Lionel was just on NBC news!

[thor]

Yay!  Now I KNOW its Christmas. A pretty decent plug too, with Jerry and Target and Macy's mentioned plus some decent shots of the layouts.  That should help sales a bit.

[Anonymous]

Although Lionel and Calabrese got good coverage in the feature, other scales were also amply represented, including Large Scale and HO.  The overall theme was about the renewed popularity of toy and model trains in general after more than 50 years have elapsed since the heyday of these toys , and the entire hobby benefits from this kind of exposure.

[wrmcclellan]

I lucked out and just happened to be watching. There were shots of the Lionel 8' x 8' display in Macy's and then some shots of the Lionel layout in Grand Central Terminal. Jerry Calabrese was standing in front of the Macy's 8' x 8' layout for his segment. Nice shots of the NYC Botanical Gardens G gauge display. The short scale segment was good also. Way to go Lionel!

[okiechoochoo]

Wonderful segment to endorse our hobby.  Way to go and a good shot in the arm for Lionel sales.  Brought back memories when I saw the 1950s Lionel TV ads.  It is good to see this after several years of decline in interest.  No, trains will never be the big seller they were in the 1950s, but they are apparently enjoying a revival.

[MartyE]

Even though other trains were shown Lionel was the big winner here.  Shown and spoken about by name... and right before the holidays.

[ChiefEagles]

Marty is right.  Said Lionel was leading manufacturer.  Lucked out and called Apitz.  Mary had told him.  So I switched channels 5 minutes before it came on.  [Marty, you home for the Chirstmas season now?] 

[MartyE]

Yep.  Thank God I didn't have to go through Denver!

[laz 57]

I too watched NBC and was pumped up on the segment they did.

WAY TO GO NBC!!!!!!

laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

And here is the link to NBC News where you can see it again!!!\

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=cd829ed3-1e4d-46f7-8744-28248ced5a88&f=00&fg=copy.

That computer science class that I took 30 plus years ago, again pays off.  

BTW, they finally fixed the smiley menu.

[Frank53]

Thanks for the link Buckeye - I had missed it. Now - you know any way to save the video?

[Dr. John]

Now there's some GOOD news for a change! What a great segment- very well done.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Thanks for the link Buckeye - I had missed it. Now - you know any way to save the video?

You're more than welcome.  When you think of the millions of people that saw that on NBC news,  I would say that trains just hit the ball out of the park.    Marty could probably tell us what that is worth to Lionel. 

If Lionel's sales are up as quoted in the story, that means the hobby ain't dead, as some seem to want us to believe.  

I'm working on the copy but.......................that computer class was 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

 After seeing grandmas and soccer moms elbowing and knocking each other out of the way black friday to get those few polar express and other sets low priced I don't think this hobby is dead ! And when I walked towards the area those killer evil eye looks only a woman can give had me about facing with my tail between my legs -- LOL

[Nick12DMC]

Yay!  Now I KNOW its Christmas. A pretty decent plug too, with Jerry and Target and Macy's mentioned plus some decent shots of the layouts.  That should help sales a bit.

That was a great item. I have noticed that Hornby have been really pushing there new DCC control system with TV adverts over here. Not on the main ITV channels but on kids channels that my son watches. They have a advantage over here as Playstation 3 is not out in the UK till March. So looks like people are looking for diffrent gifts this year.

Nick 

 

 

[Jumijo]

Marty is right.  Said Lionel was leading manufacturer.  Lucked out and called Apitz.  Mary had told him.  So I switched channels 5 minutes before it came on.  [Marty, you home for the Chirstmas season now?] 

 

That's Mr. Apitz, Eagles. But please, call me Jim.

[Anonymous]

FYI - I emailed NBC last night and the segment can be purchased on VHS for $150.00.

Mail your requests to:

NBC NEWS ARCHIVES
30 Rockefeller Plaza
Room 327W
New York, NY 10112

Now... Jerry was asked why Lionel opened an office in NYC... any questions?

[Frank53]

FYI - I emailed NBC last night and the segment can be purchased on VHS for $150.00.

I liked it . . . . . . but I didn't like it THAT much!

[MartyE]

And on VHS too!  YIKES!  All the cost come from labor on that one my friends.  DVD or VHS tape in balk is pennies.  DVD or VHS machine chump change.

 

Anyone getting the feeling that the Lionel Display hubub at York just doesn't matter that much anymore?  Booya! 

[okiechoochoo]

I think in the future Lionel will continue to make some limited scale items but the bulk of their thrust is going to be in mass marketing the lower end starter sets with slightly higher grade trains for sale in hobby shops along with expansion sets and accessories.  In a way, this signals a return to the Lionel Corporation of old, when trains were made to be toys, not collector items.  In the long run, I think the hobby will grow because of this.  I personally applaud this move by Lionel if that is the case.  It also would explain why York is not of much importance anymore.

