I don't know what I'm missing since Lionel used many different names for their catalogs, i.e. Consumer, Pre-Toy Fair, Toy Fair, Classic, Traditional, Christmas, etc.
Since ebay is my main source for what I'm looking for, I need to know the specific names/titles and year for each catalog and flyer. That way I can have ebay search for what my collection is missing. Does anyone care to help me out?
I have lists of K-Line catalogs and flyers I could use some help with also. I'd appreciate all I can get.
If you click on a K-Line list, it will open up in a new window at full size.
The Lionel list opens in a new window also, but it makes itself fit your screen. If you click on that list, then it will open to full size, but you'll have to scroll down to see it all.
I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to get those pics loaded here!
My initial plan was to get an already existing (hopefully) complete list, and then transfer my data to it by changing the stuff in the list I had to a bold font. Since nobody here appeared to have a ready-made list, I'm going to add new entries of stuff I don't have in a smaller, italicized font. Once I acquire them, I'll change the font to the bigger, non-italicized font.
I created and have updated my lists using OpenOffice Calc.
Here are a few facts about OpenOffice:
The reason I detailed all of the above about OpenOffice is because I am willing to send anyone a copy of any or all of my lists for their own use in the format of their choice. Just send me your e-mail address and I'll attach the list(s) you want. Then you can keep track of your own collection without having to start from scratch.
Please notify me if you know of any additional information I should add to my lists. After making updates to my lists, I'll replace the ones here with the updated versions.
I hope these lists can be useful to members here.
As you've probably noticed already, the Lionel list contains catalogs and flyers, while the K-Line lists have the catalogs separate from the flyers. Which format do you think is better? Should I separate the Lionel catalogs into separate lists also, or should I combine the K-Line lists similarly to the Lionel list?
Since the 1970s Lionel has issued a lot of paper. I'm not sure anyone has them all.
On the other hand K-Line did the same but on a lesser scale. I guess it's possible to find all of theirs.
I just have then stacked by date, everything issued is by date.
The other companys, I only keep till the next one comes out.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Looking at the stuff on my Lionel list, 1996 appears to have had the most publications with an output of 6. Most years have at least 2 catalogs. Later years usually have a couple of flyers added. That means, on average, there are usually about 4 items in recent times. My goal of trying to collect all of Lionel's output from 1960-present is definitely doable. My biggest problem is knowing for sure how much was issued each year though. Additions identified by others will help me narrow my scope when searching through ads in newspapers, Craig's List, and ebay.
Back in the mid-90's, I used to frequently visit an elderly gentleman in Portsmouth, VA who used to run a Lionel train shop from the attic of his house. He had a lot of stuff stuffed into all kinds of nooks and crannies up there. During one of my visits, he happened to mention he still had new, old stock copies of most of their catalogs from the 1960s-present (1995?). It was then I told him I'd like to buy one of each. It took him awhile to dig through all of his boxes, but that's where I got the bulk of my collection. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Lionel, and I miss listening to all of his anecdotes. I was in the military at the time with a family of five, so my budget was fairly limited then. However over the years I ended up buying quite a lot of rolling stock from him. Most of his stuff was new, old stock which he sold for retail prices. I think he charged me only $1-$2 tops for each catalog. I don't recall him ever charging collector's prices for anything. Occasionally he'd tell me the high prices some pieces commanded on the collector market, but he'd tell me he was in it for the love of trains and promoting the hobby more than anything. Many times he'd show my son (about 7 years old at the time) items that were fun/unique and well within my budget. He really knew how to fire his....actually our imaginations with his ideas and suggestions. My son and I always left very happy with a little more insight into the world of Lionel. I don't know if he is still with us, but I'm fairly certain his love and appreciation of all things Lionel was internalized by many who were lucky enough to be touched by his infectious enthusiasm throughout the area.
One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post was that I'm a big Doctor Who fan since the 70s when WTTW-TV, Chicago's local PBS on channel 11. I started buying Doctor Who Weekly with #1 in 1978, and I continue to do so now that's it's closing in on #500.
I like your rotating TARDIS pic. Back in 1985, I created some animation on my dad's original Commodore 64. It consisted of the TARDIS spiraling around the screen while the Doctor Who Theme played. Working on that using (PEEKS, POKES and 4 different colored SPRITES moving in unison for those techy types) the BASIC command interpreter was my introduction to the computer programming world. (A year later I joined the U.S.A.F. where I was trained to become a computer programmer---a field I remained in for 20 years.)
