New ideas for O guage trains wanted

[Anonymous]

Gentlemen,

We talked last time about what ideas we like and what ideas the companies think are important. What do you guys think? What do you guys want? How about multiply whistles/horns? dramatic steam release. smoke coming out of the generator. Or more upgradeable packages for lower prices. What do you guys think?

Scott R. Conforto

[andregg1]

Hi
The best idea I think is
- trains 100% made in USA.
-Trains with metal wheels (not traction tirres)
-More metal than plastic.
Andre.

[ARRCDSPR]

I am just throwing this out there and see what you all think. I am newbie to the hobby but when I was operating my little set up this last Christmas, I thought this would make running these toys a little more fun. Anyway, here is the idea; set up some kind of braking system that would operate only on the train consist (the cars) and not the locomotives. The key to this brake system is that it would work independently of locomotives. I do not know how one would make this work, maybe some kind of electric brake shoe hooked up to the trucks that is sent signals through the rail. This shoe would retard or slow down the truck from spinning. Anyway, you would not need all the cars hooked up to the brake system - just a few or even just a caboose. This would enable you to have more control of the train while bringing it a spot at an industry or platform, or going up and down grades or around a curve, you could bring your train into smooth and controlled hooks. Instead of cutting the power and drifting into a spot, you could apply the brake and then power your locomotive into the cars, shoving them until you are on spot. This is the way proto trains are and this would enable a operater to run more like the big boys do. To make things more realistic you could change the couplers to have draw bars that moved back and for live slack action. Anyway, I also agree that union made American products would be best, I would pay more. When I started this hobby I was saddened to see the Made in China stamp. But I guess that is a sign of the times. Talk to you all down the track.

[Anonymous]

New Ideas?

Do you mean more realistic sounds and lights like a simulated torpedo on the rails?

Do you mean nearly custom O Scale freight cars like a Southern Railway Big John Series made out of actual Aluminum and Steel?

Do you mean something like Solid Steel Outside Rails with an Authentic rail profile and a Nickel-Silver Center Rail for 3-Rail Operation?

Do you mean something like ACF Center Flow Hoppers and 50' Boxcars made in 1:64th scale that can accept both S Gauge and O Gauge trucks so they can be operated on more layouts?

What Type of new Ideas are Acceptable?

Truly Sincere,
Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I don't need (or feel a need for) any dramatic innovations. I'm happy with what they've been doing up to this point, and just hope that most of these firms will be able to survive and continue producing the kind of variety they've already been making for the past twelve years or so.

[Anonymous]

Take the passenger station sound effects out of the locomotive or dining car. Place the anouncement sound effects in the station where they belong. Like American Flyer did in the 1950's. With todays electronics it shouldn't be too hard to identify a specific train where you select the name and destination. Not the manufacture. While their at it, mabe they could find a way of squeezing the speaker into the boiler of a steamloco. My Lionel Y3 would sound so much better if the sounds came from nearer the cylinders or whistle.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dtpowell

Take the passenger station sound effects out of the locomotive or dining car. Place the anouncement sound effects in the station where they belong. Like American Flyer did in the 1950's.
.

Great idea, but it's too logical and makes too much sense. Even the Lionel "sound effects" tender...why do they put one roadname on it? I assume most are sold for use with a postwar engine, so why not letter it "Lionel Lines"? Joe

[brianel027]

I personally think whatever so-called improvements are made should be simple, basic and practical. But as witnessed over the past decade, I think the 3-rail buying market (at least the vocal part of the market) has become far too picky and demanding to easily accommodate such thinking.

The demise of K-Line is a perfect example. Excluding the company's blunders, they tried to do too much on too little, while forgetting about their original supporters. Although the hobby today is certainly strong, there are not the individual unit sales numbers as there were in the past to justify and recoup all the new product development and tooling costs. In the past a new product could be introduced, produced as was for years and have a chance to make a return in reasonable time. The massive debt K-Line had accumulated indicates that much of their extensive new product development wasn't generating the necessary sales to cover the excessive costs.

Many of the 3-rail companies have played into this, going out on a financial limb in order to take away sales from the competitors and generate more excitement with higher end products that by nature will have more limited sales. Even the Acela, which by looking at the hoopla and limited production numbers, should be long gone is still available... probably though because of the cost. High end expensive trains generate good press, but good press is only words. A traditionally sized, less detailed, more affordable Acela that negotiates 027 curves would have probably done the hobby more good.

