NEWS FLASH! Lionel gives money to Gargraves, Ross, Atlas, MTH, and K-Line!!

[garyseven]

Perhaps Neil can set me straight here. Didn't Lionel make "Tru-track" (carpet track) in 1973 or so, but not put into production?

[nblum]

Tru-Track: Don't know, it's before my time back in the hobby. I'm pretty vague about what was going on in the 1970s and early to mid-1980s. The TM guide says Tru Track was actually produced, however.

Lionel revenues are believed to be in the 60-100 million dollars per year range by those who like to estimate these things. Still small potatoes, albeit more than anyone else in this cottage industry from all reports. They no longer have anywhere near 350 employees. Probably only a small fraction of that. They don't have a factory anymore, as everyone knows.

The original concept and prototypes of the Odyssey speed control system were introduced in 1997-98 several years before PS2 appeared in late 2000. The original concept for Odyssey (brushless motors) was not practical and was replaced by a different approach and also appeared in actual production locos in 2000.

I believe my words about stature are being misconstrued as a negative. Saying a company leads the market in brand recognition and reputation is not the same as saying they are merely living off their name. The brand leadership is the platform for many industry leading technical innovations that I listed further along. If anyone wants to believe Lionel hasn't been a consistent leader in technical innovation these last ten years, they're welcome to that narrow opinion, but it's not a widely shared opinion outside of Columbia, MD ;).

[Anonymous]

Time for me to hop in again. I just want Lionel to make All different types of track in TUBULAR. I'll settle for them following....which is what they are doing now.