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Reply to "What I'd Like To See From Lionel/Flyer..."

Originally Posted by jonnyspeed:

Sorry, but I don't think Lionel cares what has been made. None of those models has legacy and railsounds. Lionel would probably sell more than both SHS and AM combined. That's just my opinion though. Lionel is well versed in competing head to head, model to model with much bigger and more aggressive companies like MTH in O gauge. If they didn't avoid making the same models there I don't know why anyone would expect that in S.

Lionel has the name recognition, owns the American Flyer brand and no doubt about it, that gives them the edge.  Lionel must also view the S gauge market with growth potential, otherwise they wouldn't be applying so much gusto to the Flyer line.

 

S will also spur Lionel to futher minimize the electronics.  As I mentioned earlier, Legacy is a tight squeeze in the U33C and Pacific/Mikado tenders.  To do smaller locomotives with all the features, like a GP9, either the Legacy electronics have to shrink, the drive go to one vertical motor or duplicate the U33C drive.

 

There is, however for the present time, great advantage in doing things that AREN'T available in S.  It makes S new again and gives more variety to the modeler. 

 

Interesting times.

 

Hopefully, there won't be a 2-year wait between product announcement and delivery.

 

What remains to be seen is if Lionel can bring "new blood" into S or if the growth will be temporary and the S-gauger vein gets tapped out too quickly.

 

Buckle up and enjoy the ride! 

 

Rusty


 

Last edited by Rusty Traque

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