WOW, LIONEL SURE HAS SUPRISED ME!!!!!!!!!

[gvdobler]

And if you drink enough Coors, you can actually ride inside the Bullet, thereby making it a prototypical train and then MTH is not guilty of grubbing for money and they only produce copies of real trains, hic.

[rtraincollector]

I agree the catalog sure surprised me on the fact the  trolley and tow car on page 169 in standard gauge sure looks great to me. I also like the hogwart express train and a lot of other stuff offered by lionel and lionel/kkline .  Mth has some nice stuff to. I use to say I didn't like mth but the fact is I find all the companys ( lionel, mth, atlas, williams, weaver, and the rest ) all have some real nice stuff can't afford a lot of it but still like to look at it.

[3railguy]

I feel that Lionel should be more focused on making prototypical models of actual trains, rather than making a big deal about this one. But I wouldn't be a bit suprised if this train makes the cover of Lionel's "2007 Volume II" catalog. Sadly, this is one major reason why I prefer MTH trains over Lionel; they just don't seem to make any trains I really want nowadays...though MTH always does, at one time or another.

 So the MTH Coors train is more prototypical than the Lionel Hogwart?

[lionelsoni]

Counting rivets is okay.  Not counting rivets is okay.

[gvdobler]

If you don't like the same trains as me you're just silly.  I can afford new trains, why would I want to run 50 year old junk that wasn't that great when it was new. 

Holy cow, we're gonna start counting rivets and change the name to "Classic (ONLY scale, accurate dimension, high rail, only for grown-ups) Toy Trains."

There should pass a law that no store can sell any cheap junk trains that kids can have fun with.  If they can't take proper care of a $1,400 locomotive then they shouldn't be allowed in the train room. Kids should graduate college and start earning a good income before they take up this hobby.

[palallin]

Personally, I wish our trains were battery instead of track powered - with something like an engine house containing a charger.

 

And it appears that our hobby will head in that direction, too.  Instantly gone are track continuity problems, complicated wiring, much of the burden associated with current CC systems, transformer woes, and a host of related gremlins.  If we can fly planes, sail ships, and run tanks and trucks and race cars via battery power and radio control, trains oughta be easy (and reletively inexpensive). 

 

Although I rarely encourage change for change's sake, this change I earnestly await.  My prewar trains will not be modified for it, but anything I run regularly will if/when the components hit the market at a reasonable price point.

[csxt30]

Not only that, but the G-scale line has been expanded. Yes, I know they are Battery Powered,

I'm surprised that folks would be excited by this. Battery powered trains show up every Christmas at Department stores. Even my Path Mark Grocery store carries them. I call them Hong Kong Specials $49.95. Last one I saw played three Christmas Carols, had smoke, whistle and REMOTE CONTROL! These are cheap toys, not durable hobby products. If Lionel wastes it's limited resources persuing this area it's primary business will suffer.

Looks to me like there's a market for these .  An affordable market for a special time of year & for those that don't want to get head over heels in a big time consuming hobby. I don't think that Lionel is wasting its resources & its primary busines will suffer. That's just plain foolish, or being contrversial.  They know that name will get into the big stores & their products like Jerry C. said he wanted to do.

Doug : glad you enjoy that battery powered train set !!

Thanks, John    

[cnw1995]

Personally, I wish our trains were battery instead of track powered - with something like an engine house containing a charger. I have a K-Line battery-powered set of big, toy-like cars and GP9 engine - it is indestructible, remote controlled, complete with sound and lights - even plays Christmas carols if you press the right button pattern - even runs (like a snake on a tile floor) without track.

[Joe Hohmann]

 

I'm surprised that folks would be excited by this. Battery powered trains show up every Christmas at Department stores.

 These are cheap toys, not durable hobby products. If Lionel wastes it's limited resources persuing this area it's primary business will suffer.

Well, I've had a $39. "G" battery set (non-Christmas) that has been running in the garden for 3 summers for my Grandson to operate. It even did one season under the Christmas tree. It's still working fine, including the sound and smoke. I've heard of $800.+ engines that did'nt last that long. The only "durable hobby products" I know of is Lionel or AF postwar. Joe

[trigtrax]

Not only that, but the G-scale line has been expanded. Yes, I know they are Battery Powered,

I'm surprised that folks would be excited by this. Battery powered trains show up every Christmas at Department stores. Even my Path Mark Grocery store carries them. I call them Hong Kong Specials $49.95. Last one I saw played three Christmas Carols, had smoke, whistle and REMOTE CONTROL! These are cheap toys, not durable hobby products. If Lionel wastes it's limited resources persuing this area it's primary business will suffer.