[brianel027]

I can't get the link to play effectively, so I will trust you guys on this one. I normally watch NBC news but missed that report... would have loved to seen it! Brian Williams is originally from my neck of the woods too. For all the years I took out a kid aimed kid friendly portable train layout, I knew the hobby wasn't dead and have said so for years. I've talked to far too many parents and kids to know otherwise. I have personally seen the joy from kids being interested in running a train layout that WASN'T command controled and they STILL liked it and WANTED it. Surprise, surprise. In the thousands of parents I've talked to over the years command control was never ever an issue or deciding point. Price was a bigger issue as was availability. Again, too many people I have talked to have said to me that they didn't know Lionel trains were even being made anymore. I used to pick up a nephew from school, deliberately bringing the latest train catalog with me. I'd watch the kids climb over each other to get a look. I'd watch them ask if they could show their parents the catalog... that's where things changed all too many times when the parents of the kid would flip through the catalog and proclaim "this is NOT a hobby for kids." What has been lacking all these years was the true committment of any of the companies to get behind the very words they also have been saying for the past decade. Jerry Calabrese appears to be matching the words with some action. Despite what many say about changing times and video games, I've been to the mountain (so to speak) and KNOW kids ARE STILL interested in trains. And they don't have to be expensive to get and keep the kids interested. Part of my promotion of my traveling kid friendly layout was that everything WAS CHEAP! Nothing fancy, no electronics. Kids asked questions about how pulling a sijmple string could make a fork life load a train? They never see cool simple clever stuff like this... we throw electronic toss-away toys at kids that are disposed of once the electronics die. Also couldn't help but notice NBC called the video segment "toy trains make a....." and not "scale, true-to-the rivet, electronic loaded trains make a....." Scale train will have a future alright. But they won't have it without TOY trains coming FIRST!!! Glad NBC did this. ++++++++++++PS, once again, don't know what's going on here, but I cannot edit in paragraph breaks. They DO NOT appear as I type it in. Nor are any of the type options showing up.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Anyone getting the feeling that the Lionel Display hubub at York just doesn't matter that much anymore?  Booya! 

Good point Marty.  An analogy are the car shows.  The North American Car Show in Detroit matters, the car show in Paducah, KY... 

BTW, did anyone notice the Polar Express in NBC's video?  I was a bit disappointed that they did not include the new MTH Ohio State National Championship Billboard in the video, but I guess you can't have everything. 

[ChiefEagles]

BTW, did anyone notice the Polar Express in NBC's video?  I was a bit disappointed that they did not include the new MTH Ohio State National Championship Billboard in the video, but I guess you can't have everything. 

Why would they???  In fact, MTH got left out.   Poor NBC.  Little Mikey will be suing them soon.

[RR Redneck]

And here is the link to NBC News where you can see it again!!!\

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=cd829ed3-1e4d-46f7-8744-28248ced5a88&f=00&fg=copy.

That computer science class that I took 30 plus years ago, again pays off.  

BTW, they finally fixed the smiley menu.

Wooo doggy!!!!!!!! I tell you that is the best thing that is ole Texan has ever seen concering trains er any kind in a good while.

[Buckeye Riveter]

And here is the link to NBC News where you can see it again!!!\

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=cd829ed3-1e4d-46f7-8744-28248ced5a88&f=00&fg=copy.

That computer science class that I took 30 plus years ago, again pays off.  

BTW, they finally fixed the smiley menu.

Wooo doggy!!!!!!!! I tell you that is the best thing that is ole Texan has ever seen concering trains er any kind in a good while.

The smiley face menu isn't that big of deal.....

[BMRR]

Why would they???  In fact, MTH got left out.   Poor NBC.  Little Mikey will be suing them soon.

I was wondering who mikey was going to sue next. 

Stan. 

[wrmcclellan]

I was a bit disappointed that they did not include the new MTH Ohio State National Championship Billboard in the video, but I guess you can't have everything.

And what do you think those chances are considering where the layouts were built?

 

[Buckeye Riveter]

I was a bit disappointed that they did not include the new MTH Ohio State National Championship Billboard in the video, but I guess you can't have everything.

And what do you think those chances are considering where the layouts were built?

Slim to none ????? And closer to none.

[anjdevil2]

 

I never thought the hobby was dying, just thought it went underground....(no not the subway)

 

And Jerry, it's about time you moved Lionel back to NYC. It is the center of the universe (but I'd rather you moved it back to Hillside, NJ.. but that's just me)

[crip]

Just saw the video. That should help the hobby! Don't understand why Lionel didn't buy Ad time when the Polar Express Aired. One less Penny's wouldn't hurt.

[IronHoarse]

very cool.  I just watched the video via the link that someone posted.  Thanks!!