Lionroar88 brought up what I think is a good point regarding PRR, UP and SF dominating the roads modeled, for literally decades and his point was to solicit the manufacturers to be more proactive in determining what we want. My own addition to his comments was the lack of Midwestern roads. Has this lack of choice steered your choice of roads you modeled? .If so, what what road have been your first preference? Mine choice would have been The Rock Island
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
Lionel did not make much Post-War Soo Line until the 1970's when they were taken over by General Mills.
There was only the Soo Line Operating Box Car that I can recall.
Then in the 1970's the NW-2 Switcher that Lionel offered had a paint scheme that apparently came from concept art.
The Grand Trunk Western was ignored until Lionel made the move to Michigan in the 1970's.
Then in the 1970's they produced a few O Gauge Grand Trunk Western Train Sets.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Post-War has one Soo Line Box Car and no Grand Trunk Western, so It was easy for me to pass on Lionel made before the move to Michigan with MPC/Lionel.
Andrew Falconer
I remember back in the 80's Lionel went through a period where it appeard to me that they were marketing primarily to the professional collector. They put out a series of very expensive limited run train sets that were pretty much unaffordable to the rest of us. One of those collections was called the "Fallen Flags" series. I am almost sure there was a complete Rock Island set included in that series.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
CB&Qif I remember correctly another post regarding this said that most of the current sales were to those on the eastern side of USA and so they made the railroads that were in that area to cater to them. I think thats why here and other forums the posting of either repainting or wanting to know of someone that was good at repaints has come up, as flatly its the only way for those of us wanting road names other than the dull muldane nyc-sf- prr are going to see these road names are getting the lions share with a tease here and there for the rest of us that lived other than the east coast. its a shame as am sure there's others who feel slighted and disappointed with all the same names year in year out! I know some want to see the 4 ace's made and some for a milw steamer I think the 261 some want more soo and the rock island seeing as I'm dreaming how about np-gn cbq-cgw cnw and on and on. how about it all train companies send surveys to those of us not on the east coast you might be surprised from the responses. only my personal thoughts no malice intended or implied just a personal thought on the subject, hope you all have clean shinny rails and a great day.
Growing up track side, the Soo "Laker" and "Mountaineer" roaring through town with it's heavyweight cars, milk express and REA consists, led by dual Geeps, horns blaring, is permanently etched in my mind. Soo was a second place choice that also got wiped off the slate along with the Rock..all I could ever find consistently were ore cars, with no engine, steam or otherwise, caboose or what have you. The Soo Laker or Mountaineer still would be on my "want list."
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, The Rock Island, Minneapolis & St. Louis, and Illinois Central were the roads most represented and repeated for Post-War Lionel and the reproductions.
Andrew FalconerChicago, Burlington & Quincy, The Rock Island, Minneapolis & St. Louis, and Illinois Central were the roads most represented and repeated for Post-War Lionel and the reproductions. Andrew
The variety of Midwest equipment versus East\West is still pretty paltry going even beyond the postwar years, at least in my experience, when you compare the variety of SF, PRR and so forth if you want to collect or operate a Midwest theme on one road..I think the manufacturer's should ,as as Lionroar88 suggested, ask what we want.This is not the same era that dictated marketing fifty years ago in the pre-internet era..I mean how do they compile a list of what roads they do produce? It seems to make sense to get to know the customer. I dunno..it's too late for me anyway, I found all the expeditious PRR I need several times over and by default, this is the predominant road on my pike as a matter of practicality, although I just bought a Rock Geep ( couldn't resist)..
I'm in agreement that there has always been a lack of RR variety in our choices, but it makes total sense from a manufacturer's expense perspective. I grew up in Chicago and I can see why my Dad picked out my Rock Island (2031) and Minneapolis & St. Louis (2348) engines.....local flavor. Didn't get any Soo Line or Milwaukee Road/Hiawatha stuff though.
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
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