ogauge wrote: How about Von Ryan's Express!
How about Von Ryan's Express!
This is one of the best train related movies I have ever seen (in my opinion). I asked Lionel a while back if they intended on making a set based on it or something. However I don't recall their answer. No doubt though that it would be a great model.
ogauge wrote: If your going to do British steam, it starts with the Mallard for me the steam record of 126 mph still stands.
If your going to do British steam, it starts with the Mallard for me the steam record of 126 mph still stands.
As far as this goes, the Mallard would be a good choice for Lionel to make, yet it would be wise to wait until after 3rd Rail releases their version. Another engine they could go with might be the City of Turo (the first engine to break 100 mph in Britain).
You are right Bob in that it depends on how you define "traditionally sized" and it also depends on which side of that scale you lean towards. Classic Toy Trains did a wonderful article years ago in the famous Neil Young issue called "Scale Is The Thing," which in my opinion warrants updating and reprinting.
They made the following classifications: Small ~ Less than 85% of true scale. Medium ~ 85-93% of true scale. Large ~ 93-99% of true scale. And then full 0 scale. Postwar Lionel items covered the full range of these ratings as do MTH Railking offerings, though the Railking items tend to be larger, even those not called "Scale Railking."
The Railking flat cars and 3 dome tank cars are right in line with Lionel postwar sizes. The Railking box cars are longer, wider and higher than the 6464's as are a number of the other Railking cars. Which doesn't mean they can't or don't look good with more traditionally sized cars. I have a few Railking cars, but I won't have more because of the larger sizes. The Railking operating dump car is a superb looking and operating car: first rate in my eyes. But the dump tray is so much longer than anything else I have, that it requires a special bin from my other dump cars. As much as I think this Railking car is better than any of my Lionel or K-Line spring operated dump cars, I got rid of the MTH one because of the length.
Early MTH Railking locos are also all over the place. The Baatam steamers are undersized and look good on a traditional layout. The smaller short F-3 does too as do a couple of the modern styled locos like the SD-45 and the SD90 MAC. Others like the Dash-8 and SD60 are a little more shoebox like in their selective compression, and not nearly as nicely proportioned for a traditional layout with 027 leanings.
I won't even bring up the electronics. To me traditional is this department is traditional, and I won't pay more for MTH electronics that I will only rip out of the loco.
Mike Wolf said early on he had no interest in making the smaller undersized kinds of cars Lionel made. Years later I read some positive comments Mike made about the then new Industrial Rail line... he too must have noticed how well these cars were doing in the market. It was after this that MTH introduced the Rugged Rails line. Whether it sold well or not I don't know. I do know MTH has not done much with the line. UMD Industrial Rail did far more, and now Atlas is taking the line to greater offerings. By the way, the Railbox Rugged Rails box car is the best looking of them all as compared to other similarly sized offerings. I'd own more Rugged Rails if they'd only bothered to make them.
Nothing against MTH, but I believe Mike has made a marketing move to go towards the more scale oriented crowd. I lilke the quality and graphics of my MTH Railking cars, but I've also gone to some trouble to make them smaller: I've changed the mountings on the box cars and made new frames so that they ride lower. I cut down the height of my PS-2 Conrail Hopper (a very nice looking car) so that it looks better with my other more traditionally sized cars.
So I agree with you Bob, it's a matter of taste as far as size. And there are other companies doing far more in my tastes to get my purchases than MTH.
As on final thought on the "SCALE" thing, I go back to my artist days. When you paint with water colors, the medium itself doesn't lend itself to the same realism you can attain with oil or acrylic paints. With water colors, you throw away the "realism" ruler and go for "FEEL." That's how I look at my 027 trains... I go for "feel" of how they look on the layout with the other smaller cars.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Kooljock1 wrote:"I wish Lionel would come out with a transformer called a "Baby" CW. Like one without two throttles."Uh, explain this one please? The CW-80 only has one throttle. They make a cheaper version with about half the wattage called a "PowerMax". It is good for a few accessories or maybe a trolley line.Jon
When I read his post Jon, I assumed he meant ZW, as he referred to 2 throttles.
Lionel is indeed coming out with a medium sized transformer that will fit between the CW-80 and the ZW on the power scale. If it works as good as the prototype looks, I'll be buying one.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
"Lionel is indeed coming out with a medium sized transformer that will fit between the CW-80 and the ZW on the power scale. If it works as good as the prototype looks, I'll be buying one."
