2008 Lionel Catalog

[ogauge]

Never mind got it after a reload.

 

[ogauge]

I'm liking the Hall class shakespear express, now with European whistle and diecast pasenger trucks.

Top on my list is the Prewar Red Comet though as well as the CHhristmas train, although I think I could paint one up for about $600 less...

 

Check out the S bigboy, I'll bet no one saw that coming!

  

[Andrew Falconer]

In the Ready To Run 2008 Catalog there are some new paint schemes on the O Gauge freight cars. I like the British Columbia Railway Hi-Cube Boxcar. 

Everyone will like the Conrail 2-Tier Auto Carrier.

In the K-Line Catalog they show the Eaglebrook Tank Car. This is amazing that they are offering the Eaglebrook Tank Car after a decade of waiting. It is needed to truly make a CN or GTW freight train look real.

The DT&I Coil Car is interesting since The Grand Trunk Corp. merged the DT&I into the Grand Trunk Western in 1983.

In the Lionel Signature catalog the J.M. Huber Uni-Body Tank Car 3-Pack was finally announced. The first J.M. Huber Uni-Body Tank Car was made in 1995 or 1996.

The Rock Island PS-2-CD 3-Bay Hopper 3-Pack is the perfect addtion to any Central States freight train.

That Santa Fe DASH 8 looks like a DASH 9 on different Trucks.

More comments later.  

Andrew

[Jumijo]

 

Aside from 2 El Capitan add-on cars, nothing of real interest for me in any of the new catalogs.

Jim 

[ogauge]

Other than the Red Comet, I don't see much to write home about.  Oh well.

 

I am a little disappointed in the prewar celeb pricing as well, it a good 100+ over the MTH tinplate traditions sets and its made in the same stinking country... What gives.

 

[SchemerBob]

SchemerBob

You might like that KCS Engine. I know I am going to get the three pack cover hoppers.

 

B C Bill

I know, I know, and I'm excited beyond belief! The KCS SD70ACe - the exact locomotive on my avatar . You know, I was looking at another forum last night and a guy said he wished Lionel would come out with this engine!

But THIS one is the one I've been waiting for for a long time:

A BNSF SD70ACe!!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! EXACLTLY WHAT I WANTED LIONEL TO MAKE FOR A LONG LONG LONG TIME!!! Now I don't have to give in and buy the not-as-good MTH version! Lionel locomotives are much better than MTH...let's just be honest!! That's why I'm so excited! WAY TO GO LIONEL!!! YOU MADE MY YEAR!!!!

I think I'll be ordering this locomotive pretty soon...

[Anonymous]

For me there wasn't too much:

6-11134 Western Maryland 2-8-0 Consolidation
6-26335 Domino Sugar Flatcar w/trailer
6-25026 Rock Island Hi-Cube Boxcar
6-25050 British Columbia Hi-Cube Boxcar
6-22190 C&O Chessie Cat Operating Billboard

Have to check out:
6-27241 C&O PS-1 Boxcar
6-27033 Chessie PS-2 Covered Hopper 3-Pack

May get the US Army and UMD boxcars.

Like some of the new flatcars... if I could find a good deal on a couple I go for them, but at $70.00 a pop that's a bit much.

Love the C&O E7 A-A set, but don't think I'll pick them up.

[Jumijo]

I guess the new starter set 0-8-0 is kind of intriguing. A very realistic loco and tender for basic starter sets like the Pennsy Flyer and the Santa Fe set. But why is it being offered seperately for more than the cost of an entire set?!

And is the Hall class English loco just a repainted Hogwarts Express?

The K-Line circus train pulled by the yellow Pacific sure is colorful! Still, aside from the 2 El Capitan add-ons I mentioned earlier, I don't see anything tempting enough for me to consider buying.  More money to spend on prewar stuff!

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Interesting to see them trotting out the Dreyfuss again. I like the drive wheels on mine better, even if the holes make them look "dirty" when the engine is operating.

[cnw1995]

I'm not sure I'm thrilled about Iron 'Arry and Bert in the Thomas line. Wish there was a steam engine as Jim suggested like a proper-length Gordon. I did like the North Shore / Roarin' Elgin interurbans in the K-Line catalog. Wish they were sold separately though.

It sure is fun to peruse new catalogs.

[1688torpedo]

 HMMMM! 

Methinks the Red Comet will find a home in my collection. Nice to see more prewar trains in the catalog. Keep them coming, Lionel!  I bet that Bruce Webster is still praying for a Corvair to grace K-Line's Superstreets.. Take Care all.

[Anonymous]

SchemerBob

You might like that KCS Engine. I know I am going to get the three pack cover hoppers.

