Is the previously announced Legacy SP Cab Forward in this catalog?
It was announced in an email... I think it was the blog thing I signed up for... Said 'newly offered' or something like that... I wish I kept that email!
Highly doubt the Cab Forward is previewed here. I guess the bigger questions will be, "Is this even a 2014 preview catalog at all? Or is it a way to move product that's already been produced -- just with a new twist to it... like offering weathered versions of overstock inventory, more undecorated "pilot/engineering" models, and ala-carte engines for sets whose rolling stock production continues to sit in limbo?"
The information "slip" on the Cab Forward came on Lionel's blog, when they were highlighting a new set of SP passenger cars. An early release of the article indicated the cars would look nice with the E8/E9 diesels as well an "upcoming Cab Forward". Oops!!! After somebody's wrists got smacked, the text was updated to just imply the cars would like nice with a variety of Lionel SP locomotives (including a Cab Forward -- with the reference to "upcoming" removed). Regardless, I would expect that more as a 2014 catalog'd offering. It's a unique enough offering that typically get's "cover page real-estate", and we already know what is shaping up to be a Fall 2013 catalog has two of the "weathered locomotives" gracing its front cover.
David