wtjohn posted:... Did you, by chance, see the Lionel 2016 National Train Day prototype boxcar with 027 style passenger car graphics? It is quite quirky, quite unusual, a bit like a Saab, you either love or hate the design? I am asking since you seem to be a fan (previous posts) of dealer appreciation, national train day promotional boxcars.
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I just saw some York pics that Trainworld posted on its Facebook page, and one of those is a close-up shot of the 2016 NLTD boxcar. Count me solidly in the camp that HATES this 2016 design. That's gotta be the worst design for a boxcar -- even worse than the design that Lionel chose as the winner for the "design your own boxcar" contest last year. 
Just seems silly that they'd decorate a boxcar to look like a baby passenger car. Sorry, I just don't "get it".
So no... I don't plan to purchase this car -- even if it's part of some collectable series that Lionel is attempting to produce. I'm at the point where I much prefer purchasing items I like -- not just spending money willy-nilly with collection-fillers (unless I really like everything in the collection). Because as we've seen time and time again, these collectables are "moment in time collectables" at best. And most aren't even that. Lionel hypes these NLTD cars as being available "only one day" through onsite LHS pre-orders. But even that is hyperbole, since MANY shops ordered extras and are now trying to sell them (i.e., the 2015 NLTD boxcar) after the fact. So there's no level of "exclusivity" to these cars whatsoever. None... It's all hype.
Bottom line... best to purchase stuff because you like it, and only because YOU like it -- not because Lionel is trying to convince you it's important to own "the entire series". That ship sailed a long time ago for me.
David
