One manufacturer. Four corporate stewards. Lionel has lasted a long time as a maker of miniature electric trains. Indeed, 2010 marks the 60th anniversary since Magne-Traction was formally introduced, the 80th anniversary of the prewar Blue Comet outfit, and the 15th anniversary of Lionel under the stewardship of an investment firm. Can Lionel last for another century? Can it last for another decade? That will be up to the talented designers and craftsmen who continue to make Lionel one of the most intriguing icons of hobby culture.
I would suggest, however, that Lionel expand beyond its traditional base, even if done in moderation. In 1949, the trainmaker's most important road names were Santa Fe, New York Central, and Pennsylvania. This hasn't changed much over the past sixty or so years. As a Canadian citizen, I would be intrigued to see more locomotives and rolling stock decorated for not only the CPR and CNR, but also for British, Australian, and New Zealand railways. Surely, there must be a sizable following of three-rail hobbyists in the Commonwealth and in continental Europe. A complete outfit depicting the 1939 Royal Train would be interesting, considering that this was a pivitol moment in Canadian history, when our King toured the country. Similar trains decorated for British or Australian interests would, I think, be impressive. Let's not forget the railways in Asia and Africa, as well, for that matter! The variety found in the Lionel catalogues from the past five or so years beats anything found in them fifteen, twenty, or fifty years ago. Keep up the good work, Lionel.
but also for British, Australian, and New Zealand railways. Surely, there must be a sizable following of three-rail hobbyists in the Commonwealth and in continental Europe.
I would agree with your assessment, it seems that MTH had done quite well in Europe with their selection of O Gauge steamers and electrics.
Bill T.
I hope so. If I live to be 70 years old, (just turned 21) my old trains will be over a hundred, and I still hope they will be still rollin around like me. Well not literely rolling, walking is what i meant for me anyway.
Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!
Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.
I second your opinion on British & European models. If Lionel can introduce these models in both Scale & Traditional sizes then they'll be in even better shape. For example: a model of the Great Western Railway's King Class #6000 King George V with optional bell as presented by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to the engine during its visit to America in August 1927 for the B&O's centenary or a model of the LNER #4472 Flying Scotsman with optional American pilot/cowcatcher, headlight, bell & couplers added to the engine during its 1969 tour of the USA. Another thing they might attempt is to make more detailed models of the characters from The Railway Series/Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. But even if these models aren't produced, I still see Lionel being one of the top producers of toy trains. They've continued to innovate and stay ahead with their products, and will continue to do so. Here's to many more years of Lionel Trains!
What Lionel has not done is make high-end, O Scale Sets consisting of just one regional or shortline railroad such as The Akron, Canton & Younstown, the Arkansas & Missouri, the Soo Line, Lake Erie, Frankin & Clarion, the Grand Trunk Western, Florida East Coast, Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, and others.
They can not always mix the smaller roads into other sets with larger roads or spread these roads out over years.
Andrew Falconer
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
What Lionel has not done is make high-end, O Scale Sets consisting of just one regional or shortline railroad
Lionel's focus has always been on the major railroads with very little interest in the shortlines. Every once in a while they will put out a regional but not enough to spark any interest. I am a fan of the Spokane Portland & Seattle RR, Lionel has done a couple low end starter set conventional steamers whereas MTH has put out some PS-2 Premier models such as the Z-6 Challenger, ABA Alcos, ABA F-3's, and a pair of Railking RS-3's.
The largest contribution Lionel could make to the hobby for many of the Commonwealth, and other parts of Europe would be a "transformer" compatible with local power supply. The biggest challange that many in England seem to have is power comversion.
To stick around for another decade Lionel could bring the production of the low-end, fast-turnaround part of their product line back to the United States of America. The inexpensively priced locos, cars, and accessories could appear in short runs of many roadnames for regional appeal.
Andrew
"Lionel's focus has always been on the major railroads with very little interest in the shortlines."