 

B C Bill

I know, I know, and I'm excited beyond belief! The KCS SD70ACe - the exact locomotive on my avatar . You know, I was looking at another forum last night and a guy said he wished Lionel would come out with this engine!

But THIS one is the one I've been waiting for for a long time:

A BNSF SD70ACe!!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! EXACLTLY WHAT I WANTED LIONEL TO MAKE FOR A LONG LONG LONG TIME!!! Now I don't have to give in and buy the not-as-good MTH version! Lionel locomotives are much better than MTH...let's just be honest!! That's why I'm so excited! WAY TO GO LIONEL!!! YOU MADE MY YEAR!!!!

I think I'll be ordering this locomotive pretty soon...

 thats one persons opinion ....................lol

 

 

[Jumijo]

I'm not sure I'm thrilled about Iron 'Arry and Bert in the Thomas line. Wish there was a steam engine as Jim suggested like a proper-length Gordon. I did like the North Shore / Roarin' Elgin interurbans in the K-Line catalog. Wish they were sold separately though.

It sure is fun to peruse new catalogs.

Did you notice that 'Arry and Bert are just repainted versions of Diesel? We'll pass and continue our vigil for Gordon.

Jim 

[pbjwilson]

I like the Rock Island RS-3. Thats a pretty paint job. I know its a truck mounted can motor, low end engine, but it sure looks nice.

Whats with the price on the K-line Ringling Bros. steam set. That engine has been the mainstay for K-line and it was never a high priced item. For that price , $389, it should at least be the Railsounds version. I'd say that set is overpriced by about $200! The diesel circus set is much less expensive.

 I'd hate to see Lionel give up on that Pacific steamer, its a classic Marx tooling, and traditional size. But they seem to want to charge too much for it. Those are usually available at train shows for under $100, the old K-line built, with a railsounds tender.

Really like the backdrops for the sets in the catalog. One of the more appealing catalogs I've seen in years.

[Anonymous]

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the Consolidation locos (WM et al) precisely the same ones as in the 2007 cat. with TMCC added?

[Jumijo]

I just looked through the RTR catalog again. Seems that the Powermax transformer is now being referred to as the CW-40. And the "new" 0-8-0 starter set loco comes in a basic and upgraded version. Basic in the Pennsy Flyer set, upgraded side rods in the Santa Fe freight set.

Jim 

[palallin]

*sigh*

I'm glad I'm not relying on the new catalogs to support my hobby. 

I find a double-sheathed MoPac boxcar I need to get--but for $70.00?  Yikes!  $10 more than last year's models.

Just as frustrating is the price hike on the off-set hopper sets:  they were $145 last year, but they're $200 this year for the same set.  Heckuva pricing strategy:  if the set doesn't sell in one year, add 25% to the price and try again.  There's marketing genius for ya.

I ought to get the MoPac U-boat, but they've stuffed it full of useless (to me) electronics and hung a $500.00 price tag on it.  That one will go on the If-I-Ever-Win-The-Lottery List with the RS-11 and the Frisco ten-wheeler, two other engines priced out of my range by a few ounces of silicon I beg to do without.

I'd consider the T & P Mike--even though it's not quite what I want--but, again, it's stuffed with froo-froo.

Ah, well:  the ol' hobby dollars will end up on eBay again this year.  I'll likely find an Ex+  Standard Gauge IVES 3242 for a lot less than the plastic diesel.  I tell ya:  I sometimes think that, if my boys were not already heavily invested in O, I'd trash the O track on the layout and replace it with SG.

[pbjwilson]

Why so much pooh-poohing of the Lionel catalog every time its issued. There is this build up and countdown to the new catalog and then everyone bashes it. I was surprised by the 0-8-0 starter engine. There seems to be quite a variety. Everything from a John Bull set, to pre-war, to an NS modern diesel set. Lionel has put out a fine range of trains. And then theres the K-line offerings. Almost seems like too much!

 

[palallin]

No build up from me:  I got pretty much what I expected.  The thread was soliciting reactions, l so I added mine.  Lionel is going in a direction I have no interest whatsoever in following.

 

I forgot to add the new Station-sounds PE car:  $115.  Heckuva add-on for a kids' train. 

[BMRR]

  New LIONEL catalogs........all I can say is..............WOW.

Now........... where did I put my check book?

Stan.

[LS1Heli]

Great catalogs! I have my eye one for sure:

- Flying Yankee set (again)

- Red Comet (looks really sweet)

- NYC Hudson with the matching passenger cars

- Some other stuff I can't remeber! 

The PWC set while cool as hell did nothing for me. The GP7 set. 

