The 2008 Ready-To-Run Catalog for LIONEL was at L&J Hobbies in Portage, MI.
That Lionel catalog design is nearly identical to the design of TARGET flyers and catalogs. They must have contracted with the same design firm to make the new R-T-R catalog. Perhaps this line will be sold in places like TARGET at least for part of the year.
Thankfully there is a variety of roadnames.
Did not see anything in the Ready-To-Run Catalog with the new BNSF Swoosh Logo, the Union Pacific Building America slogan, or the NS Horsehead graphics. At least the Canadian Pacific Northwestern Freight Set is still being made available.
I like the British Columbia Railway Log Dump Flat Car and the British Columbia Railway Hi-Cube Boxcar.
If there is an ILLIOIS CENTRAL 1966 Tank Car then the ILLINOIS CENTRAL 1967 Hi-Cube has to be made in 2009.
It is amazing that they are introducing a new Steam Locomotive for the train sets. It is a nice change from the same old steamers from the past 20 years.
The Northeastern Railfans have to at least get the Conrail 2-Tier Auto Carrier. I was thinking that they might come out with a CN or CP Rail 2-Tier Auto Carrier first, but the Conrail 2-Tier Auto Carrier looks good enough to buy.
The 2008 Ready-To-Run Catalog for Mike's Train House is not yet available. The MTH Ready-To -Run catalog must be coming soon. I wonder if MTH will put new BNSF, NS, UP, or CSX in their catalog.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Hello Andrew:
I would presume that both Lionel and MTH know their market. However, it is amazing to me that both companies do not have more entry level sets with current road names. How many seven or eight year olds even know what the PRR or NYC are?
Regards,
John
The biggest surprise to me was the new 0-8-0 in the starter sets. Especially the 2 least expensive sets. It's a much more realistic locomotive than the 4-4-2 Atlantic that Lionel has used for decades. I can see many a set breakup just for the locomotive and tender.
I've grown so accustomed to how the previous Lionel catalogs looked, that I was a little surprised to see the format change. One thing I can honestly say I don't care for is the angle of the photos showing the sets. One doesn't get a clear view of what the train really looks like. For example, the Santa Fe steam set 0-8-0 has upgraded side rods as compared to the Pennsy version. But I can't see the difference because of the angle the locos were shot at.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
I understand your point completely Jim, but I really like the photos a lot. The low angle reminds me of the old catalogs. The surroundings for the trains in these new photos is also really nice. Makes all the starter sets seem regal.
Mike S.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Now Mike's Train House is releasing their 2008 Ready-To-Run Catalog.
It is now at www.mth-railking.com and many hobby shops.
They have include modern Union Pacific, CSX, BNSF, CP, and AMTRAK Locomotives and Cars.
This time Thrall Centerbeams and Gunderson Husky Stacks are part of the rolling stock offerings.
There are Rugged Rails Locomotives and Cars that many on the Classic Toy Trains forum will love. Included are the much desired Rugged Rails DASH 8 with just a bell and horn as the basic sound features. The Rugged Rails rolling stock features old and new roadnames from the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's. What I think is the best is the Grand Trunk Western Covered Hopper. I will have to get 2 of the GTW Covered Hoppers. The Chessie System Gondola scheme of Blue Graphics on Yellow is unlikely, but this version looks good.
This is a great catalog for O Gauge Operators on a budget.
johnandjulie13 wrote: Hello Andrew:I would presume that both Lionel and MTH know their market. However, it is amazing to me that both companies do not have more entry level sets with current road names. How many seven or eight year olds even know what the PRR or NYC are?Regards,John
John,
How many young children will know what the Pennsy or NYC is down here near Miami FL? We have FEC(Florida East Coast), Tri-Rail and CSX, sometimes even a Norfolk Southern into Miami.
I agree that more sets should have current names rather than defunct railroad names if you want to spark the interest of a young child. Have rolling stock that has the older railroad names as individual sale items.
Lee F.
Amen to that, Lee! But you are preaching to the choir. I think some of the items in the MTH R-T-R catalog are a step in the right direction, but they can still do better.
Can anyone tell me why there are separate Catalogs for the Ready-To-Run, Signature and the K-Line? Why are they not all in one book? Just Curious, it seems the Signature has a Ready-To-Run section in it already, what is the difference?
Also why are there different Volumes? Is it because Vol. 2 comes out later in the year? Are there many differences between them or do they just add couple items?
