No offense to anyone, but I don't don't know why all the fuss. Supposedly there was a mediapreview link on the Lionel web site that had some pics of some of the K-Lionel items to be made. That link isn't working now, but some on the ORG forum are already dumping on that preview. As if the folks at Lionel are going to reintroduce a load of scale sized products that K-Line themselves couldn't sell at their already lower list price. Remember folks, there were lots of K-Line blowouts on scale stuff in the past couple years.
I would almost hate to be running a train company these days, with the exception of RMT. You can't please anyone... most of the product offering are the scale high end stuff that the minority of buyers are crying for, and still they're NEVER happy.
"Well why didn't they make this instead of that?"
"The headlights are in the wrong place."
"The cuff rate is still incorrect."
"I'm waiting for the next updated version of TMCC."
MAN, I'm glad I'm happy with TOY trains. Even I understand that it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to tool up all these new products. And for who? The statistics show the majority of 3-rail train operators are STILL NON-command, traditional, table top operators. As of last year according to Lionel, only 25% of the market was actively using TMCC, yet some think they'll sell more locos if they have TMCC. Good, but that fails to explain the rapid success of the RMT BEEP and the BUDDY.... both non-command and non-scale. And the BEEP is available in around 40 roadnames, so it's gotta be popular.
I sure do not understand the supposed logic in this hobby sometimes.... gee, pick out the smallest group of customers and pour all your efforts in to appeasing that group. K-Line was in debt with Sanda Kan and I've read Lionel is also in debt to them... notwithstanding the pending ruling on the MTH/Lionel lawsuit - which could change things BIG time when it comes down.
Calabrese stated pretty clearly the direction he wants to take Lionel, so we'll see if it happens. I can't though see how Lionel can afford any major advertising if they continue to pump all their limited resources into new expensive tooling and product development that has marginal profitability and appeals to the smallest group of modelers (though they are the most VOCAL). Lionel's not even advertising in the train magazines right not, so that says to me money is still tight.
So when the Lionel catalog gets there, it gets here. For me, it's no biggie given the limited product offerings on the low end these past few years. In my oopinion, this is the best opportunity for these new upstarts like RMT and Atlas Industrial Rail, since Lionel is asleep at the wheel when it comes to basic affordable trains for newcomers - even though they know this is what they need to make, I don't believe they have the courage to stand up against the OGR Forum gang and start making TOY train again in quantity and severely curtaining the high end. Remeber, the 027 trains kept K-Line in business and the high end scale products put K-Line out of business.
But I'd love to know more about what RMT has planned for the future. RMT has become for me, what Lionel fails to be. And I'm anxious to see what direction Atlas goes with their 027 line of Industrail Rail... I certainly won't quibble over rivet counts, but it would be real nice to have a few current modern roadnames as the original Industrial Rail products did.
Walter Matuch ought to be posting over here, because I think he has more of an audience for his products right here.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Geez Reggie, some dealer! He got it a full week before Lionel got it back from the printer! I'd love to have a dealer like that!
Jon
the hobby shop the i go to the owner he tried to get me to buy it but i have to many items as it is and have not used them yet. plus once you see something new you want it. once you get bitten by the train bug you have that symthem forever and im trying to get over it right now. also the only pages that i have looked at are the ones with the fastrack and the new zw's. if you would like a copy of the book which he has copies of you can contact the store.
The Hobby Shop, ask for Richard and tell him that Reggie referred you his shop. the telephone number is 901-384-6500, and they are opened from 10am to 6pm monday to saturday central time. in my earlier post to you he has the book and can ship it to you if you want or need it. until next time peace.
thatboy37 aka reggie
THE SOUTHERN SERVES THE SOUTH.
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