Jim: how hard would it be for them to stick the equivilent of a 180 brick into a KW shell with modern electronic control? They must still have the molds right?
Jon
Kooljock1 wrote:...how hard would it be for them to stick the equivilent of a 180 brick into a KW shell with modern electronic control? They must still have the molds right?...Jon
...how hard would it be for them to stick the equivilent of a 180 brick into a KW shell with modern electronic control? They must still have the molds right?...
Lionel 135 Watt Transformer
Well, it's not quite a KW, but it's got good power.
Rob
Rob,
Given that the "190 watt" KW was rated on INPUT power, and modern transformers are rated on OUTPUT power, this new Lionel offering should be more powerful than a KW, right?
If this is the long-awaited medium power Lionel transformer, some folks (myself included) will be disappointed that it's not all in one module. Still, it looks like an answer to the need for something between the CW-80 and the modern ZW.
Do you know whether it will be in the new catalog due out next week?
brianel027 wrote:"It is just the thing to inject new and different people into our hobby and some of those people will buy more track and more trains and become further interested as we are. On the other hand, If Lionel hadn't made a deal for the PE, HP, and Thomas sets, don't you think MTH would be selling the crap out of them!!"Nothing personal, but I think your thinking is off base ogauge. Most of us who are as interested in trains as we are now, started off many years ago with a starter set. And we probably didn't have tons of trains. We probably got a new train item for CHRISTmas or a birthday. This is EXACTLY what Lionel is doing with these new starter sets.
"It is just the thing to inject new and different people into our hobby and some of those people will buy more track and more trains and become further interested as we are. On the other hand, If Lionel hadn't made a deal for the PE, HP, and Thomas sets, don't you think MTH would be selling the crap out of them!!"
Nothing personal, but I think your thinking is off base ogauge. Most of us who are as interested in trains as we are now, started off many years ago with a starter set. And we probably didn't have tons of trains. We probably got a new train item for CHRISTmas or a birthday. This is EXACTLY what Lionel is doing with these new starter sets.
I guess either you missunderstood my post or I don't not write too well....
I stand by the idea that of all the people that have bought PE, HP and Thomas sets, a bunch of them bought them as a first set and further would not have purchased a set otherwise. Those are the people that the standard lionel starter set would not have reached. If I am right, then signing a deal to be allowed to produce those sets was a good idea for Lionel. If I am wrong, well then I guess they are just a lot more popular than the standard starter set...
If my theory above was correct then if any of those "new" hobbyist decided to expand and buy more stuff, a goodly percentage of them would probably look for orange and blue boxes. As was said, Name recognition still is good for Lionel, but heck, its nothing like it must have been in the 50's. Every kid and their parents know what a playstation is today but not everyone knows that toy trains are even still sold let alone who sells them or makes them.... So using current media hotties like the PE, HP, and T are a great idea to attempt to get those otherwise uninterested consumers to become interested.
I'm probably wrong though...
Lionel will remain number one. I am not very interested in MTH stuff, but thats another story to be flamed over.
ADCX Rob wrote: Kooljock1 wrote:...how hard would it be for them to stick the equivilent of a 180 brick into a KW shell with modern electronic control? They must still have the molds right?...Jon Lionel 180 Watt TransformerWell, it's not quite a KW, but it's got good power. Rob
Lionel 180 Watt Transformer
The prototype mid range Lionel transformer I saw didn't look like that, although that looks kind cool. It looked sort of, but not exactly like a post war TW, and had roughly the same 175 wattage. I remember the unit having LIONEL written in red or orange art deco lettering.
Jumijo wrote:Lionel is indeed coming out with a medium sized transformer that will fit between the CW-80 and the ZW on the power scale. If it works as good as the prototype looks, I'll be buying one.Jim
Jim, is this the one?
If so, I can't wait to see the specs on it!
- Clint
prewardude wrote:Jim, is this the one?If so, I can't wait to see the specs on it! - Clint
Hey, that's it, Clint! Now that I see it again, it looks more like a 1033 than a TW. So much for the red/orange lettering...And something tells me it will be 125-150 watts, not 175 like I previously stated.