I have only flipped though the 2007 Catalog did not notice if it was Vol. 1 or 2. I am still a newbie and that is why I am asking these questions that may seem as "common knowledge" to others that have been doing this hobby for a while.
Thanks!
Another interesting change is that the big catalog has been changed from "Classic" to "Signature." This may be to differentiate from the K-Line offerings. The R-T-R catalog is new this year. MTH has had a R-T-R catalog for many years and that may be part of the reason why Lionel added the separate catalog this year. Lionel acquired K-Line a couple of years ago and originally incorporated their products in the "Classic" catalog. I am also curious why Lionel does not have a separate catalog for their American Flyer stuff. Either have one book with everything in it, or truly separate out the product lines. Lionel may be moving toward the latter, but right now it does appear to be a little confusing.
Jim,
The print version of the catalog gives the shot seen on-line and a full side shot for each set.
As far as Target vs. LHS sets, the LHS has access to better quality better featured sets, while Target gets the "Creme of the Crap" ie: the Lionel Lines ALCo FA.
Jon
Yeah, I don't understand the two differing catalog versions from Lionel either. I've been saying what John Long said for years: if Lionel wants to do dual catalogs, one of them should be aimed squarely at beginners and budget wary buyers with more affordable product offerings... of course given the across the board price increases, we could debate that.
Andrew, I'm with you on this one. MTH deserves some credit for finally offering some new Rugged Rails stuff. Though it beats me why they offer cars that others recently done (the RR New Haven box car is an example that Lionel has recently done a couple of, K-Lionel has one and Industrial Rail has one). And there's already a Chessie Rugged Rails gondola, which I have and like over the looks of the new one. But I like the GT hopper, and the Southern hopper is at least a different color than the new Atlas IR one (included in the Southern add-on pack) and the Lehigh Valley gondola too. And no price increase! BRAVO! Still beats me why they don't get some more current roads on the rolling stock? I guess someone buys all those NYC and PRR cars, but for me, a big no thanks!
The sad thing is MTH thinks no one is interested in these Rugged Rails cars. Make 'em in Norfolk Southern, Conrail, Canadian National (current paint), Canadian Pacific (current paint), CSX, BNSF, KCS, Wisconson Central and I'm in. I can find plenty of beater or used NYC and PRR cars to repaint and I have.
And while I wish they had continued to offer the recent Rugged Rails SD90MAC - which is by far the best looking and best proportioned of all the smaller modern MTH locos - it's great to see the Dash-8. The price is the big thing: $150!
Why didn't they offer the SD90MAC's from a few years ago at that price instead of raising it $30??? Maybe they wouldn't have had to cancel them all if they had. I'd still rather have the CP, CSX or the NS SD90MAC over the Dash-8 just because it's a better selectively reduced proportioned loco. If the MTH locos weren't so hard to strip I'd get one of the new type-B truck Amtrak Dash-8's and repaint it to Norfolk Southern. Oh well, maybe next time around.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
____________________________________________________________Mike KieranPort Able RailwayI just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.
I just picked up our catalogs yesterday. I like the new design of the RTR and the K-Line catalogs. Haven't looked at the Signature one yet. They did agreat job photographing the El Capitan set in the RTR catalog!
Brian [I knowyou are not in to command], how about offering the Dash 8 [or9] in NS dummy with smoke, lights and electro couplers and powered in a set only. The dummy equiped that way saves me some work [I have been upgrading them like that for a couple of years] but I'm not buying the set for a batch of tank cars. I'll wait for someone to offer a set break up and get the powered unit.
I like the offering of Electric RR kits even though I am buying my direct from Electric RR.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Brian,
I'll think you'll agree that what we need to see more of in these catalogs is more Santa Fe, more New York Central, and more Pennsylvania offerings. All with a generous supply of glorious FasTrack!
In the Mike's Train House Ready-To-Run 2008 catalog there are CSX and UP SD70ACe Diesels. It is hard to believe that they would be 17" long because that is close to scale. Where is the RailKing Scale graphic? The frame length would have to be only 15" long to be a traditional sized diesel locomotive.
Andrew Falconer wrote: In the Mike's Train House Ready-To-Run 2008 catalog there are CSX and UP SD70ACe Diesels. It is hard to believe that they would be 17" long because that is close to scale. Where is the RailKing Scale graphic? The frame length would have to be only 15" long to be a traditional sized diesel locomotive.Andrew
Did you notice that they had the "Imperial" designation? That is MTH's alternative to Lionel's Lionmaster. On their Imperial steam offerings, MTH adds additional details but compresses the size to maintain the engine's ability to negotiate O-31 curves. Would a 17" engine be able to negotiate such curves? Are these scale engines?
