Lionel's Ready to Run Catalog is a home run.

Nothing exciting in any catalog. While I'm ready to get into Legacy, I think Lionel could REALLY benefit from a basic Legacy set. In the past, TMCC sets have been offered with an engine, cars, track, and even a Cab1 and base occasionally. A similar set could be done and I would buy one in a heartbeat. Small, non-cheapo RTR Lionmaster engine with Legacy or TMCC, a couple of cars and toss in a Cab1L and Base for $700 or less. A winner in my book. 

I agree with you Scott. There was a lot of work put into the many offerings. The front cover is just outstanding.

Very MPC era themed.

Better catalogs for sure!

FWIW the signature catalog ain't half bad either..... but I'm getting off topic

I didn't see any Christmas items in the RTR or any other catalog except for a scale gondola. Don't they usually have something in these first catalogs?

The R-T-R catalog is spectaculsr; the Signature not so much. Overall, quite impressive offerings, though!

Larry,

They now offer their Christmas items in their Christmas catalog.

Scott Smith

 

And from the looks of things, we may have yet to see the "real" 2014 Christmas Catalog.   

 

The one posted today is entitled "Holiday Memories", and features LOTS of terrific Christmas memorabilia, decorations, and a few RTR sets.  But no 2014-unique rolling stock that I could see... such as new Polar RR rolling stock, North Pole Central rolling stock, and the annual Christmas boxcars and such.  Plenty of time yet for those items to be unveiled during the Summer months though. 

 

David

I'm actually impressed with the 4 new sets featuring the old LTI era 0-4-0 tank steamers and industrial diesel switchers - not just for their great colors, but they're now upgraded to the Lionchief and sound systems, and are at a great price.

 

All the Lionchief engines look great, and that Jersey Central 0-4-0 switcher set has fantastic play value (albeit a rather hefty price). The Union Pacific Gold Coast set has some interesting colors and the B&M GP-9 set is quite handsome.

 

The impressive Batman subway set is sure to be a good seller considering how many Batman fans there are now after the Dark Knight trilogy.

 

My only criticism is that Lionel simply reissued Arry and Bert (now with Lionchief) for their Thomas lineup. They're not exactly that popular with Thomas fans and I would've opted to see Edward and Toby in their place. Oh well, can't have everything right?

The O gauge auto carrier will be made in the CP Rail multimark scheme. That is what I have been waiting for them to make.

 

Andrew

Best part of the Christmas Catalog for me is that the cover is the same print we have the original movie banner poster of . A patient of my wife got it for here from the movie theater he owned, its about 8ft high and we bring it out each Christmas to hang on the wall!

This is the first R-T-R catalog I can recall that hasn't included a NYC Flyer and Santa Fe Flyer set. Only last year's Pennsy Flyer LionChief set remains from what once were in my opinion the "standard" three Lionel R-T-R sets. Pennsy was always the cheapest, with the NYC and Santa Fe sets being slightly more expensive "upgrades" with longer consists and better engines/sounds/electronics.

 

Someone in another thread posted about the lack of transformer-controlled R-T-R offerings in this year's catalog, and I wonder if that might be the reason. Perhaps after a year off they'll return refitted as LionChief sets?

 

Just an interesting observation on my part; no personal opinion on the matter stated or implied.

Fabulous catalog. Lots of sets. Expanded line of Made in USA rolling stock. More selection of regional road names in starter cars. I didn't think the G-scale sets did that well for Lionel, but I must be wrong as they sure have expanded the G-scale starter set line.

 

I see several cars in train sets that I'll have to look for as break ups. The State of Maine Aquarium Car jumped out at me: I think this is the very first time an aquarium car has been done in an actual RR line road name.

 

I did notice one typo (mistake) between the Signature and R-T-R catalogs. The LionChief RS-3 is list as one single motor in the R-T-R catalog while the signature catalog lists metal frame and dual motors. I wasn't looking for a mistake... I just noticed it. And the CNJ dump car length is listed at 9.5 inches which is also wrong. Again, a car I like and I know those dump cars are longer than that.

 

Great catalog though.

