Toy train operating and collecting

I have a Warhorse set with a 773 hudson repro. that has TMCC. Any pull-mor motor can have TMCC added with removal of the mechanical e-unit. Shouldn't be a problem to convert these engines to TMCC if the owner prefers it. Pricing will determine if that is an option...

I'm fairly excited about these offerings. It will be interesting to see how Lionel handles these reproductions in terms of prices and quality. The term "affordable" is a little misleading, considering these are brand new products. Are they comparing brand new production to "mint-in-the-box" postwar collector pricing, or runner-grade pricing, or what? Will the motors be a little "sloppy" like the MPC-era motors were, and will the e-unit buzz and sometimes not function correctlly, just like the postwar versions? Liquid or pill smoke units?

 In my opinion, these products will not replace postwar Lionel, or for that matter, Williams products. They will be a breed of their own. Personally, I'm not adverse to a little change to make them better than the postwar versions, if done correctly. I'm not even sure what "correctly" would be, when I think about it.

Postwar Lionel seems to be a core market in the 3-rail world. Modern Lionel, MTH, Williams, and even Weaver (aluminum passenger cars in the early 90's), have all made reproductions of postwar Lionel trains. I applaud Lionel for taking the plunge, but how do they make an EXACT reproduction of the original, with the Lionel name, in China?

The way I look at it, I would buy the new Lionel postwar offerings, if they look and operate nicely, but you just can't beat the original Lionel stuff, even if it is a little worn and scratched, and because after 50, 60, 70 years, it still works, not to mention the history behind a particular piece.

I'm thrilled to hear that Lionel is going to offer these trains without all the electronic crapola. Now if they would just start making transformers that produce a pure sine wave again, we'd be all set.

 - Clint 

Oh please, oh please come out with the 726 Berkshire!!! Well it would probably be a 736 but it's still fine.

I too am happy to see this I guess.  In reality though, it is just another marketing twist on a successful (well I think the PWC series  was/is successful) concept.  These, at least the ones mentioned are not much of a twist from the current PWC trains.  Only difference might be the use of the old "style" bar end magnetic coupler truck instead of the diecast sprung thucks and the removal of all the electronics and replacement with an E unit.  Do you think they will really put a battery tray and the old horn back in the engines??  I'd be really surprised! Do you really think the 1947 GG1 set will have a single motor in it?  I doubt it.  Do you think these will be heat stamp decorated, I doubt that too.  Do you think they will use original style bayonet base bulbs, I doubt it.  Does any of this matter, maybe to some, but these would be departures from original and when Jerry claims to be true to the original, this type of detail might mean to some that Lionel will come up short.

BTW, the prewar celebration series seems to be evolving in this direction already with the electronics removed and the correct wheels  to be installed on the upcoming red comet set etc. This I definitely like.  But price concious they certainly are not!!!

I guess if the GG1 set is in the $3-400 range many would like it, but if they mean priced right at $6-800, I'd say they are still out to lunch!!  

If they are really cheap, how the heck can they do it, I mean they really won't be any different manufacturing wise than what they currently make...Oh well, I'm rambling again

bottom line is I'll be happy to see what they come up with in the August catalog! 

And I'd be happier still if some production came back over here.  Lets say they made these conventional classics over here, I might be willing to pay 10-15% more for them......... 

I had the chance to talk with a Lionel rep today at the World's Greatest Hobby show in Louisville, and asked specifically about this line. 

I was assured several times that they would be "exactly like the originals." I then asked specifically whether they would have mechanical e-units or electronic e-unit, at which point I was assured that they would have mechanical e-units.

Take that for what it's worth, but at this point they are saying that there will in fact be mechanical e-units.

Is this stuff going to come out in 2009?

More details from Lionel via Charlie of Nassau Hobbies via the OGRR Forum:

Dear Lionel Dealers and Wholesalers:

The initial response to my announcement about Lionel’s new Postwar Conventional Classics series has been really encouraging. In a time when Lionel has devoted so much energy in developing and perfecting our new LEGACY operating system, it’s important that train enthusiasts who prefer conventional operations understand that we are fully committed to them, as well.

Since our announcement, I’ve received a lot of questions that I assume you have also been hearing. Here is some further information that will help you answer them:

We are aiming to deliver the first new Conventional Classics pieces late this year, with the rest of them to follow no later than the early summer of 2009.

The Conventional Classics series is currently a three-year program, and depending on the reaction, it could be extended.

Conventional Classics packaging, graphics, deco, and road names will be in the original Lionel postwar style.

All of the pieces in our new series will be made with the authentic tools that produced our originals. The only exceptions will be those original tools that have been repaired or improved over the years.

In the past, some companies have made knock off copies of Lionel’s original post war classics using a process known as “over molding”, in which molds are made from a real Lionel production piece. Those molds, not machine tools, are then used to stamp out slightly smaller, less detailed copies of the originals, similar to how a copy of a famous painting is made from a photo of that painting, and not from the actual art.

The Conventional Classics line sets will be moderately priced, with the MSRP for the Hudson Passenger set at $609.99, the Brunswick GG-1 and the Burlington GP-7 Passenger sets at $469.99, and the Lackawanna FM "Thunderbird" Freight set at $414.99. Separate sale locomotives will range from $279.99 for the Tuscan GG-1, $239.99 for the Virginian FM Trainmaster, and $219.99 for the Milwaukee Road GP-7. The Elizabeth Coach and Sager Place Observation cars will sell for $59.99 and $64.99, respectively.

In addition to very attractive dealer discounts and terms that apply to the Conventional Classics line, Lionel is also offering a consumer loyalty bonus certificate of $50 that will be included in all four sets. Customers can apply this certificate towards the purchase of the next Conventional Classics series, to be announced in 2009.

As faithful as we will be to the original models, the new Conventional Classics series will also make technical and sound quality improvements where doing so does not detract from the aesthetics and integrity of the originals.

The new Conventional Classics series is Lionel’s way of announcing to our dealers and our fans that we are committed to maintaining our presence and leadership in all aspects of O Gauge model railroading. Along the way, we hope that our special dealer incentives and consumer loyalty discounts will also serve notice that we intend to reward dealers and fans for their loyalty.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions on how we can make the next installments of this exciting new series even better.

Best wishes,

Jerry Calabrese
President and CEO
Lionel Electric Trains


Charlie, Nassau Hobby Center

I'm in for a GG-1 set. Heck, an original set of Madisons will run more than the retail price. The retail price for the set is close to the price for the equivalent Williams set, so, to me, it's a no-brainer. 

I admit that I would like to see mechanical e-units, but I'm not going to complain too loudly about the lack of them. I'm just happy that the set is going to be $470, and not the $600+ I had anticipated.

It looks like the Lionel rep I talked to at the WGH show is 0 for 2 so far.  

773 HUDSON!!!

Say NO to OVERMOLDING

Say YES to MAGNETRACTION!!!

SMELL THE OZONE AND FEEL THE POWER!!!