It's not just shortlines. Here in Canada, we were once blessed with the "World's Shortest Commercial Railway;" a narrow-gauge portage line that operated in the Muskoka Region of Ontario from 1904-1959, or thereabouts. The trains still operate out of the Huntsville, Ontario, museum. This focus may be a bit too "narrow" (no pun intended), but the manufacturers must, I think, come to terms with the fact that there do exist other locomotives and other road names besides "Hudson," "NYC," "K4," and "Pennsylvania." I have no intention to mock fans of those late, great railway companies, of course; nevertheless, it is important to diversify. I know prudent business practices dictate what Lionel will catalogue, but I don't think it would hurt to offer more Canadian steam locomotives, for example. There have only been two steamers offered by Lionel in the past five or so years (CNR 2-6-0, 2005; CPR 4-6-2, 2009). Lionel has always changed with the times, and I think a wee bit of "multinational" selection of product would not hurt at all.
Here is what Lionel has to make for Canadian National:
There was going to be a Canadian National GP9 Diesel in a scheme similar to what Williams by Bachmann was offering. It was cancelled. They need to offer something different.
Traditional O Gauge sized offerings:
CN GP9 Low Nose & CN Cabless GP9 with Dual Motors in the CN diagonal stripes scheme. TrainSounds or TMMC/RailSounds must be included.
CN Open-Frame 3-Tier Auto Carrier
CN #6672 Mechanical Refrigerator with Bright Blue Door
CN 4-Bay Covered Hopper with Opening Hatches with the paint scheme that matches the CN Slab Sided Hoppers.
CN Standard O Gondola
CN Standard O Extended-Vision Caboose
High-end offerings from K-Line by Lionel:
CN SD75I Diesel
CN Ribbed Side Articulated Intermodal Well Car with CN Containers
There was planned a Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Cylindrical 3-Bay Covered Hopper 3-Pack, but that was among the many cancelled 3-Packs.
What would be great from Lionel is a totally High-End O Scale Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo GP7 powered train set.
Some of the freight cars would be a PS-5 Gondola, Cylindrical Hopper, and a PS-1 40' Boxcar
Then there should be a complementary Traditional O Gauge Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo GP9 train set that has the 4-Bay Covered Hopper, Standard O Gondola, and a Wood-Sided Reefer.
The Standard O Exterior-Braced 50' Double-Door Boxcars have not yet been made for CP Rail, British Columbia Railway, or CN.
They could go out of their way and make the National Steel Car 3-Unit Articulated Intermodal 53' Well Cars in Traditional O Gauge with plastic bodies and True O Scale with Die-Cast Metal bodies. Then make the matching Domestic 53' Intermodal Container.
So far all the announced Mexican railroad decorated Locomotives and Cars appear to have been cancelled by Lionel.
Well, they have made pieces for that iconic Canadian railroad, the Illinois Central...;-)
Bob Nelson
IDM1991 "Lionel's focus has always been on the major railroads with very little interest in the shortlines." It's not just shortlines. Here in Canada, we were once blessed with the "World's Shortest Commercial Railway;" a narrow-gauge portage line that operated in the Muskoka Region of Ontario from 1904-1959, or thereabouts. The trains still operate out of the Huntsville, Ontario, museum. This focus may be a bit too "narrow" (no pun intended), but the manufacturers must, I think, come to terms with the fact that there do exist other locomotives and other road names besides "Hudson," "NYC," "K4," and "Pennsylvania." I have no intention to mock fans of those late, great railway companies, of course; nevertheless, it is important to diversify. I know prudent business practices dictate what Lionel will catalogue, but I don't think it would hurt to offer more Canadian steam locomotives, for example. There have only been two steamers offered by Lionel in the past five or so years (CNR 2-6-0, 2005; CPR 4-6-2, 2009). Lionel has always changed with the times, and I think a wee bit of "multinational" selection of product would not hurt at all.
They must not think that those would sell enough to be commercially viable. If you think that the Canadian roads are under represented, especially in Steam power, then look at what they produced for the CB&Q Steam, a Starter set Hudson jr, that was not as far as I know available as a seperate sale item, that set was cataloged in about 2001 or 2004.
I mainly collect Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, with a minor interest in the CB&Q, granted there is quite a bit available for UP and SP, but I would really like to see a Nice MT class 4-8-2, or a "Bull Moose" 2-8-8-0, or even an EARLY Challenger, all of which, my best guess would be that these would out sell a Canadian product, but these are also still unbuilt.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
Never made Soo Line Steam.
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