Hogwart's Plastic Engine

[nblum]

Got an email from Lionel a week or so ago, confirming the diecast nature of the loco boiler/cab.  Personally I wouldn't object to a well weighted (for pulling power/traction) plastic boiler if that allowed nicer detail or reduced costs.   LGB locos in large scale are plastic and very well done.

[Big Walnut Railroader]

You know next year this engine will be blue, have a face on it, be named "James", and be the next engine in the Thomas line. It's almost exactly the same as James now except missing what I've just mentioned. Lionel would be silly not to do it.

I really like the Thomas line and would like to see them continue with it.

I think you mean Gordon. But I do agree, Lionel should continue it, but maybe with a bit more detail. I once saw a website that had pictures of the creator of Thomas (Rev. Awdry) and his model railroad that he scratch built with engines that had great detail. It would be cool to see stuff like that made in O gauge. (sorry to drift from the main topic).

[Anonymous]

You know next year this engine will be blue, have a face on it, be named "James", and be the next engine in the Thomas line. It's almost exactly the same as James now except missing what I've just mentioned. Lionel would be silly not to do it.

I really like the Thomas line and would like to see them continue with it.

[Big Walnut Railroader]

Anyone know if it will have smoke and a whistle?

[Anonymous]

New to this forum, but I just got word from Lionel's Talk to us line.

 THe engine will be die cast, and the tender will be plastic. Similar to the Polar Express layout.

 I'll probably pre order one.

[John Busby]

Hi Zeke

Its OK to want to play toy trains as long as you are between the ages of 9 and 99 (see very old Hornby train add).

I guess that means after you are 99Yo you have to get serious about it and convert to model trains?? 

regards John

[Anonymous]

ya i feel for you guys over the pond! They really get hammerred in shipping and taxes...

 

I want a thomas set is that ok? I mean its for me . and the polar express two

 

I cant wait for the release of the hp train.....when is that btw

[daan]

That would be a great shot for the european market.. Guess what the price in Germany is..

399 euro's!!! for a trainset of about $250 on your side of the puddle. Even with the high posting charges it's woth to buy and ship instead of buying it over here!

[Anonymous]

thats great news

 

i thiought i read somewere it was but couldnt find it!

 

thanks

 

now this makes the third set i want

hogwarts

polar express

and a thomas set ( yes i think its neat )

 

Be aware that they are changing the transformer on the Thomas set  to the cheaper 30 Watt.

    There are some older sets still out there to purchase.......

 

  Don't worry, Zekes arsinal of transformers can handle it.

[njalb1]

thats great news

 

i thiought i read somewere it was but couldnt find it!

 

thanks

 

now this makes the third set i want

hogwarts

polar express

and a thomas set ( yes i think its neat )

 

Be aware that they are changing the transformer on the Thomas set  to the cheaper 30 Watt.

    There are some older sets still out there to purchase.......

[Anonymous]

thats great news

 

i thiought i read somewere it was but couldnt find it!

 

thanks

 

now this makes the third set i want

hogwarts

polar express

and a thomas set ( yes i think its neat )

[njalb1]

The production train WILL BE DIECAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But not as glossy.

Information comes from a dealer that has in fact talked to lionel. 

 

Here is the link :   http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/1211062344

 

[Anonymous]

The production train WILL BE DIECAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But not as glossy.

Information comes from a dealer that has in fact talked to lionel. 

[Anonymous]

the pics are great, but is it diecast or not. That is the question! It looks really shiny. When is this out btw

[njalb1]

 

 

[brianel027]

Just taking an educated guess, I'd be willing to bet the loco will have a plastic tender. Maybe Lionel will surprise me. But given that there is probably some kind of licensing or royalty fee being paid for production of this loco, I imagine Lionel will look for ways to cut costs and maximize profits. Whenever there's a brand name on a Lionel product, the price always seems to be a bit higher, or the quality curtailed. The NASCAR and Disney items are prime examples. I seem to recall hearing many of the NASCAR rolling stock cars are unpainted molded plastic color... all of Lionel's current low-end plastic trucked starter cars are being painted. Then there's the cheaper smaller transformer being put into the NASCAR and TARGET sets.

Nothing new here. Lionel has been doing this sort of thing since the postwar days of the original Lionel Corp. to meet the challenge from competitor MARX!! I'm not defending the "cheapening" process. The starter set is the business card to the future. But I do understand what's motivating it... Lionel's money is going straight to high end product costs.

The Hogwart's is not like the Lionel Dockside switcher, where that one casting is being used for a variety of roadname offerings. Or the basic Lionel Columbia 4-4-2 steamer that comes in so many starter sets.

On the upside, I run a good many small plastic bodied steamers. I alter the traction tire and add quite a bit of substantial weight to the inside motor chassis housing and to the inside of the shell where I can make room. And I can easily pull 20 cars with any of those locos. My nephew's Lionel Rock Island plastic bodied Dockside (once I made my improvements) has actually pulled 25 cars of mixed vintage on level track. He was thrilled, but I advised him that might not be a good way to run the trains constantly. I told him, "now we know it can pull 25 cars, but now let's make the loco last longer by pulling a few less."

[nblum]

Plastic or diecast makes no difference to me, particularly in a set that will sell for about $250. 

 

Look at it this way:

(1)  British steam locomotives are much lighter than American steamers because they run on lighter rail and are smaller, so plastic is more prototypical .

 

(2) Haven't you ever heard of the expression "the magic of plastic?" 

 

(3) If you don't care for the Lionel version, you can always wait for the MTH or Williams version.

[Anonymous]

lets just hope its not plastic. Its over 200 bucks so hopefully its die cast. Looks real cool.

[sir james I]

If they go with a plastic engine, it will be nothing more than a Thomas set.

[Anonymous]

I have two sets coming from my LHS. He thinks they will be out by October. I might be wrong but I think they will be in the next Lionel Catalog.

While I'm not happy if they will be plastic I will have to take what they offer since this is just one of those fun sets for the kids.

[Anonymous]

i tried looking for the set and cant finad any info on it. I remember i thought i saw somewhere saying it was diecast, not sure though.

[thor]

You could have a lost wax casting made from the plastic shell, if I was feeling flush I'd definitely do it because styrene is often used instead of wax, it burns out fine, just takes a bit longer and a higher temp is all.

In NYC there's a whole street full of jewellers who do that kind of work for quite reasonable rates and when I get mine I'm going to take it there to see how much they'd want to do it. How about having it cast in silver as an investment, eh?

[Anonymous]

i really hope its die-cast.

[csxt30]

Did you contact Lionel yet ? Wnat did they tell you ?

Thanks, John

[trigtrax]

I attended Charlie Nassau's Lionel Day yesterday and was told by Tom Nuzzo of Lionel that the Harry Potter engine would have a plastic boiler.. Since many people question my voracity on these matters I'd like somebody to contact Lionel and get the answer "Once and for All"

This subject came up at April York where I was also told the engine would be plastic, then counter stories were spread it would be diecast.. The Truth is Out There