Many knock the postwar or MPC era of production, yet by the modification of designs and the borrowing of parts and components in the design process, development costs could be kept at a minimum and new products stood a better chance of generating a return... kind of like the way Williams still does things. Although many cry out that Williams products do not have an acceptable level of detail for them. But on a practical level, it doesn't look as though Williams is going to close down tomorrow due to lawsuits or accumulated debt from excessive product tooling.

As I have mentioned before, I think the immediate wave of future success will be products like the RMT Beep, Buddy and the Lionel Dockside: basic products that are more affordable and offer the potential of lengthy production runs over a period of time. K-Line’s redesign of the 027 switch was another outstanding basic idea that may not have gotten hoops of praise, but stood a very good chance of generating the necessary sales to cover the design modification costs.

And it's not just products and production costs. There's also marketing. While the train companies have been jumping all over eachother to introduce new technologically advanced products, the marketing, retailing and availability of these products has been ignored for years. You can have the best product idea in the world, but if people don't know it exists (many still think Lionel went out of business years ago) can't see the product, chances are they are not going to buy the product.

But who knows what will happen? I don't think many of us could have accurately predicted the unfolding saga between Lionel, Sandra Kan, K-Line and also MTH. On the other hand, even with K-Line's competitive (and undercutting) pricing point, they were still having to blowout and reduce prices on many new expensive, recently tooled up products. Blowout prices on new products that haven't yet paid for the tooling investment is good (short term) for the consumer, but very bad for the producer. It doesn't take a genius to know that practice won't bode well for the future. In the past couple years, some folks got very good deals on high-end K-Line products and now there's no K-Line.

And even Calabrese's statement concerning Lionel's production/marketing of K-Line products seems to echo what I have been saying all along for years.

[Birds]

Expansion of the lower to mid priced products that run on O-27 curves. Items that are not scale, and not heavy on the electronics. Solid affordable runners in a variety of styles and name plates.

[tgovebaker]

More "mass customization", meaning a transition to smaller production runs off of a common platform, thereby allowing individuals to obtain products that meet their needs. Given the offshoring of production and the availability of inexpensive decaling and painting, why not allow purchasers to select a broader array of road names -- including their own -- than are offered in each catalog.

For example, if MTH introduces another 50' high-cube car, in addition to the UP, etc., why not allow customers to "customize" their rolling stock at the factory? I like using Microscale decals, but the selection in O gauge is limited. I would be happy to pay a little more to Atlas, MTH, etc., if they would allow me to customize my engines and/or rolling stock.

[DCmontana]

I echo more road names and custom choices. I think the ru***o technology has been a little, too rushed. I want good, reliable products that look like they should. I am not a rivet counter, but love the newer graphics and additional detail of add on ladders, grab irons, chains, etc. If they charged more for additional road names, I would pay it to get what I want. If only Williams made their F3 in the black and orange Milwaukee livery!

[cbq9911a]

Something very simple - a lockout switch for electronic E-units. That way, if you're doubleheading locomotives with electronic E-units you don't get unanticipated reversals.

Another simple idea - make high end items that run on O-31 track. I've got a Lionel NYC S motor. A perfect engine for my O-31 loops - but it can't go around O-31 curves with cars coupled to it!

A third simple idea - make Chicago L cars and North Shore Line cars. These cars are able to make it around 84' radius curves (O-42). They also have a base of fan support.

[nitroboy]

How about real wood, scale telegraph poles......

[Anonymous]

Hi

This in response to Andrew F. Any new ideas that would and could benefit the hobby as a whole were acceptable. Anything from new technology to new marketing, or better entry level trains. I hope this helps.

Scott R. Conforto

[artyoung]

On the low end/entry level steamers, I'd love to see the old A.F. "choo choo" sound mechanism installed instead of adding $100+ with a computer chip system. The old style air whistle still sounds fine in the "Polar Express" set as well. I noticed a few comments about K-Line : I'll miss their new operating cars and accessories. More of those sold with starter sets would be good for the hobby, too.

[Anonymous]

New marketing for Lionel Trains:

TV series on the History Channel

TV series on NBC featuring Neil Young

Theatrical Motion Picture starring Mandy Patikin.

