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The 2018 lionel catalog is now online. 236 pages!

Starting on page 198 there are 22 pages allocated to the American Flyer line.

As we suspected Lionel is continuing the Flyer Chief line with the addition of a FlyerChief Baldwin switcher...but...WITH TWO MOTORS!

Here's a short list of the NEW items I could find:

6 new FlyerChief Berkshires

4 new FlyerChief Baldwin Switchers (2 motors and 2 electrocouplers) (a really neat paint scheme for the Potapsco & Black River RR)

1 new FlyerChief Docksider set

1 new Aquarium car decorated in the blue/yellow American Flyer Lines scheme from  years ago. (I guess this is the O gauge connection again)

5 new waffle boxcars

1 new 2018 XMAS boxcar

4 new 2 bay hoppers

2 new cabeese...C&NW Bay Window and a Neat Wabash cupola caboose

There's lots to look at.

Mark

Last edited by banjoflyer
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Well the C&NW Baldwin fits the bill for my narrow focus on S now.  I’ll get the caboose too.  That Wabash caboose is neat looking, I wonder if we will see a locomotive to match it in the V2 catalog.  

Nice to see Legacy steam back! 

I would have thought that Flyer would have had the SD70ACe UP1943.  Guess not this time. 

Ben

Last edited by NotInWI
jonnyspeed posted:

I have a couple questions regarding the new Legacy Berks...

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

If you don't have usable couplers on both ends it really limits the usefulness of the engine. Also, a lot of people use Kadee couplers. If there is no way to put Kadees on you are effectively limiting the potential customer base. 

My question is how many people want a Legacy Berk but don't care if it only has one AF style coupler? I suppose that will be answered soon by the number of BTOs.

Maybe I'm wrong, but the Legacy Berks look an awful lot like FlyerChief Berks with Legacy electronics and wire handrails, particularly with a $499.99 price point. 

I don't think these Berks are going to meet things like the Y3 or even the old Mikado's and Pacific's detail-wise.

Rusty

jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

banjoflyer posted:
jonnyspeed posted:

 

My question is how many people want a Legacy Berk but don't care if it only has one AF style coupler? I suppose that will be answered soon by the number of BTOs.

Did the earlier Legacy steam engines have those Kadee coupler features? I suppose it would be more scale oriented to have 2 working couplers front and rear but the AF style electrocoupler on the tender will satisfy the majority of the S gauge crowd I suppose.

Mark

The Challengers, Y3's, along with the U33C's, SD70's and ES44's all came with user-installed Kadee mounting pads.

Rusty

Mikeaa posted:

Dave, the description only mentioned the separate handrails on the locomotive.  Does the tender also have them along with other details not present on the Flyer Chief version?

Thanks, Mike A.

Yes. I'll do a separate post/topic outlining this engine. It'll make it more clear.

Dave Olson posted:
jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Thanks Dave. That changes things for me. Literally the difference between ordering 2-4 or zero. While I'm at it...

Will it get proper 4 chuffs per revolution?

Last edited by jonnyspeed

Dave

The communication about this is really nice for the S Gauge guys, it’s a big book with a lot of stuff people will be asking about and the vast majority of the conversation is not S obviously.  Thanks for taking the time to communicate with us about this - I’m mean really...catalogue has not been out more than an hour and we have good line of communication on its contents.  

Ben 

Dave Olson posted:
jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Dave, perhaps when the dust settles, you can enlighten us as to the added details.

Rusty

It is encouraging to see that Lionel has introduced another Legacy locomotive and, as promised, upgraded the Berkshires for a very reasonable price. The catalogue descriptions do leave a number of questions that I hope you will answer, Dave.

  • The $130 price difference for the Legacy version adds Legacy electronics. Does this also mean that the locomotive will operate on conventional DC as well as AC? The Y-3, SD70ACe, and ES44AC locomotives did.
  • The Flyer Chief is $20 more than last year. It appears to also have separate handrails in the pictures, but that may simply be that the same pictures were used for both versions. Do the Flyer Chief versions include separate handrails and engineer and fireman figures, or are they only on the Legacy versions?
  • Other possible distinctions may include cab illumination and directional lighting for the Legacy version. These features are not listed under the Flyer Chief features.
  • The locomotive measures 11 inches, and the tender is listed as 8 inches. The Flyer Chief Berkshires from 2015 were listed at a total length of 14 inches. Why the difference?

