"Lionel Mega Tracks:" A Return to the Lionel of the 1960s?

[IDM1991]

I notice that Lionel is now marketing a bizarre-looking item called "Lionel Mega Tracks," which resembles a postmodern roller coaster with vague echoes of slot-car racing.  What is with this thing?  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, in which Mr. Hitchcock was interviewed, seemed to suggest that young people no longer find trains interesting (which is probably true), ergo, "...we have to come up with things that jazz up the kids of today."

This approach is eerily similar to the days of Lawrence Cowen/Alan Ginsburg/Roy Cohn, when pink locomotives, exploding boxcars, gimmicky HO locomotives, "U-Drive" boats, and Helios 21 inflatable spaceships were trotted out to "jazz up the kids of today."  Under the "Calabrese administration," Lionel seemed to cover all interests without sacrificing its reputation for quality or its focus on realism, right down to the most basic of starter sets.  I think of the starter set expansion packs and Conventional Classics, in particular, as examples of how to promote Lionel railroading in sensible, affordable ways.  

A cursory glance at recent "Ready To Run" catalogues reveals too many outfits using cheap, two-axle rolling stock and odd-looking 0-4-0 switchers with huge, gaudy-looking driving wheels.  Frankly, a beautifully-lihographed, sheet-metal Marx outfit from days gone by looks like a Vision Line product when compared to some of the more garish, recent Lionel starter sets.

And now we have "Lonel Mega Tracks."  What would Joshua Lionel Cowen say about this?  Would he have thrown up his hands in resignation, declaring that kids are no longer interested in trains, so rather than trying to create and sustain interest via high-quality, fresh-looking starter sets, Lionel should start producing something that looks nothing like a train and will probably be cast aside when a child reaches adolesence?

The fun of model railroading, particularly with three-rail trains, involves putting loads (blocks, boxes, candy-canes, coal, logs, miniature trees, vehicles, etc.) into gondolas and on to flatcars.  It also involves backing the trains into spurs and using both logic and imagination to spot cars (e.g. after seven laps around the train table, the local freight drops two ore cars in a siding before picking up two boxcars stationed outside of the Marx freight terminal).  Lastly, it involves watching at least two trains meander around a layout, blowing the whistles, smelling the smoke and ozone, and putting out the lights to take in the full effect of locomotive headlights and glowing lamps on 260 track bumpers.

Just a few observations on this cold February evening...

Ian D. McKechnie, Lindsay, ON  

[cwburfle]

 What would Joshua Lionel Cowen say about this?  Would he have thrown up his hands in resignation, declaring that kids are no longer interested in trains, so rather than trying to create and sustain interest via high-quality, fresh-looking starter sets, Lionel should start producing something that looks nothing like a train and will probably be cast aside when a child reaches adolesence?

Cowen was a business man. He sold out when he saw the handwriting on the wall.

[tinplatacis]

cwburfle

 What would Joshua Lionel Cowen say about this?  Would he have thrown up his hands in resignation, declaring that kids are no longer interested in trains, so rather than trying to create and sustain interest via high-quality, fresh-looking starter sets, Lionel should start producing something that looks nothing like a train and will probably be cast aside when a child reaches adolesence?

Cowen was a business man. He sold out when he saw the handwriting on the wall.

 

Mebbe we should take a cue, get together to make Calabrese an offer for Lionel. Bring home the company, make the products we want to see made. Or at least buy the tooling and machinery for some of our favorites.

[thesiding]

Saw this at The NY Toy fair along with their Christmas display tree

 

Go to www.tycoforums.com for pictures

 

As to children I was at the NY Historical Society with it's Holiday Express

 

Kids seemed to love it particularly the bubble observation dome in the middle of the layout

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

I have to agree.   While I applaud Lionel for trying something new, I think this new product is way removed from their comfort zone.   Lionchief RTR sets and what they did with the old Scout rolling stock is bad enough.  The price on their new accessories is ridiculous.   I hope Lionel is not shooting themselves in the foot. I looked at the RTR catalog.  What I find most interesting is that many of the higher level sets have a price of $399.  Until MTH comes out with new prices on their RTR sets, a tinplate STD gauge set sells for $599.   Hmmmm....   I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Christopher2035]

I agree. Not sure what direction Lionel is going w/ their product or prices, but I know it's one that doesn't include me.  Seems like after Jerry left, the whole dynamic of the company changed. 

[Firelock76]

This wouldn't be the first time that Lionel moved out of the "comfort zone" in pusuit of a new product line.  They had a slot car racing set around the time of World War One, the Lionel airplane in the 30's, plus the "Girl's Stove," (I don't remember the exact name) Lionel wind-up toy boats, the Airex fishing tackle line, the 3-D cameras of the 50's, and so on.

I wish them the best of luck with the new product.  If it flops look at it this way, Lionel collectors will have another rare Lionel product to chase after.

[phrankenstign]

I just did a quick search for "Lionel Mega Tracks".  Wow!  Was I surprised!

What railroad prototypes are those engines based on?  I'd like to ride one!

Just imagine the possibilities for layouts with those sets!

 

Seriously....

I doubt this kind of toy will sell for very long.  There is no real way to race them like slot cars, and they don't run as fast as them either.

I watched a video on youtube where Lionel's president talked about the sets.  He mentioned how track layout ideas are unlimited.  That may be true, but the temptation to create as many vertical loops as possible for more excitement will soon wear off.  The whiny sound of each battery-operated, motorized unit gets tiring.  It would drive me crazy on long straightaways after awhile.  The fact the units will need to be recharged constantly doesn't help either.

One can put multiple units on the track at the same time, but they wouldn't be able to pass each other.  To me, that lowers the play value.  I got bored watching the video, even though the guy conducting the video was loving operating it.

I think this kind of toy would be exciting for kids to find under the tree, but they'd get tired of it after building a few different layouts.  Evidently the motorized units are designed to fall off the track if run too quickly around tight circles.  I'll bet many units will break from falling off layouts constructed on hardwood floors.  That'll end the fun real fast.

 

I don't see these toys as being any kind of long-term money-makers for Lionel.

[ADCX Rob]

MEGA TRACKS... coming soon to an Ollies near you!

(Warehouse in YORK, PA)

[phrankenstign]

No doubt!!!