I would rather see one annual catalog with realistic production possibilities than two semi-annual catalogs fraught with delays and cancellations.
Rusty
I hear you. But how can Lionel expect to get a good foothold with Fastrack if their next new piece of Fastrack won't even get announced until almost a year from now? I hope that there is a lot more in the next catalog, not from a new engine perspective, but from a baseline perspective. By that I mean scale wheels also on steam engines, Fully fleshed out track system, new diesel drive system, possible DCC integration, etc.
This is a frustrating time for newcommers to S. Trying to build a new layout right now is like trying to read a crystal ball and it is starting to bother me. I think that I am just going to finish my code 100 switching layout and play with some HO at the same time until some of the basic questions in S get worked out. If ever there was a scale in need of standards, it is S.
Actually, I can't recall a time when it wasn't frustrating for a newcomer to get into S, be it scale or hirail. Over the past 25+ years I've been in S, it seems something crucial was always unavailable at one time or another.
Frankly, I don't see where Lionel has to wait for a catalog to release more track components.
Simply announce new track availability on their website and with dealer notices, plus let it migrate through boards like OGR & YaHoo. Then put them in the next catalog when printed, like they did with the new O gauge EM1's and 2-8-2's.
Rusty
I understand Rusty. It really is unfortunate. I have to admit that I am getting tired of always running into some kind of roadblock in S.
I hope you are right about the track, but I would bet they wait for the next catalog.
I was hoping to build this new layout this year, but I guess I'll focus on the scale layout this year and revisit this one next year sometime.
I can't build a layout with only 3 pieces of track so I'm not going to try.