[brianel027]

I don't think Lionel is trying another way to merchandise popular books and/or movies: I think they're trying to sell trains to newcomers (ie: youngsters and young families) based on something they have a clear frame of reference to. Harry Potter and Polar Express are immensely popular with familes with children - who probably don't have a train set... yet.

Jerry Calabrese was in my reading, pretty clear what he hoped to do at Lionel in the now famous OGR interview. It's ironic for as many that read the interview, they're seem to be as many who just don't understand what he so clearly stated. Lionel is clearly the name that is recognized by the general public: go to a train show for proof. A display layout could be full of MTH products, and some family will walk up and exclaim "look at all the neat Lionel's!" Even when MTH had the deal with Sears, I walked into a Sears out of curiousity... not even the store manager knew what MTH was, but HE KNEW what Lionel trains were.

Now I sure do wish Lionel would put a little more energy into trains that have some current roads and mimic some current styles of trains that a kid may actually see today - which is a good way to build a bond and interest in the hobby between the toy and the real thing. But obviously the NYC Flyer and PRR Flyer sets sell very well. And even though kids don't commonly see steam locos today on the real rails, there is still a love affair and fascination with a steam engine.

As far as allegiance to one company over another... well, we are all quite lucky there are all the differing companies making such a wide multitude of products, that have appeal to different interests. As others, I too side with Lionel because MTH makes few if any traditionally sized locos and cars. And even with their scale sized products, they frequently put locomotive paint schemes on rolling stock items. There have long been complaints about this practice, yet they must sell because MTH keeps making these kinds of "unprototypical" paint schemes on rolling stock.

The Rugged Rails line up has been pretty much forgotten, and scant little effort has been put into it. I like the Rugged Rails cars and have a few... I'd have more if MTH put out some more. I'd have one of the MTH Rugged Rails SD90MAC's had they not raised the price, and then cancelled them. I don't want the added electronics, and won't pay extra to have them, or pay more to have them removed either as MTH did with the $30 price increase.

But I can look to other companies too like Industrial Rail, Williams, and RMT, plus the new K-Lionel products, of which there are some that interest me. And whatever Lionel didn't make this year that interests me, well there's always next year. And I have far more confidence in Lionel to make something for me than I do MTH.

[BMRR]

I am not impressed. I feel that this is just another way to merchandise these books, which are not really about trains at all. It was fine with the Polar Express, because the book was really about a train. I feel that Lionel should be more focused on making prototypical models of actual trains, rather than making a big deal about this one. But I wouldn't be a bit suprised if this train makes the cover of Lionel's "2007 Volume II" catalog. Sadly, this is one major reason why I prefer MTH trains over Lionel; they just don't seem to make any trains I really want nowadays...though MTH always does, at one time or another.

 

MTH doesn't make any trains I would want to buy.......But LIONEL does.

Stan.

[msacco]

 "Sadly, this is one major reason why I prefer MTH trains over Lionel; they just don't seem to make any trains I really want nowadays..."

 

 

So, you really must want the Coors Light Silver Bullet train. Now there's a real looker.

 

Mike S.

[Joe Hohmann]

I got a email from Trainz.com today stating that the Harry Potter set is their number one pre-order, by far. Joe

[jimhaleyscomet]

I just moved to Egham (outside of London).  I was hessitant to preorder as I was not sure of my delivery address.   Anyone know some folks in the states I can order this train through now?  Or should I order it over here?

Jim H 

[Nick12DMC]

Yes some idiots smashed all the windows in the coaches. Its being repaired.

If this set is as good as it looks it going to cause a stir over here. You can't buy anything like it for the money in British outline 3 rail O. If Lionel wanted they can always repaint the loco in GWR or BR colours. Its attraction for me is that my son will love it for its movie connection.I worked on a presvered railway as a kid that ran a Hall Class so I will also enjoy it. 

