Breaking News- Lionel returns to HO

[Anonymous]

$700 for a locomotive? Does it burn real coal and steam water!? That'll buy 20 Athearn diesels...or 1700+ trees... or groceries for a couple month

[Anonymous]

$700 for a locomotive? Does it burn real coal and steam water!? That'll buy 20 Athearn diesels...or 1700+ trees... or groceries for a couple month

[Anonymous]

LIONEL, ARE YOU LISTENING[?][?][?][?][?][?][?]

[Anonymous]

LIONEL, ARE YOU LISTENING[?][?][?][?][?][?][?]

[fec153]

$700 for a loco. You have to be loco. My so-called soc.sec. wont cover it. I do like to
eat and have my house. Yes, what about our young new hobbiests, can their parents
afford prices like this? Besides,do we really need all the exact details on our trains?
I just like to watch mine run. If I wanted to work a train, I would hire on.

[fec153]

$700 for a loco. You have to be loco. My so-called soc.sec. wont cover it. I do like to
eat and have my house. Yes, what about our young new hobbiests, can their parents
afford prices like this? Besides,do we really need all the exact details on our trains?
I just like to watch mine run. If I wanted to work a train, I would hire on.

[the-big-blow]

I have to really voice my opion on this. Being a hobby retail I can't justify bringing a model into the store that is priced in this range. If it doesn't sell it will just sit on the shelf. Times are very tight and so is competition. I can't have a item cost in inventory at say $475 if the item doesn't sell. I'm sure like all items the model will be FABULOUS. I will order only items that people commit to buying. Thats my business side. As for the trains eunthusiast side I would like to know why a Challenger? I am a real UP fan, but if you going to do it right you need to do 3985 and its WATER TENDERS. I lost count of how many people ask me for these to go behind their Rivirossi Challengers. And that raises another question. NO AFFORDADBLE QUALITY 3 UNIT GAS TURBINE. Seems to me there is something wrong when one of the most powerful loco's ever have never been done other than brass in HO Scale. If you do a turbine you can market the tender alone to alot of other people. Anyone listening? According to Lionels website they will be doing a Veranda Turbine. Great I'll just watch ebay for brass ones, seems people sell their brass when items come out in plastic or other means. I don't know how many athearn challengers will sell, might be more since it will most likely be a bit cheaper.

[the-big-blow]

I have to really voice my opion on this. Being a hobby retail I can't justify bringing a model into the store that is priced in this range. If it doesn't sell it will just sit on the shelf. Times are very tight and so is competition. I can't have a item cost in inventory at say $475 if the item doesn't sell. I'm sure like all items the model will be FABULOUS. I will order only items that people commit to buying. Thats my business side. As for the trains eunthusiast side I would like to know why a Challenger? I am a real UP fan, but if you going to do it right you need to do 3985 and its WATER TENDERS. I lost count of how many people ask me for these to go behind their Rivirossi Challengers. And that raises another question. NO AFFORDADBLE QUALITY 3 UNIT GAS TURBINE. Seems to me there is something wrong when one of the most powerful loco's ever have never been done other than brass in HO Scale. If you do a turbine you can market the tender alone to alot of other people. Anyone listening? According to Lionels website they will be doing a Veranda Turbine. Great I'll just watch ebay for brass ones, seems people sell their brass when items come out in plastic or other means. I don't know how many athearn challengers will sell, might be more since it will most likely be a bit cheaper.

[the-big-blow]

sorry for the mispelled words!!

[the-big-blow]

sorry for the mispelled words!!

[Anonymous]

No problem, I probably misspell as many as anyone. Anyway, Lionel, are you listening, I really doubt it but we'll see. To Lionel I say this, it's obvious from this forum that you've already priced your self out of the HO market, so please cut your losses now before you get in over your head and loose every thing. Your up against some of the best companies in the model RR industry with well established reputations for producing fine, high quality products at a reasonable price. At $700.00 a pop, your already out of the market. [B)][B)][B)][B)][B)] Sorry.[V][V][V][:(]

[Anonymous]

No problem, I probably misspell as many as anyone. Anyway, Lionel, are you listening, I really doubt it but we'll see. To Lionel I say this, it's obvious from this forum that you've already priced your self out of the HO market, so please cut your losses now before you get in over your head and loose every thing. Your up against some of the best companies in the model RR industry with well established reputations for producing fine, high quality products at a reasonable price. At $700.00 a pop, your already out of the market. [B)][B)][B)][B)][B)] Sorry.[V][V][V][:(]

[Anonymous]

.
I'll be contrary.
OMI has priced themselves out of the market too. OMI has been around a long, long time. The Lionel Challenger is a fraction of the cost of what an OMI Challenger would be. In both cases, I am not the customer they are serving.

I'm not bent out of shape about that. IF I was modeling UP in the age of the giants I might have a different view. But I chose my modeling focus based on what I could afford and what I could model.

Sure, there are a lot of purty models on the market and coming on the market that get my heart pounding. And there are a lot of German cars that get my heart pounding. BUT, they are going to remain fond fantasies for the day I find Blackbeard's treasure.