How long has the TTC been around? When are the meetings? What are the dues? When are TTC excursions scheduled? Is there an Orient Express with Mummy available? That's the only time I remember the Doctor riding a train. The only other train I remember on the show was in "The Deadly Assassin" when he almost got run over after his foot had gotten stuck between the rails in a turnout.
Bottom line: How about telling me all about the TTC?
Boy, you said it!I certainly was surprized at all the documents included in the HSL Lionel Modern Era Catalog disk (no longer available). Some of the price guides include a section on paper/catalogs. I guess I'd look there if I wanted to know what was released.
Tony TTC is a few of us that talk BS mainly at night on yahoo conference about 10:30 P.M. sometimes later. We just nicked named it as we use to say we were going to catch the tardis tonight or we caught the tardis lastnight and had chat with who ever was there it use to be like 8 of us it's mainly now down to about 3 or 4 as a couple have some big things going on in there life thats just wearing them out and thats unwind time
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
cwburfle Since the 1970s Lionel has issued a lot of paper. I'm not sure anyone has them all.
Tony I have to take some pics of a Lionel set you may or may not know about I have it in original box and with original paperwork I believe just need to pull it out of the closet it wasn't really a big seller.
it is set 7-1100
It's lionel but push power and some where between O and G to be honest I picked it as never seen it before and thought it would a nice novelty.
Only to my knowelage anyway made curve track and I have enough for a complete circle
I don't remember seeing that train before, but back in the 90s I bought a little kids train made by Lionel called The Happiness Express. It also ran with push power.
Was there a flyer for the Lionel Happy Huff 'n' Puff?
Yes there was I see it off and on on the bay and guess I should get it this set was from the 70's I believe like 1975
I can probably help you out - at least with names of some of the caralogs since 1998!
Here's my list. I have phyysical copies of most.
Thos efrom 2015 back through 2000 are in descending order in which they were issued.
2015: Volume 2 Christmas Catalog Signature Edition American Flyer Ready-To-Run Holiday Memories2014: Vol. 2 Catalog Christmas Catalog Signature Edition Ready-To-Run American Flyer Track and Power Holiday Memories2013: Fall Catalog Christmas Catalog Signature Edition American Flyer Ready-to-Run
2012: Volume 2 Catalog Christmas Catalog Signature Edition Ready-To-Run American Flyer2011: Volume 2 Catalog Christmas Catalog Signature Edition Ready-To-Run2010: Year End Brochure Volume 2 Catalog Christmas Catalog Signature Edition Ready-To-Run2009: Train Catalog Volume 2 (includes Christmas catalog) Signature Edition Ready-To-Run K-Line by Lionel Volume 1
2008: Train Catalog Volume 2 K-Line by Lionel Volume 2 Christmas Catalog Signature Edition Volume 1 K-Line by Lionel Volume 1 Ready-To-Run2007: Train Catalog Volume 2 K-Line by Lionel Volume 2 Christmas Celebration Train Catalog Volume 1 K-Line by Lionel Volume 12006: Christmas Catalog Train Catalog Volume 2 Train Catalog Volume 12005: Train Catalog Volume 2 Train Catalog Volume 1 2005 K-Line Second Edition Catalog 2005 K-Line First Edition Catalog2004: Train Catalog Volume 2 Train Catalog Volume 1 2004 K-Line Second Edition Catalog 2004 K-Line First Edition Catalog2003: Train Catalog Volume 2 Classic Trains Volume 1 2003 K-Line 2nd Edition Catalog 2003 K-Line First Edition Catalog2002: Classic Trains Volume 2 Classic Trains Volume 1 2002 K-Line 2nd Edition Catalog 2002 K-Line First Edition Catalog2001: Classic Trains Volume 2 Classic Trains Volume 1 2001 K-Line Second Edition Catalog 2001 K-Line First Edition Catalog2000: Christmas Classic Trains Volume 2 Classic Trains Volume 1 (Centennial) 2000 K-Line Second Edition Catalog 2000 K-Line First Edition Catalog1999: Heritage Catalog Classic Trains Volume I Preview Catalog 1999 K-Line Second Edition Catalog 1999 K-Line First Edition Catalog1998 Heritage Catalog Classic Trains Volume II Classic Trains1980 Lionel1977 Lionel O/O271976 Lionel O/O271975 Lionel "O"1974 Lionel O27
I'm trying to obtain copies of every catalog for every item I have in my collection. Maybe you can help me in return?