[okiechoochoo]

 I will wait till someone breakes up the PWC GP7 set and just buy the C&O engine.  Other than that nothing of interest to me.  Prices are getting to high.  I may have to go to HO in the future

[johnandjulie13]

There was nothing that knocked my socks off either, but I was not expecting any great surprises.  I will agree that Lionel did put out a tremendous variety.  I do like that they are immediately reissuing engines (i.e. Dreyfus Hudsdon) in Legacy.  I am still waiting for the NYC GP-7 to come out.  If it looks good in the hobby store, I may take the Legacy plunge.

Regards,

John

[USNRol]

Ho hum....signature series catalog was sticker shock central...some beautiful trains though....I'll be looking to buy used from some money bags who had to have it in about 10-15 years.

The ready-to-run catalog was okay...I thought this FA looked like a P.O.S.

Roland

[prewardude]

That Red Comet set is mighty tempting - BUT - only if they get the wheels right this time.

 - Clint 

[Kooljock1]

Clint,

They got the sound right though!

Jon

[ogauge]

Clint,

They got the sound right though!

Jon

They did, but do you feel the need to pay $50 extra for that omission!!! 

Now they have the CV engine and the Flying Yankee cars, they should make one or two of the rare trains like the Blue Streak or the one with chrome cars and a black CV engine.  That would be even better.

 I shouldn't bash too much cause I'm really just happy they are fighting the good fight with their competitor(s).

Another old engine they could probably make easily would be the 238E since they made the 18052 years ago. 

[Anonymous]

what i seen was them comming out with the same cars with some newer road names. and higher prices.

 

the standard O unibody tank car 3 pack in 2007 Vol2 is $134.99. same 3 packs in the 2008 book are $194.99 .

 

standard O  40 foot flat car with covered load in 2007 was $62.99, in 2008 its $69.99

 

the 2007 double sheathed boxcar in 2007 is $64.99, in 2008 its 69.99

 

the 2007 standard o 50' doube door box car was $69.99, in 2008 they are 74.99

 

the 2007 standard o offset hoppers 3 pack was $144.99, the 2008 is $199.99

 

i could keep going,,, but you get my point. 

[prewardude]

Clint,

They got the sound right though!

Jon

Amen to that, Jon!

 - Clint 

[Big Walnut Railroader]

So I just looked through the catalogs yesterday as well as today and I'm impressed. There's some great stuff in there, however with the prices as they are, it seems best to wait until they lower. But for my analysis:

RTR Catalog:

• The 0-8-0 engines are a nice addition to the starter sets. Wonder why they didn't add one in NYC colors though?
• Iron 'Arry & Iron Bert are ok engines, however as has been said many times before, another engine should be made, like Gordon or Henry (in proper sizes). The two pack idea though is excellent. If Lionel ends up making Bill & Ben or Donald & Douglas they should do it that way. Also, some more cars and coaches should be made from the series (at least Seasons 1-4).
• The new Polar Express car is neat, but the price is able to direct people away.
• The Rio Grande set is nice but I think Lionel should introduce an engine like the RG's narrow gauge engines. A good roadname for that would be the Durango & Silverton Railroad.
• The Lionel Lines FA Alco seems to represent the cheapie ones from the Postwar Era. Lionel could've done a better job on that but for the fact its a starter set engine I won't complain that much.

The Signature Catalog:

• The Shakespeare Express "Kinlet Hall" Passenger Set is a good addition for the line, especially with goals to introduce British railroad equipment. However they could have done a different engine class, but with the Hogwarts Castle engine being on hand I can understand their use of another Hall Class engine.
• Something to add with the British equipment should be seperate sale cars/coaches with chain link couplers. A small engine like the Great Western Railway's 0-6-0 Pannier Tank would be good too.
• The new Phantom is fantastic. Hopefully they (Lionel) will continue the Pratt's Hollow Colection. It's been a personal favorite of mine. The Phantom II especially because it is decorated in my school's colors (Red & Gold).
• The Christmas tinplate set is great, but the price is too high. Same goes for the Red Comet.
• The 2 new Postwar Celebration series sets are nice additions.
• The John Bull looks fantastic. Can't wait to see the next engine(s) in the series.
• The Norfolk Southern set is good, but a unit coal train set would have been better.
• The Lionmaster series returns to what it was with the Big Boy. Now articulated engines are available to those with smaller layouts again.
• the scale Pere Marquette #1225 is an incredible opportunity. Two roadnames for one engine, all you need is the Polar Express tender. To those who liked the movie but operate scale trains, heres your chance. Just beware that the other tender costs around $440.
• The SD-70ACe needs to be made in Montana Rail Link. The Austrailan railroad that uses them would be neat to see as well.

That sums up my little review for now. Hope you enjoyed.