Best Modern-Era Lionel catalog?

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering about your thoughts on which Lionel catalog is the best of the modern-era? Let's go by the (somewhat) universally accepted 1970 - Today.

Besides the 90's Heritage catalogs (which I must admit to being in love with),  I think I'd have to vote for the 2009 catalog with the New Haven Conventional Classic set gracing the cover. What a beauty (the set I love as well).

What say you?

 

[Penny Trains]

I really don't know why, but there's just something about the photographs in this one that has always intrigued me.  Maybe it's the silhouettes lending an air of mystery to the trains.  Maybe it's the shadowy way the majority of the models are presented.  Whatever it is I've always liked this catalog.

Granted, the product line isn't too spectacular, at least not compared with the trains of the postwar era that preceeded them.  Especially the 1955-65 timeframe.  Certainly it can be argued that Lionel's designers never envisioned anything quite like the Kickapoo set back in those days.  But the majority of the line would be at least semi-familiar to Lionel fans of that era.  Though the Burlington Northern 9209 boxcar and Penn Central caboose might leave them scratching their heads.

Whatever it is I've never stopped liking this 14 page catalog.

[Firelock76]

My personal favorite is from 2008.  The cover itself is a reprint of the 1952 catalog and shows a boy with an engineer's hat looking at the Lionel trains and waving his arms in excitement.

To tell the truth, I call him "Kid Psycho!"  Look at his eyes, and you'll see why!

[alank]

What is intriguing about that 1972 catalog is  the trains that are shown.   I remember the end of the Lionel Corp just as I was going off to college.   I wish I had the foresight at that time to pick up some of the stuff.   My dad asked me what I wanted to do with the trains I had and I told him I would like to keep them.   My next experience with Lionel came in 1975.   I somewhere obtained the 1974 catalog,  and started collecting the Spirit of 76 set.   I got the whole set as my parents were able to pick up the pieces I was having difficulty finding them when they went to Florida in the winter.   The DTI switcher which I love today, I passed up on around that time.   But you look at that catalog front cover, it may be a mix, however the IC  caboose also is nice.   Bright color had come to Lionel and fast.    For me then, my trains didn't come out till 1992/1994 when my children were born.     We  moved, and for the next eight years  we were training.   I liked the LTI I aquired, then the LLC and Century Club, but more than once I wish I had payed more attention to the MPC when I saw it.   Thank You for posting the 1972 cover.   We are fortunate to have Lionel so long.

[Anonymous]

That 1972 catalog is great! i Like the steam engine on the top right and the Santa Fe coming straight at you. I can't imagine how the early 70's haven't caught on as collectors items yet, but I guess that is great for us operators. While the 70's catalogs, especially early ones, don't have the same charm as the 50's, they certainly have a specialness (is that a word?) that is all their own. Like Buddy Holly vs. the Eagles. I love them both. Thanks Penny :)

[Penny Trains]

alank

The DTI switcher which I love today, I passed up on around that time. But you look at that catalog front cover, it may be a mix,

Wouldn't surprise me a bit.  I'd even go so far to say that the prototype (which is likely what they photographed) was most likely a repaint of an unused postwar shell.

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

This is a good thread.  The year the Polar Express came out was a good one as I remember coming home from work and my wife asking me to open the plastic bag the catalog came in so we could see the Polar Express (ordered it the next day).  One of my favorites (keeping with the MPC theme) was the 1970 version.  More of a fold out than a book, it was only a preview of the tremendous variety that would appear in the next 47 years.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[alank]

Penny, thanks for putting that 1972 catalog cover out there.   I hadn't seen it before, and the few MPC catalogs I have speak to me differently.

I took some time last night to just look at some MPC out on the net.   As I said color had come to Lionel.   I mean there was already color in Postwar, but MPC was bright.   Maybe has something to do with changing times, heck we only got color TV a few years earlier, and much of the 50 was black and white film.   I missed most of that stuff while it was happening.   Thanks again.

[Warburton]

1985. I like the illustrations mixed with photographs, as well. I think it made for an effective presentation. I wish they had continued with that format but, alas, they did not.