Here's the items I don't know which catalog they are depicted in. If you have any of these catalogs, could you check and let me know? I have a source to purchase them from.
6-6421 - Joshua L. Cowen Bay Window Caboose (catalog year: 1982)6-8210 - Joshua L. Cowen 4-6-4 Locomotive (catalog year: 1982)6-8368 - Alaska Switcher (catalog year: 1983)6-9484 - Lionel 85th Anniversary Boxcar (catalog year: 1984)6-19400 - Milwaukee Road Gondola with cable reels (catalog year: 1987)
Paul Y
Lionel Collector since mid-50s
Thanks for taking the time to list all of that information. It's definitely a big help for me.
I'll look through my catalogs, and I'll list what I find by Sunday night. I'm sorry about the delay in answering, but I hadn't been on this site for a couple of weeks.
Paul, the catalog name and page number follow each of your items below:
6-6421 - Joshua L. Cowen Bay Window Caboose (catalog year: 1982)
Lionel Collector Series, 1982 (Page LC-3)
6-8210 - Joshua L. Cowen 4-6-4 Locomotive (catalog year: 1982)
6-8368 - Alaska Switcher (catalog year: 1983)
Lionel Collector Series, 1983 (Page LC-9)
6-9484 - Lionel 85th Anniversary Boxcar (catalog year: 1984)
Good As Gold! 1985 85th Anniverary Collector Series (Cover & Page LC-2)
6-19400 - Milwaukee Road Gondola with cable reels (catalog year: 1987)
Lionel Electric Trains and Accessories 1987 (Page 29)
A little more information. There were two catalogs for the years '82, '83, and '85; Traditional and Collector Series. LTI combined the two in '87 into a single catalog.
More information isn't needed. The titles were different. The word "Collector" was replaced with the word "Traditional" for the other catalog during those years.
I did notice something I hadn't before. Lionel celebrates their anniversary years a year late, because they ignore the year 1900---their 1st year in business. That's why the 85th anniversary is celebrated in 1985 rather than 1984 as it should have been.
I may be wrong here but if you start in say 1900 as you say it would be 1901 for your first anniversary so 1985 would be the 85th year, until 1985 they would not have 85 years of business it should not of been 1984 that would be like saying if you where born in 1960 you where 10 in 1969
You're right. My mistake.
easy to do
Recently I got carried away and purchased a lot, and I mean a lot, of Lionel catalogs.
I now have all their "major" catalogs since 1974. Not interested in their flyers.
Olson Hobbies has a website with a extensive list of catalogs. Currently they are upgrading their website so it may not yet be back online.
I've created a Word document showing all the catalogs I have, but don't see a way to attach it here. If you know how, let me know and I'll send you the list.
It's easiest if you have two windows open.
The first window would be another reply to this post.
The second window would have your Word document open in it.
Click on the "Edit" menu of the Word document window. Then click on "Select all".
Move your pointer to the first window with your reply to his post. Click in the "Post Body" "Edit" menu. Click on "Paste". That should put a copy of the data in your Word document into the reply.
Click on the "Submit Your Reply" button. That should complete your reply by adding it to this post.
Justdid that - hope it works.
The numbering system for each year is so I can track them in my inventory database. They are in issue sequence from 2008 onward.
I have a question about your list.
What is the significance of the second column entitled "#"?
I can see you do a countdown with numbers, but sometimes you have letters in that column. What do they all mean?
The # column is for my internal use. That's how I track them in my inventory program. For example, the first Lionel catalog in 2004 would be C-2000-1. The second would be C-2000-2, and so forth.
The alpha characters (A, B, and C) are catalogs issued by K-Line for the same year. So for example, in year 2004, K-Line issued 2 catalogs so I number them in my inventory as K-C-2004-A and K-C-2004-B and so forth.
There is no importance in these numbers other than starting with year 2008 they are in issue sequence - according to the Lionel website.
I'm sorry for taking so long to reply. I hadn't realized you had replied to my post this year. I'm in the process of updating my list. I just bought a bunch of flyers on ebay and I've added a few catalogs to my collection since posting it in this thread. Give me about a week to do that, and then I'll update it here. I use Open Office, so I'll save it off in Excel 5.0 format. You should be able to open it okay. If not, let me know. I'm sure we can figure something out.
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