 

 

I used to have some original movie posters too, for fun I'd hang them with the reverse print facing out; many people just would be dumbfounded by that and wondered if I had copies made and they printed them backwards.  I would tell them no, that's how movie posters actually are; normal print on one side and reverse on the other.  Don't know what happened to those posters, I hope I still have them somewhere.  Movie theaters are supposed to destroy those posters once they stop showing the movies.

 

Loved the Maine Lobster car!

Check out our pre-ordering prices!

I definitly like the RTR catalog more. My two sets that I'm considering are the Albert Hall set (to go with my Shakespere Set(s).I'm sad that it will be hard to run them together as one is Trainchief.) The early Amtrak set is nice.  I collect the double door MPC boxcars so I'm happy that those are back but the missing pair of axels is a lame cost cut.

I like the Albert Hall set.

Lobsta car is great.  Love the MLB cars too.

Lionel's presentations / marketing of their product through their 2014 catalogs is their best effort in many years!  I applaud them!!  Now I have to figure out when to start my bankruptcy proceedings...LOL!!

 

Alan

I like the B&M set and the Amtrak set.

The cover of this catalog is beautiful!  Nice job, Lionel.

 

Art

I have two Polar Express posters hanging in Joshua's room

Scott Smith

You could have some real fun with the major league baseball cars. How about syringe car? Turn the Cincinnati Red boxcar into a talking Marge Schott car. Press the button and the car spills out racial slurs and profanity just like good old Marge. Just for the record; I am a Red's fan but not a Marge fan-she was a disgusting human being. 

Scott Smith

 

Well the York Peppermint Patty Vat car is mine! Maybe the Yankee boxcar and I'm still thinking about the Batman subway cars.

Agreed about the RTR catalogue. Frankly, I'll probably be ordering more from the RTR than the Signature. 

The RTR catalog is nice, but many of those items are Lionchief, not Lionchief Plus. I'm still too nervous about a remote only engine

I agree with Scott - the RTR catalog is pretty cool, with a good range of product.

 

Michael R. - I would not be surprised to see Lionel come out with a multi-LionChief remote that will run multiple Locos.   Multi-frequency controllers are not technically hard to do.   Anyway, I thought about that point and decided to not worry and buy some LionChief plus.   Some of the starter sets would be more attractive to me with LC+.   A cost issue I suppose.

I've been hoping another English set after the Shakespeare set would be done. With sounds and Lion Chief it will be a killer.

We can all fret about the possible loss of the remote. However like all the modern trains they still have motors and wheels. That means if the remote fails we should be able to gut them and put new boards-either TMCC or DCS. So I am not going to worry about it. I ran some of the trains Saturday at Lionel and I am OK with the new system. I actually see an advantage with the remotes; they should work better for places like the NJ HiRailers or at the Virginia Museum of Transportation where the signal can get lost. That should not be an issue since the trains would be radio controlled.

Scott Smith

Did you see the P/E fleece blanket, flags, etc. in the Christmas Memories Cat.?

I agree with Scott.  I think this catalog is better than the regular one.

 

Definitely more traditional, and I can almost afford some things.

 

Fred

I was initially excited to see the Polar Express cover on the catalog, but after going through it I was disappointed in the lack of new PE items. I am hoping that Lionel will follow-through in the 2014 Christmas catalog by making some new and in-demand PE accessories, such as long overdue elf figures, and perhaps the kid's houses and North Pole structures. That's where they could hit a home run.

 

As for the Batman set, they should have made some O-scale Batman figures and vehicles to include. That would've added some great play value for youngsters.

 

A great RTR catalog for starter sets overall.

That Western Union set may have to go into my stable of Generals!

The full color "page by page" catalog is up on our web site making it easier for you to check out Lionel's offerings next to our great discounted pricing! ----Adam VP of IT Development

Have the 4-wheeled basic tank car and boxcar been used in the past? Maybe MPC era...or was the bobber caboose and docksider loco the only original MPC pieces?

The Marquette GP38-2 diesel set is something unexpected. It is strange that only the gondola is Pere Marquette. Why not a Pere Marquette Wood Refrigerator Car and a Pere Marquette flat car with trailers?

 

It is amazing that they offered anything in the Marquette scheme.

 

Andrew