Train Manufacturer Clubs

[Buckeye Riveter]

Often I see members of this forum discuss their membership in this or that manufacturer's club. I'm not a member of any of the manufacturers' clubs, so I was wondering why I should join MTH, Lionel, Williams, Atlas, etc.  What do you gain?  Has it been worth the money?

In fact, what manufacture's do have clubs?

[Jumijo]

The K-Line club seemed to be the most beneficial to be a member of, Buckeye. They offered incredible deals on locomotives, like a semi-scale GG1 for $100 as one example.

I signed up for the William's Platinum Club last year strictly to get their flyers mailed to me. A "free" freight car or caboose comes with membership. the "free" car costs $25.00, plus $5.00 for shipping, but I think it's worth it. They are very nice, and the cabeese are well worth it. All the Williams cars have die cast trucks and couplers. I look at it as an opportunity to get a nice quality car, and the mailers are a bonus. I don't buy locos or sets directly from Williams. It's much cheaper to buy from a vendor.

I have no experience with MTH or Lionel clubs.

Jim

[MartyE]

I used to belong to the Lionel club...now I don't belong to any.  Not worth it IMO.  You get offers on special cars and such but I just don't need that stuff.  I still get a free catalog from MTH in the mail, and Lionel's I get from the LHS for free and this year before any of the Lionel Club members too.

[cnw1995]

I signed up for the Williams 'Platinum Club' when I called to buy a GG1 earlier this year. For $25, you get their flyers for a year - some small discounts on their offerings and the previously mentioned freight car or caboose. A decent price for a decent car.

[dwiemer]

I used to belong to K-Line club which was great with regard to the offerings and the items that came with membership.  Williams platnum club, I belong to and have a nice Rutland car that came with membership.  I would really like the BAR car, but it has been on back order for some time.  I think I will go for a caboose this year.  I will have to check into some of the others.  As Marty said, do I want or need all that stuff.

Dennis

[Jumijo]

I have one of those BAR cars, Dennis. It's a beauty! When I was a kid, we'd see long trains of them.

Jim

[Blueberryhill RR]

I belong to the Williams Platinum Club and get a car every year. I got some good deals on some nice trains. BUT, you can only use the Club discount on items that are on sale. I tried to use it for an engine, but was turned down. One Hobby store will discount Williams items about 15 % less than Williams sells it for. Still, good trains for the money.

Chuck

[Blueberryhill RR]

I have one of those BAR cars, Dennis. It's a beauty! When I was a kid, we'd see long trains of them.

Jim

OK, Jim and Dennis...what's a BAR car???

[dwiemer]

Perhaps I should have been more specific, I would not want anyone getting the idea they can get tipsy at a BAR car.  It is the Bangor and Arostock car.  It is beautiful with red white and blue coloring.  It really dresses up a consist.

dennis

[Jumijo]

They were all over the place here in New England when I was a kid. It was common to see 10-15 of them go by in one train.

That's a very popular car in William's line. I don't know why they don't make a larger quantity of them. I guess scarcity creates a higher demand. I bought mine in the spring, Dennis. That seems to be when they are restocked.

Jim

[jimhaleyscomet]

I just started as a williams club member.  Will they send a reminder for me to pay again next year?  I like the Williams club flyers because when they put an engine on sale it is usually also on sale from the mail order shops. 

The MTH clubs are o.k. but the railking club usually provides an MTH marked purple car.  Not one I want alot of. 



Jim H

[Warburton]

IMO they are generally not worth the money. I still don't like the Lionel club much -- not much useful info, mostly PR on their most expensive products which I can't afford! I like getting the catalogs, though.

[spankybird]

With the MTH Club, you have a choose of Railking (the purple cars) or Premier Line which are very nice scale cars. You also get your catalogs mailed to you and you used to see it on line about a week before others. You also get a copy of RR track planer  (of course only with MTH track and now HO track).

One of the best features that most people don't take advantage of is the free web page.

http://204.156.4.220/memberpages2/frame.asp?sid=1075

 

[jefelectric]

The only one that I belonged to and that I thought was worth the dues was the K-Line Club.  I guess that is another reason that they are out of business.

Tom, Nice web site.

[phillyreading]

I belonged to K-Line Collecters club for a while, when they stopped the Golden State series of passenger cars and went with more expensive steam locomotives is when I quit the club. $350.00 to $450.00 for a steam locomotive was out of my price range back then and not what I really wanted in a steam loco either. The Golden State passenger cars are very nice and have some features that I think even Lionel doesn't have, the stream lighting is inside the top of the car instead of bayonet style light bulbs mounted to the frame.

I have an MP-15 with Kennicott Copper Company on it, it does not have the horn feature as later models had, only problem is that it takes off too quick. I wrote to K-Line about the problem and recieved instructions on how to wire the motors in series but the wire diagram was wrong and wouldn't work.

Have not joined other clubs as I don't like the car they feature as the club car, also have my fill of cabooses.

Lee F.

[Dr. John]

I belonged to the K-Line Collectors Club for a few years. Most memorable purcase was the Pennsylvania A-5 0-4-0 switcher w/ TMCC and Railsounds. To date, it's still in the original box, never run. I often wonder why I bought it - I'm not into high rail.

I'm still a member of the Williams club - pretty much pays for itself with the car you receive, plus receiving the nice color fliers on a regular basis.

That's pretty much it.

[cpsteamer]

I tied to join the Williams Club but they don't encourage out of country membership. Catalogs are sent bulk rate and apparently would never make it to Canada. They only ship their caboose or boxcar by UPS which is not a good way to ship to Canada with hidden service charges. Still, I do like Williams products and have many mostly purchased from Marty B.
I stayed with the Lionel Club primarily for the catalogs and the occasional piece of rolling stock. Lionel catalogs are not free up here from the LHS.
I notice nobody has mentioned the Weaver Club. Membership is a little pricey but for joining you get a nice sweater, cooler bag, drink holder and a really nice commemorative PS-1 boxcar.
K-Line's was the best club as far as offerings.
Ken

[Jumijo]

I just received my new Williams Pennsy caboose last night. She'll look right nice behind my 671.

Jim

[phillyreading]

jaabat,

What color is the new Pennsy caboose?

I have a Pennsy caboose by MTH # 980824, an N6B, brown with black roof, lighted interior, the locomotives that I have are Williams GP-9's # 8797 & 8798, one powered one unpowered.

Lee F.

[Jumijo]

Mine is all brown. But if you go to William's web site, they also have one with a yellow cupola shown.

[lionelsoni]

That's a cabin car, not a caboose!...;-)

[GregM]

I belonged to the K-Line Collectors Club for a few years. Most memorable purcase was the Pennsylvania A-5 0-4-0 switcher w/ TMCC and Railsounds. To date, it's still in the original box, never run. I often wonder why I bought it - I'm not into high rail.

 

Dr. John,

Sent you an email about the above engine.

 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Is there an ATLAS Club?  Is anyone a member?

[GregM]

Is there an ATLAS Club?  Is anyone a member?

 

Goodness, I hope not.   I send enough money Atlas' way without any special incentives.  lol

[ChooChooMan2]

I agree that the BAR car is very beautiful.  Have one in old HO but wish I had one in "O".

[GregM]

Is there an ATLAS Club?  Is anyone a member?

 

Hey Buckeye,

Are you psychic or did you know something and and wanted to tease us a little?

Over on the OGR forum there is a thread (Marked OGR Exclusive) about the new Atlas "Golden Spike Club."  Why do I feel that I will "be assimilated?"