I missed the IMPERIAL designation.
To negotiate O-31 curves the trucks will have to have the trucks pivot over the axle closest to the fuel tank and the wheel on the axle closest to the fuel tank would need to be without flanges.
"I'll think you'll agree that what we need to see more of in these catalogs is more Santa Fe, more New York Central, and more Pennsylvania offerings. All with a generous supply of glorious FasTrack!"
Ha ha Jim! Actually from my retail and show days in the hobby, I've coined a phrase I call "The Grandfather Effect." I've talked to other dealers who also say they've noticed this... that a good many starter sets that are purchased to introduce a young child to the hobby are bought by the child's grandfather. So in some way, these sets (at least by roadname) are marketed to grandfathers who remember these lines and will buy the set. There have been many times on the train forums where a starter set goes on sale and you read guys are gonna pick one up for a grandchild.
My thought on modern current roads is to HOLD the child's interest. Kids do recognize the modern roads and colors (at least by locomotives) as I've seen this many times at shows. Of course, the special interest/tie-in sets like Thomas, Polar Express, CHRISTmas/Santa, Sponge Bob, Halloween, Circus related, etc. are also very popular with kids and have appeal for kids - which is very understandable.
Jim, I've said this before, but from my times doing displays it always amazed me how popular that Santa Fe warbonnet scheme is - even with young kids of today. Yeah, they liked Conrail and Norfolk Southern. But then they'd see the war bonnet sitting under the table and ask me to run that one. I don't think once I ever had a kid ask me to run a Pennsy or NYC loco (which at one time I had more of... they've all been repainted save one or two). But they did ask for NS, Conrail, CP, CSX and they did ask for the Santa Fe war bonnet. So I can't argue with ATSF sets still being offered.
Chief, from what I read on the other forums, you are not alone in your desire for dummy units equipped this way. Given the penchant on the companies to listen to their adult market customers, maybe this could still happen. I don't know what happened to the Lionel Scout Command System, mentioned in the 1997 catalog?
I think a very basic command system that would work from via some kind of separate box that would connect to any transformer and offer a simplified wireless control would be popular with beginners, budget hobbiests and those with small layouts. Simple wireless engine control (without individual locomotive electronics) and a simple trackside transformer box (like the Lionel and MTH IAD's) that would serve as an on-off box for track blocks. You point your controller at the box and turn the block on or off. No complicated undertable wiring... you could do it right on the surface via the two sections of track separated by plastic pins.
It's not that I'm against digital control. I personally don't want to spend the money that I don't really have. And then to buy a product that so many times I read are unreliable and problematic. I've never once had a major service problem or DOA that needed factory repair. Some (I know not you, Chief) may laugh at my choice of trains. But they're affordable for me, and they work... that makes the hobby a hobby - that is also fun, and frustration free.
Hey, I like that... frustration free. That's what I'm gonna call traditional control: FFC*.
*FFC, Frustration Free Control is a registered trademark of Brianel Trains, LLC. Any other similarities to any other command system, either temporarily working or needing factory service, is purely coincidental.
Interesting posts! Has anyone noticed that Lionel has raised the prices on some items (again) even though they are the same stuff? (Accessories - Track - Rolling Stock)
Sure makes E-Bay "et al" more attractive! ((Just my ))
I have to extole the virtues of digital control. I put my five digits on the throttle to control the speed.
That's as digital as our control gets on the Jumijo!
I've finally had a chance to sit down and browse through the new Lionel catalogs. A lot of great stuff that I would like to own. The K-Line circus stuff (all of it) really is nice. So is the new Hall class English train set. The new Hudsons and Pacifics, along with the 10 wheelers are very nice as well! All kinds of great passenger trains. Love the NYC and Hiawatha sets. And I suddenly have a hankering for the K-Line New Haven freight set from last year. Those Alcos are sweet!
All in all, I think Lionel is offering a lot of great things. I will have to settle for the 2 new Santa Fe El Capitan add-on cars. I wish I was born rich instead of beautiful!
Hello Brianel!
You should apply for a patent in order to protect your "Frustration Free Control" It may make you rich someday! you can promote it on QVC or let K-Tel (a not for profit division of Brianel & incorporated in the fine State of Delaware & also affiliated with K*A*O*S ) Do the promotions for you & you get whats left after Bills are paid. Take Care.
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