New Marketing for MTH:

Television Series on Nickelodian

Television Series on CBS that combines Sports and Model Railroads

Andrew Falconer

[Anonymous]

MTH has produced several MLB and NFL licensed Sets, Locos, and Cars so why not have them featured in transition or bumper shots on ESPN and other sports outlets that carry the MLB and NFL games or comment on them.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

The 4600 Cubic Foot Capacity ACF Center Flow Covered Hopper has to produced in 1:64th scale proportions, yet have a truck bolster that can accept the standard S Gauge Trucks or O Gauge Trucks.

The S Scale 4600 ACF Center Flow would be close to the same proportions as a typical Lionel and K-Line O Gauge Boxcar.

The number of actual roadnames and graphic variations that can be produced on the car is so large that it will be worth producing.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

Since Union Pacific and CSX are getting tough about licensing, in turn they must help with the marketing by featuring complete operating O Gauge Layouts in any old depot or any old factory building next to their physical plant in as many places as possible. CSX and UP could charge a dollar per person.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

What is an old idea for the railroads would be a new idea for O Gauge and O Scale Locomotives and Freight Cars.

3M Scotchlite applied as an ink or a decal to O Scale and O Gauge equipment.

It has been done for 50 years on actual freight equipment, try it on the models.

Andrew F.

[FJ and G]

how about the novelty of having those common 1960s and 70s open auto racks, 2 or 3 levels, at about 87 scale feet. Would be a neat way to showcase your cars! The Atlas closed racks are nice but you can't see in! Every year I scratch my head, wondering why no one makes these

on a personal note, live steam and R/C are my ideas for fun; but I realize it's not for everyone and I'm in a distinct minority on this

[Anonymous]

O Scale Intermodal Containers need one-piece adapters so that Weaver, MTH, K-Line intermodal containers can be used together in a single well car.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

Atlas already makes Post-1965 89'-4" Flats for Trailers.

Those are the Flat Cars which can be turned into Auto Racks immediately.

They are almost 2 feet long and require O 72 Curves to accomodate them.

How about producing the 1950's open-frame auto racks in true 1/64th scale proportions, make them out of stainless steel, and mount them upon a pair of Die-Cast O Gauge trucks. That way more people can operate them on tighter curves and they will be more durable than the plastic cars.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

There is something that must be tested in full O Scale proportions.

Operating Grain Elevators and operating Pullman-Standard 4750 Cu. Ft. 3-Bay Grain Hoppers. "Grains" will pour out of the loading chute into the covered hoppers at the Country Grain Elevator. At the City Grain Elevator the Discharge Gates are opened releasing the "Grains" through grates to the auger chute. Then the "Grains" are augered to the top of the silo with a window on one side.

That would be a change of pace from running the trains in circles and it could get messy is someone makes a mistake.

Andrew Falconer

[Anonymous]

The Open-Frame Auto Racks need to be loaded and unloaded using matching ramps and properly scaled automobile models.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

It would be great to have an ACF CENTERFLOW PRESSURE AIDE Covered Hopper that can be loaded and unloaded like an actual Pressure Aide Covered Hopper.

It will be 1:48th Scale and made out of Stainless Steel.

The Flow Lines and Loading Tanks will be made out of clear plastic, to allow the loading and unloading process to be visible.

Andrew F.

[Anonymous]

Non-Powered Diesel-Electric Locomotives with these features:

Fully Detailed Cabin Interior

Operating Lights

Fans powered by miniature-motors that periodically spin

Side access doors that open to reveal a model of the diesel engine

TMCC or DCS operating couplers

Andrew F.

[jimhaleyscomet]

How about a box car, tank car, hopper car, flat car series without any road names installed at the factory. Put all the detail stickers on the car but leave the road name blank. Then put in a decal sheet (dry transfer?) with several road names. You could also sell extra decals in really obscure road names.

Perhaps you could do the same with car numbers so they would be easier to vary.

Perhaps instead of using decals one could provide paint masks. The customer could supply the paint.

Dealers would be more willing to stock cars that are flexible for the customer to use. I wish I had a $1 for every time I saw a neat car but it was in the wrong road name.

Jim H

[csxt30]

Jim " how about a rubber stamp, maybe, that hobby shops could sell, or something ?
Thanks,

[FJ and G]

stud rail with sliders placed over the rollers would be a promising idea; possible conflict with Marklin patent?