I hope Lionel will see there is a market for the odd British Loco. The LNER Flying Scotsman can also be used in the Thomas range for example. A LMS Duchess would be really nice as well.

Nick

[John Busby]

Hi Jim Fortner

Probably a really hissed off fan who missed out on a movie ticket or something equally stupid an over the top religious nut there have been a few of those rabbiting on about how evil the books are.

Yes they are restoring the loco I hope it remains as the Hogwarts loco but it will probably eventually return to proper GWR livery.

For those contemplating  a UK holiday make it the steam season and go to the North Yorkshire Moor Railway who knows what mysteries await you you never know you might see the real train

I hope Lionel eventually do what they have done with the polar express and produce a G one

Any comments on the probable quality of the G polar express would be welcome.

Just to keep more or less on topic any train from a popular children's movie should be produced as a toy or even as a serious model its what gets a lot of the kids interested in trains to start with.

It also returns the big kids to a second or third or??? childhood who said we should stop playing with our toys.

regards John

[Brutus]

The train they used for the Hogwart's Express is actually a working tourist train and BTW was a working train before that.  FYI it was vandalized after the last movie, but I think I read they were fixing it back up.

[SchemerBob]

I feel that Lionel should be more focused on making prototypical models of actual trains, rather than making a big deal about this one.

Oops. Poor choice of words. What I meant to say was I feel that Lionel should be more focused on making prototypical models of actual railroad's trains, rather than making a big deal about this one. Sorry if I got some of you confused.

 

[Anonymous]

  I do have to say that although I am mainly a postwar collector, didn't really get into the Harry Potter thing and believe that current products are more stupid merchandizing of fads, I think that this is one VERY attractive train set. If I had the money I might consider purchasing one. It suprises me to say that but it is true, it is based on a REAL loco. And as far as prototypical goes, The Hogwart rail line is not the first ficticious railroad to be modeled in O gauge. Find me a prototypical "Lionel Lines" and we'll talk.

[njalb1]

MTH makes Sponge Bob

 

That is one cool fantasy boxcar !!!!

[Kooljock1]

Ummm...Bob...this is a model of a prototypical locomotive.  The real engine ran in several of the highest grossing movies of all time.  They ran on real tracks, in a real place, using real water and real fuel.

 

The purchaser can choose to use their set as they choose.  They can run it under the tree, on a recreated British landscape, or as part of a movie premiere tour on their layout.  As many British cars (trucks) and an engine came to the states for a tour at the end of WWII, any prototypical example you choose can be justified.

 

Jon

[SchemerBob]

I am not impressed. I feel that this is just another way to merchandise these books, which are not really about trains at all. It was fine with the Polar Express, because the book was really about a train. I feel that Lionel should be more focused on making prototypical models of actual trains, rather than making a big deal about this one. But I wouldn't be a bit suprised if this train makes the cover of Lionel's "2007 Volume II" catalog. Sadly, this is one major reason why I prefer MTH trains over Lionel; they just don't seem to make any trains I really want nowadays...though MTH always does, at one time or another.

[wjstix]

I remember reading in Britain's "Railway Magazine" that when the first HP movie was being made, there was a big uproar in the British railfan (oops!! I mean "railway enthusiast") community about taking a Great Western engine and changing the paint from GWR malachite green to London Midland and Scottish red - kinda like a taking a Pennsy K4 and painting it in New York Central gray!!

[RR Redneck]

I predict the Hogwarts set will do very well...probably almost as good as POLAR EXPRESS.  Hopefully the next Harry potter movie figures in some more scenes involving the train. Neat for a Halloween layout methinks.

Roland

Almost as good. There are alot more Harry Potter fans than there are Polar Express Fans. I can almost guarantee that the Potter set will surpass the Polar Express set. Heck, if the sales are strong enough, it might even replace it!

[njalb1]

This is a pic from the NY city toy fair. It had regular couplers on the cars. This was a prototype I pre ordered mine from trainz with no tax and free delivery for $229.99.

[Big Walnut Railroader]

 

is this the prototype/preproduction model? and does it have hook and chain couplers like British trains or the American knuckle? i can't tell. either way it does look nice. wonder how much it'll be.

[Nick12DMC]

Already pre-ordered it - can't wait!

Nick

[njalb1]

Anyone think this might be the new transformer ?