[Anonymous]

.
I'll be contrary.
OMI has priced themselves out of the market too. OMI has been around a long, long time. The Lionel Challenger is a fraction of the cost of what an OMI Challenger would be. In both cases, I am not the customer they are serving.

I'm not bent out of shape about that. IF I was modeling UP in the age of the giants I might have a different view. But I chose my modeling focus based on what I could afford and what I could model.

Sure, there are a lot of purty models on the market and coming on the market that get my heart pounding. And there are a lot of German cars that get my heart pounding. BUT, they are going to remain fond fantasies for the day I find Blackbeard's treasure.

[ellisjamesrobertson]

I still have a Lionel SP Daylight that runs superbly - cost me all of $19 (from Hobbies for Men -remember them?) - guess I'll stick with it and save my $700.

Ellis

Worcester, Eng.

[ellisjamesrobertson]

I still have a Lionel SP Daylight that runs superbly - cost me all of $19 (from Hobbies for Men -remember them?) - guess I'll stick with it and save my $700.

Ellis

Worcester, Eng.

[Anonymous]

WOW!!!!![:0][:D] I didn't think anyone remembered HOBBIES FOR MEN anymore. What ever happened to them? I think thats where I bought my Lionel HO GP30 in BN markings, many years ago, I think about 25 or so to be exact.

[Anonymous]

WOW!!!!![:0][:D] I didn't think anyone remembered HOBBIES FOR MEN anymore. What ever happened to them? I think thats where I bought my Lionel HO GP30 in BN markings, many years ago, I think about 25 or so to be exact.

[the-big-blow]

If people really want to spend this much on an Ho locomotive the should consider getting into O scale

[the-big-blow]

If people really want to spend this much on an Ho locomotive the should consider getting into O scale

[the-big-blow]

What I'd reall like to know how much does it cost to tool and produce a model like this.

[the-big-blow]

What I'd reall like to know how much does it cost to tool and produce a model like this.

[vsmith]

Lets hope their more successful than their G guage line that crashed and burned.

[vsmith]

Lets hope their more successful than their G guage line that crashed and burned.

[Anonymous]

I agree that Lionel is making some mistakes with their venture into HO again. I think a better plan would be for them to produce a complete line of items (locomotives, rolling stock, sets, etc.) for the average hobbyist, not really cheap items like low-end Bachmann, Life-Like, etc., but rather items that could do good competing against Athern, etc. They would probably do quite well considering that the Lionel name itself would probably attract a lot of people to buy it. Then, after they're already established in the market, they could venture out more with higher-end items (when I say higher end, I don't quite mean a $700 steamer). Another good idea would be to re-release some of their postwar HO items, such as they have done with their O gauge line. A lot of these items (particularily the operating action cars) would be quite popular considering that many of the originals are collectors' items today and gaining more attention. When I first read the headline that Lionel returned to HO I was excited and ready to head over to the hobby shop as soon as they came in to make a purchase. But I was quite disappointed when I read the full story. They know a lot of people will be wanting to get new Lionel HO and are trying to take advantage of that by jumping right in with an extremely expensive item. I suppose it may be slightly more successfull than simmilar items because of being made by Lionel, but that doesn't mean they're going to sell like hotcakes! What's really sad is that you can buy good quality O gauge items from Lionel for that same price, which if I could afford to spend that kind of money on a train all at one, I'd much rather do!

[Anonymous]

I agree that Lionel is making some mistakes with their venture into HO again. I think a better plan would be for them to produce a complete line of items (locomotives, rolling stock, sets, etc.) for the average hobbyist, not really cheap items like low-end Bachmann, Life-Like, etc., but rather items that could do good competing against Athern, etc. They would probably do quite well considering that the Lionel name itself would probably attract a lot of people to buy it. Then, after they're already established in the market, they could venture out more with higher-end items (when I say higher end, I don't quite mean a $700 steamer). Another good idea would be to re-release some of their postwar HO items, such as they have done with their O gauge line. A lot of these items (particularily the operating action cars) would be quite popular considering that many of the originals are collectors' items today and gaining more attention. When I first read the headline that Lionel returned to HO I was excited and ready to head over to the hobby shop as soon as they came in to make a purchase. But I was quite disappointed when I read the full story. They know a lot of people will be wanting to get new Lionel HO and are trying to take advantage of that by jumping right in with an extremely expensive item. I suppose it may be slightly more successfull than simmilar items because of being made by Lionel, but that doesn't mean they're going to sell like hotcakes! What's really sad is that you can buy good quality O gauge items from Lionel for that same price, which if I could afford to spend that kind of money on a train all at one, I'd much rather do!

[the-big-blow]

Take it from someone who knows you get more bang for your buck in O scale. Thats why I have all my steamers in that scale.

[the-big-blow]

Take it from someone who knows you get more bang for your buck in O scale. Thats why I have all my steamers in that scale.

[ellisjamesrobertson]

I have a Lionel SP Daylight - runs perfectly and cost all of $19 (from Hobbie for Men- remember them?). Guess I'll stick with it and save $700!

Ellis

Worcester, GB.

[ellisjamesrobertson]

I have a Lionel SP Daylight - runs perfectly and cost all of $19 (from Hobbie for Men- remember them?). Guess I'll stick with it and save $700!

Ellis

Worcester, GB.