Target is now selling Lionel Lines Train sets.

[Andrew Falconer]

Target is now selling Lionel Lines Train Sets.

In Sunday's newspaper was a Target Toy Catalog which was 50 pages long.

On page 37 was the Lionel Lines Train Set.

It is priced at $ 249.99.

You can see it at www.target.com/toycatalog

This is another way for Lionel to be seen again by people who do not visit the local hobby shops.

Andrew

[daan]

There is one problem though, the train set is behind the playstation/ X-cube pages and most kids don't look behind that these days.. It's nice that they put a simple, but good quality set for sale and not some plastic throw away thingy (though a plastig trow away thingy doesn't cost 249 dollars..)

Why do we always have those darn Tyco and Mehano h0 plastic stuff in our toy book each year..

[tex702]

Its about time a local store start carrying trains or components of train sets.  Where I live hobby stores are far and few between.  I do however have a Target Store just down the street from here.  Good going Target.  It seems Target has the hobby stores beat in prices.  I really cant tell what train set it is though.

[traindaddy1]

My two cents: I've seen a number of stores selling train sets around the holidays but very little in the way of expansion sets or extras like more track or accessories for the trains in those sets.  (Come to think of it, the only stores in my area that had "extras", and mostly for HO, have gone out of business, namely: Lionel Kiddie City and KB Toys). I posed the question to a manger at the local "Toys-R-Us" store. He told me that trains are 'seasonal' items and, as such, 'seasonal' items usually do not sell well after the season is over. I guess it is all the way you look at it. Anyway, it is nice to see Target's effort.

[MartyE]

This has actually been discussed at great length on another forum.  It seems most feel this is a good move to expose Lionel and trains to moms and dads that would never enter a LHS to begin with.  Hopefully a precentage of them will seek out more items via the LHS that are not available at target such as expansion packs and track.  The way I look at this it is a win win for the hobby if it works. 

[phillyreading]

I have seen the set on line, looks nice and is a six unit set including the engine & tender, a 40" X 60" oval of Fastrac and a tractor trailer included for about $250.00.                                                          I think it is a good idea for Lionel and others to advertise or sell model trains at Target Stores, have not seen one in the store down here in southeast Florida as yet.

Also could Lionel or others advertise on TV or would this be too expensive?

If not on TV how about sending out flyers in the mail?

The model train industy needs to get a jump start somehow and maybe Lionel is on the right track.

Lee F.

[cnw1995]

Isn't this cool? I like the set - it has real play value - and the visibility at our local Target- it's a big box...

[Roger Bielen]

I checked the box out yesterday and couldn't find a Lionel part number, may be an uncatalogued set. Also, I couldn't find anything like it in the recent catalogues.  It has a Lionel Lines 4-4-2 with four cars, loop of track, transformer, tractor trailer, a floor mat (map), and other goodies.  In our store its in the toy department along with other items in the targeted age group.

[LL675]

Why doesn't Lionel get into the Targets, KMarts, WallMarts? Have TV commercials? Pay extra to be in the front of the store flyers? Most Dept stores barly have HO stuff. And store displays would attratct kids too. Some would be hooked just at the sights and sounds of a running train in the stores.

[Andrew Falconer]

In 2005 and 2004 the Portage, Michigan location of Menard's has sold the Wisconsin Central Train Sets. Both years the Wisconsin Central Train Set was up and running around a tree. The set is a starter set and easy to put together. All of the stores can have an employee or two set up a display.

Andrew

[dwiemer]

Last year, Dillard's had the Polar Express set set up around some village type pieces.  The transformer was on, but the train was not rolling.  When I snuck behind the fence and started her up and blew the whistle several times, a crowd started to gather.  Within minutes, they were sold out of Polar Express sets and subsequently placed another order.  They sold out of those as well.  I relayed this story to Lionel and they responded that is why they require authorized dealers to have a working layout.  I agree that they need to put the effort to have animation to the trains and that this will bring on the sales.  Trouble is, that these retail stores value the floor space and the idea needs to be proven to them.

Dennis

PS: I went back after Christmas and purchased the display for $125.00.  I figure it was my reward for helping them sell.

