Lionel Mexican Production?

1982-1984

It's all in the Fun Factory book.  You should get yourself a copy, it's really good stuff!

 

Jon  

"Tijuana, Mexico (1983-1985) was a Fundimensions cost-cutting disaster that Lionel fans would rather forget.  Components were shipped across the border from San Diego, assembled by low-cost Mexican labor, and returned to the USA with minimal import duty."

 

Found the city!

 

From the Fun Factory book!

I'm pretty sure they painted - the Union Pacific Overland set was made there, as well as the New York Central 20th Century Limited set. Both had many problems... Although, that is a bit unfair selection.

I believe that I own a few of the Mexican-production accessories:

 

 

 

 

The Coaling Tower and the 2 AF remakes.....Barrel Drum Loader and Sawmill. All three have been very reliable and durable over the years.

 

Peter

The 20th Century Ltd set........

 

Thomas........I have owned the 20th Century Ltd set since it was issued in 83 (my 1st Charles Ro purchase). It has never had a problem other then cosmetic dings from 30 years of use. In fact, one of my projects is to get it converted to traction tires and command control.

 

Peter

 

 

So litho in Mt Clemsons...assembled in Mexico?  The few pieces I have say that on the box.   Also, was the Mexico factory in use for other products as well for Fundimensions...or was it built just for this fiasco.

Yeah I have the Fun Factory book but never saw the exact address.

 

This reminds me...what was the story behing that ugly loco Lionel offered in 1987-88 ish based off the Berkshire platform but marked as made in Taiwan.  

That was the prototyping for the current Lionel system of QC - making sure it fails consistently........ahahahaha.

I believe Kenner Toys had a lot to say about what was built in the factory in Mexico.

The memories! My very first Lionel catalogs were the 1983 traditional and collector editions. The silver covers contained so much good stuff, even though they were quite thin compared to today's standards. FARR 682, NYC f3's with matching passenger cars, a blue General, and in my 12 year old mind, the green Santa Fe boxcar in the back of the catalog was the best. Years ago I bought that boxcar new in box for $10.00. I think the Santa Fe bunkcar was in that catalog. Saved up some lawn mowing money for that car, and made my first train mail order from JL Childs to get that car. 5717 was the number on the side of the car. I still remember. The car and box are under my current layout somewhere.

 

Wish I had more info. on the Mexican production question, but the topic brought back some great memories for me.  

18001 Rock Island Northern was the odd proportioned loco I was thinking about.  It looked cheesy in person to me though it may be a great runner...I have never owned one.

I can recall waiting for the Erie Lackawanna GP-20 (8369) to be produced. I am unsure if this was a Mexico produced item.

I'm pretty sure the #8369 Erie Lackawanna diesel was made in Mexico.

I just got off of a auction site. On the auction site were ten pictures of the #8369 Erie Lackawanna diesel taken at different angles. One pictured showed the under carriage of this diesel. Attached to the under carriage was a sticker reading built in Mexico.  

       
       


Not too certain about that.  Lionel was still squarely under the Fundimensions division of General Mills when the move was made to Mexico in 1983,  and if I recall correctly General Mills didn't spin off Lionel and Kenner - Parker until sometime around 1985, wherein Richard Kughn started his negotiations to purchase the Lionel train assets.  As such, Lionel under Kenner - Parker was extremely brief.  I seem to recall that returning full production back to the U.S. was one of the primary conditions Kughn imposed as part of the negotiations to buy Lionel out.

Is there a definitive list of what was made in Mexico?
I think that I have read conflicting information on what was made there.
For example, I thought I read that the 8404 turbine was built there, but I think mine is marked made in USA. (Lots of thinks here, no facts)

J C PENNEY Wabash Fairbanks Morse with the backwards flag...other variation made in USA.

Guess you were lucky Peter. Because most of the examples I have seen, read and handled have had fingerprinting and chipping paint issues.

 

That's not to say all of the Mexican production products were bad of course. The FARR Southern Mikado came out particularly well.

Jim, Many thanks for looking into that!

 

Even though the EL GP-20 was a traditional line diesel, you can see the 'cheapening' when compared to older MPC units.

 

When I received the engine (Christmas 1985), I was happy to see that the handrails & frame were painted EL yellow. The catalog picture showed black handrails.

 

I would assume that the Erie Lackawanna Limited set (same time frame) was made in Mexico as well?

 

I believe the automated chicken car that was reissued csmr from mexico as we'll as the prr Farr set#5.

In 2000, Matttel (toys) decided to move its recently bought View Master (3-D reels and viewers) production from it's 61 year Oregon location to Mexico. It turned out to be a disaster.