Well, I guess we'll find out all about it on Feb. 1st (when the new catalog comes out). That's a sweet-looking transformer.
bfskinner wrote:Rob,Do you know whether it will be in the new catalog due out next week?
No, it will not be the one in the catalog. The transformer above was cataloged in 1999. And it was/is a 135 PH-1 brick, I corrected it above.
I bought one of these to check out. It's got the power of a PM-1/PH-1 for conventional, but it has infinite steps instead of 32. The drawback... the dial only has a 90 degree range of motion for 0-18 volts.
For Post-1965 railroad names there will need to be an O-27 proportioned version of a Pacific Car & Foundry 50' Insulated Boxcar or 50' Refrigerator Car. The O-27 Woodsided Reefer is a car that is more appropriate with Steam and very early Diesel Locomotives and there must be very few new railroad names or paint schemes possible. The Pacific Car & Foundry 50' Insulated Boxcars are very common and there has never been an O Gauge or O Scale version. The HO Scale PC&F 50' Insulated Boxcars were not even produced before the year 2000. PC&F Boxcars are conspicuous by their absence in O Gauge. That has to be in the Traditional Line in 2008.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
More Traditional Sized O-27 modern freight cars that need to be made by LIONEL are these:
ACF Center Flow 4600 Cu. Ft. Capy. Plate B 3-Bay Covered Hopper Post 1971 version.
Gunderson AUTO-MAX Articulated Auto Carrier with Diaphrams
Trinity RailCar High-Sided 3-Bay Covered Hopper
4,191 Cu. Ft. Capy. for a short car.
5,161 Cu. Ft. Capy for a long car.
Jumijo wrote: prewardude wrote: Jim, is this the one?If so, I can't wait to see the specs on it! - ClintHey, that's it, Clint! Now that I see it again, it looks more like a 1033 than a TW. So much for the red/orange lettering...And something tells me it will be 125-150 watts, not 175 like I previously stated.Jim
prewardude wrote: Jim, is this the one?If so, I can't wait to see the specs on it! - Clint
This is a cool looking transformer. I'll bet it will be something that will be included with those display layout reproductions that have been made recently. Certainly fits the style.
I SURE hope this is Photoshopped.
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/5041084854?r=2411005954#2411005954
But I hope something really cool is actually on the cover. There are no hints anywhere on the web. I guess I have to wait until tomorrow...
9 1/2 hours and counting!!
There are 3 Catalogs, K-line, Lionel Sets and The big Book. On the big Book is The "John Bull".
KCS fans should be happy. I myself will be getting the Dreyfuss J-3 Hudson and matching pass. cars and all other Nyc stuff. Southern fans might like Tmcc Crane and Boom Car.
B C Bill
Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!
Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.
Boxcar Bill wrote: There are 3 Catalogs, K-line, Lionel Sets and The big Book. On the big Book is The "John Bull".B C Bill
The John Bull, huh? Well, that's kind of cool. I wonder if it'll have RailSounds? It easily could, they brought the locomotive out of the Smithsonian and ran it in the 1980's. Might be something interesting to see in action at a hobby shop somewhere.
Sounds like it might be a very interesting catalog!
2 hours and counting!!
Berk765 wrote:I think I'll be staying up and counting down. If I don't fall asleep, that is.
I am staying up with my 10 year old son. Of course we are on the left coast, so it is not so late:).
Founding member of the All Aboard Fastrackers! See us at: www.allaboardfastrackers.com
SchemerBob
You might like that KCS Engine. I know I am going to get the three pack cover hoppers.
Berk765 wrote:LS1Heli, this might be a dumb question, but is that the great Joshua Lionel Cowen in that picture that says "I dont care about you MTH."
That would be correct. An indiviual who started an entire hobby and created a positive bonding between people, just from tinkering. A true pioneer that was an expert at everything (marketing, mfg., etc.)
Unfortunately,we have comapanies today which copy, rip-off and capatilize off of Mr. Cowens ideas and most importanly the copying of his trains. Wether people except it or not, the whole hobby today is based off of him and what he created..not some tool who made reproductions of his trains when he was a teenager.
Your the only person who has ever caught that.
Also, people who collect high-end trains which have instructions and inspection slips would also notice where I am from as well.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Alright, so I see the three new catolog faces, but I don't seem to be able to access any contents, What am I missing?
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