[Anonymous]

Couldn't agree with dweimer any more!  Saw a bunch of PE sets but nothing running!  Nothing running = no interest!  Run the thing, draw a crowd and sell the heck out of them! (simple idea works everytime!)  Most stores now days won't allow the floor space nor the labor to run a train display. (gotta sell that oxy-clean or any other not available in stores stuff that's available at all stores) Floor space really isn't a problem as I'm sure a 4 x 8 would fit somewhere in a "big box" store.  Labor is another problem when most store managers are regularly threatened with the bottom line....labor is busy restocking shelves not having fun demonstrating how to run a toy train.  My how I remember toy trains at Christmas in the Chicago area in the early 60's.  After that when Lionel went belly up, Christmas was never the same for me.

Funny story, I recently built a 4 x 8 show layout and now everyone in this small town is making plans to see the Christmas layout which is under construction now. It's not even built yet (it will be an L shaped deal using 2 4x8's)  I already have people coming out of the woods (like Cub fans in a winning season) begging to let them help! Not to mention plenty of offers to run the trains!

Yes Virginia, there need to be toy trains (running) at Christmas

 

[MartyE]

Who here would volunteer to setup and run a train at one of the hobby shops or big box retailer so the staff could go about their business.  I know I would.  Probaly some shop rule against it but heck I'll spread the hobby however I could.

[riverrailfan]

Looks uncatalogued to me. There is a magnifer on Targets web sight on the left of the screen to see it better. Menards is also selling the Wisconson central set again which is uncatalogued at $180. I've also seen Menards put it on sale dirt cheap. They also sell track and I thought last year I seen a expansion set for this set to.

[Jumijo]

I was at a train shop last weekend and saw an expansion pack that isn't in the catalog. It was called the Southwest Expansion Pack. Probably for Santa Fe starter sets?


Jim

[dwiemer]

Who here would volunteer to setup and run a train at one of the hobby shops or big box retailer so the staff could go about their business.  I know I would.  Probaly some shop rule against it but heck I'll spread the hobby however I could.

Marty, was a time when Lionel would pay some folks to set up and run trains.  Saw a program in which the Old Man himself would hire kids to run trains at certain toy stores.  In one story JLC had the son of one of his employees run a train at a toy store in NYC and afterwards, gave the kid some money and a train.  I am not suggesting that Lionel would pay some of us, but I would volunteer.  I think that Lionel or the other companies would have to "hire" us in that the stores would need some kind of "official" status for anyone operating these trains.  Perhaps the pay off is that you get to keep the display set when the season is done.

Dennis

[Andrew Falconer]

I was at a train shop last weekend and saw an expansion pack that isn't in the catalog. It was called the Southwest Expansion Pack. Probably for Santa Fe starter sets?


Jim

That Southwestern Expansion Set is in both of the 2006 Catalogs by LIONEL.

[Jumijo]

What page, Andrew? I only see NYC and PRR expansion packs in both catalogs.

[MartyE]

I think it would be a great way of getting more people involved if a set was up and running.  And hope you guys don't take offense to this but I'd much rather chat with folks in person about trains that here on a forum and that would pretty much be what you were doing while running!

[brianel027]

As I've said elsewhere, I think it's great Lionel sets are getting this additional exposure this year. Although this comes with the disclaimer that we all fully realize that operating layouts and displays go much further to the desired end result. Even knowledgable sales help can assist.

Years ago, when I re-entered the hobby, K-Mart was selling a NYC Flyer type starter steam set. I went down to the local K-Mart to get my set. Grabbed one, and a woman with a kid noticed and we started talking. The saleman came out in me, and next thing I knew there was a small crowd of people all listening and then asking me questions themselves.. Right then and there while I was in the store, they sold all their Lionel sets within the time span I was in the store. Granted it was a half dozen sets, and I took one, but still not bad. The store manager noticed what was happening, pulled me aside and thanked me. He thought it would take the course of several weeks to sell the sets... not the course of maybe 45 minutes.

Of course, I am passionate about this part of the hobby, love kids and want to see more trains end up in the hands of kids. I'd much rather spend time talking trains with real kids and their parents, rather than spoiled adults who act like children when it comes to this train hobby and what they demand be made for them. So I can speak honestly and convincingly.

I doubt minimum wage sales help could accomplish the same thing unless they themselves were already bonafide train guys with a desire to see kids back in the hobby.... not likely. Many adults I read comments from on the forums would be dumping on these train sets for not being command control or scale proportioned and would tell people there's no way there could ever have fun with just a simple transformer controled train set.

