Lionel TCA Museum Presentation Today

Hi Brian, Thanks for the update!  I am taking the redeye from Seattle on Thursday night, should be at York friday morning.  Hope to see you! Dave

Thanks for the report. It is refreshing to see the top Lionel management taking an active role. I have watched and listened to a few interviews with Howard and he seems sincere abut his interest in Lionel trains. He has even started building a layout at home with his kids so he can see what the hobby is like for himself and any interests the kids might have. I think that's very impressive, as were the interviews he did. He seems like a good guy.

 

Now, if he starts getting as excited about Lionel trains as Mike Wolf does about MTH trains we are really going somewhere. The future is bright for our hobby.

Thank you, Brian.

 

Peter

How did the Gold one Look?

       
       


Golden, perhaps? 

All kidding aside, I seem to recall hearing that these are not going to be gold - plated but painted using gold - colored paint.   Is that true?

Glad you made it there safe.  Have a great time!

My friend Dan and I attended the presentation also, arriving about 11:00 and leaving about 4:00. 

 

We saw Bachmann/Williams demonstration of their smartphone app for controlling HO trains which they say will eventually be in the O gauge line. They had the 44 ton diesel shells on display along with a prototype. I did inquire whether a Red Arrow trolley might be produced and their representative indicated that it would be a good idea, especially with their Philadelphia presence. I remain hopeful that this will occur.  

 

MTH with Mike Wolf was next up with their smartphone control, new 44 ton diesel, weathered locomotives, Big Boy with steam whistle effects, and new German 2-10-0 which Mike says is the most detailed locomotive they have ever produced having more than 250 cast brass detail parts and it is a beauty! I was disappointed by the answer to my question regarding whether a McKeen motor car would finally be produced, which sounded something like never, but was phrased with reasons like bad economy, not enough pre-orders last time, etc., etc......

 

It was an interesting day and we made it home safely, in spite of the very heavy rainfall.

 

On to York!

 

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA  

 

 

 

I'm gonna predict Lionel will produce the CZ and Pocahontas sets first -- probably on Dec 32.    They're both the longest overdue.

 

That's purely a guess on my part -- that is... which two sets they'll produce first, not the ship date.   

 

Keep us posted if you find out anything more specific.  I have the Texas Special 18" cars on pre-order, but I'm fully expecting it will ship in 2015.  Later rather than sooner... regardless of what the shipping schedule says.  

 

David

Any presentations from at as o and Weaver models?

I really did not get a close up look at the Gold Berkshire. I will today and post what I think.

Nice report Brian.

Gold Polar Express items were painted, not plated.

Brian: Thank you for taking the time to post. Looking forward to your post-York report.

 

Charlie

Gold paint and not gold plate? Are Lionel's costs for painting items gold really that much more than painting them black, or any otherr colors, to justify your higher MSRP for the gold edition locomotive and cars? Major paint manufacturers price their gold spray paint (metallic too) the same as other colors, so why the difference in cost from you? Don't know what to label this practice by Lionel so I'll leave that up to other posters.  

 

That would make me very happy!

Looking forward to the VIDEO Presentation of all the Mfrs. Presentations!!!

 

FREDSTRAINS

I asked Matt about the 18" aluminum passenger cars and two sets will be shipped in the 4th Quarter of this year and the rest will follow in the 1st & 2nd Quarters of next year. I will get a clarification tomorrow as to what sets will go out this year.

 

Keep us posted if you find out anything more specific.  I have the Texas Special 18" cars on pre-order, but I'm fully expecting it will ship in 2015.

I was browsing the TrainWorld website and looked at all the back ordered aluminum passenger sets that were still available for reservation.  I found some shipping dates which differ from Lionel's shipping schedule.

 

* 6-20015 B&O Cap Ltd.  Jan- 31 -15

 

* 6-20005 Southern Pacific Sunset Limited Sept -30 -15

 

* 6-25722 Cal Zephyr  June - 31 -14

 

*6-2000 Pennsy June -30 -15

 

* 6-20025 KCS   Jan -28 -15

 

* 6-20020 FEC City of Miami  Jan- 30 -15

 

These were the only sets left available through them, and each has a shipping date according to what Trainworld can predict.  I did not see a date for the Milwaukee Olympian passenger set which are the cars I want to match up with my E9'S.  I also did not see any date or listing for the Texas set David is waiting for.

 

These dates are all relative and things can change again.  David is probably correct that we'll see most of these passenger sets after the Christmas Holiday season.  Which two sets we see before the Holiday's is the information we need.  

 

With all the locomotives and reservations many of us are expecting later this fall, hope this helps. I hope those out at York can pass along more information as it becomes available.

 

......Robbie 

Still waiting for the Video for the Folks NOT lucky enough to go to York and The TCA Museum this year!!!

 

FREDSTRAINS

Is the heavy "Mike" still an unpainted sample? Any pics if its painted?