Kinda sad how many have actually forgotten how they got started in the hobby.

[Jumijo]

Brian,

Lionel is in New York now. Get down there and get a job! They could use someone like you!

Jim

[dwiemer]

Marty, I agree with you on talking to folks in person.  This is about as close as I can get to most as I know of no one within 3 hours drive who is into O gauge, and the HO guys are a bit on the quirky rivit counter side. 

Brian, that is kinda how my experience went.  I think the trains will sell themselves if given the chance.

Jim, the Southwest expansion set is available at our local Hobby Lobby.  With a retail price of $109, and a 40% coupon, it would be a good deal for someone modelling modern O.  Unfortuneately, Hobby Lobby sells the sets at about 150% of MSRP.  I think the only reason the SW expansion set is actual retail is that the price is printed on the box by Lionel.

dennis

[Anonymous]

Just to add something along the lines of what Marty and Brianel have stated about having an enthusiast present to answer questions and ensure that the trains are running. I recall Kenny from Toy Trains Unlimited (they did the Lionel NYC holiday layout) having a really cool "caboose" kiosk at one of the Dallas Malls a few years ago. It was open and featured a couple of starter set loops running around a Christmas tree in a classic Livingroom setting. Stacked all around the kiosk were Lionel and MTH starter sets, as well as add-ons, ready to go. And they were indeed going quickly. Naturally the guys from the shop were there to answer any questions.

[phillyreading]

Went to Target store yesterday in Lantana FL (Lantana Rd. & hwy. 441, West Palm Beach area) and the Lionel train set is in stock for $249.95.  The track is Fastrac & looks like a CW80 transformer or I may have been more tempted to buy the set.  There were three left on the shelf.

Lee F.

[brianel027]

Thanks for the compliment Jaabat. Yeah, I'd be darn (or should I say "dang") good at the task.

There is a liability (as mentioned by Jerry Calabrese himself) to having train guys themselves involved in the business, and that liability is the ability (or more correctly, the inability) to divorce their own wants and desires for the sake of the business. There are an awful lot of guys from the other forum that I wouldn't want at all having anything to do with running a display because they are too steeped in their own biases and would do far more harm than good.

Anyone who thinks command control is necessary to enjoying the hobby is totally unqualified to be promoting this hobby to newcomers with children. As is anyone who feels toy train and 027 products should be discontinued. As is anyone who doesn't have the patience to allow kids to touch their trains without worrying about the kids mucking up the supposed illusion of the "collectibility" of those trains. As is anyone who doesn't feel that new tooling and product development needs to be done on the toy side of the hobby, even if it means curtailing the development of new technology or new scale products.

I'd go as far as to say there are far more important products that should have been introduced before this new Legacy system. And the fact Lionel hasn't advertised in over two years, and has now bought an ad (or Neil Young bought it?) to clear up and defend Legacy could be as much an act of clarification as desparation. Lionel has a lot of money and prestige invested in Legacy, especially with the scale/command segement of the market that tends to be the most vocally critical.

I commend some of this new direction I see Calabrese taking Lionel. I hope he has the determination and courage to continue this direction and to put more into it once the "uncertainty" factor of the lawsuit is resolved, should Lionel be in the position to do this. Ready-Made-Toys has done more to "revolutionize" the hobby in the past couple yiears than the Legacy system is ever going to do, until the Legacy products and locos become the same price level as most other affordable products.

Train sets and affordable products are the real future of Lionel, not Legacy or high end products. If anything on the technological side, Lionel should be putting some effort into a compromised feature, basic beginner low-end type of command system.

[dwiemer]

Went to the Target in Albany, GA, they did not have any Lionel trains.  No one there seem to know what I was talking about.  One problem of living in the "sticks".

Dennis

[FJ and G]

Hey, great news,

BTW, I saw Lionel lamps with a smallish Hudson riding 3-rail track on a Lamp being sold at Lowe's

[Andrew Falconer]

What Target could offer next season is a Christmas Soo Line Steam Set based on the real Christmas Train that is pulled by a Soo Line 2-8-2.

Andrew

[Brutus]

Found this in the Brookstone catalog:

http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=528638&search_type=search&search_words=lionel&prodtemp=t2&cm_re=Result*R1C1*T

[Andrew Falconer]

Lands' End is still selling a 2005 Lionel Christmas Train Set with Wisconsin Central graphics.

Andrew