These are, indeed, handsome locomotives. Having Legacy versions with the frequently requested detailing improvements at a very attractive price allays any worries about American Flyer combined with Lionel O gauge in one catalogue. To me this is a very welcome addition to the American Flyer line.

banjoflyer posted:

Well there you go! I completely missed the fact that the first 6 Berks are Legacy!

And at a price of $500.00 MSRP that's way way way below the predicted ~$1000.00 tag for a new Legacy engine from some of the S gauge group!

A note at the bottom of the description of the engines features says they are NOT  Bluetooth equipped.

So for all those waiting patiently for a Legacy Berk (with detailed handrails) this is it!

Mark

If you recall, ahem, someone (won't say who) has tried to let folks know for some time that a Legacy Berk need not cost a king's ransom. 

Bob

Dave Olson posted:
jonnyspeed posted:

1. Does it have an actual scale coupler on the front or is it a dummy molded into the shell?

2. Will there be a Kadee mounting pad on the tender?

 

Scale dummy that's a separate piece like on the O Scale steam. Yes, Kadee pads on tender. Also lots of separate detail parts - handrails, etc etc. Much more than in the FC version.

Barring some unusual surprise, Dave, I'm in!  ... as I promised to you at York.

Thanks!

Bob

Bob Bubeck posted:
banjoflyer posted:

Well there you go! I completely missed the fact that the first 6 Berks are Legacy!

And at a price of $500.00 MSRP that's way way way below the predicted ~$1000.00 tag for a new Legacy engine from some of the S gauge group!

A note at the bottom of the description of the engines features says they are NOT  Bluetooth equipped.

So for all those waiting patiently for a Legacy Berk (with detailed handrails) this is it!

Mark

If you recall, ahem, someone (won't say who) has tried to let folks know for some time that a Legacy Berk need not cost a king's ransom. 

Bob

Depends on the size of your kingdom...

Rusty

Over all, I think this is a good catalog for the Flyer folks.  Hi-Rail people, maybe.  Scale guys, not really.  But, at least the fantasy stuff is kept to a minimum and the legitimate roadnames are well executed. 

I'm going to wait on Dave's posting about the Legacy Berkshires before making a decision, if there's enough difference to make it a stand out from the FlyerChief version I'll order one.

Rusty

Last edited by Rusty Traque
Dave Olson posted:
Mikeaa posted:

Dave, the description only mentioned the separate handrails on the locomotive.  Does the tender also have them along with other details not present on the Flyer Chief version?

Thanks, Mike A.

Yes. I'll do a separate post/topic outlining this engine. It'll make it more clear.

Thanks, Dave.  Looking forward to your post!

If you need a pair of Kadee couplers to try out, let me know.  I'd be happy to send you some.

Mike A.

That's what I figured, Rusty. I didn't have one to measure, so I was wondering which length was correct.  I wasn't planning on a Berkshire, but these Legacy versions are very appealing. My brother and I always jumped on our bikes to race to the road crossing whenever we heard the Nickle Plate locomotives whistle in the distance. It was a thrill to stand near the crossing gates and feel the ground shake as they pounded and thundered by, leaving a gray cloud of sweet/acrid smoke descending on us. It was the most memorable thing that happened on any such lucky day.

I think there is a nice assortment of new products.  For me it looks like I will save money this year.  I am happy with my FlyerChief Berk and don't need a Legacy version.  It is a very good price for the Legacy S unit compared to the O Legacy unit Lionel had at $1,000 or so.  I wonder how they could make it that much cheaper?  Maybe fewer scale details.

The Baldwins with two motors is interesting.  Maybe small motors that they could use in future Geeps?

Congratulations Flyonel!!!! 

Rusty Traque posted:
Bob Bubeck posted:
banjoflyer posted:

Well there you go! I completely missed the fact that the first 6 Berks are Legacy!

And at a price of $500.00 MSRP that's way way way below the predicted ~$1000.00 tag for a new Legacy engine from some of the S gauge group!

A note at the bottom of the description of the engines features says they are NOT  Bluetooth equipped.

So for all those waiting patiently for a Legacy Berk (with detailed handrails) this is it!

Mark

If you recall, ahem, someone (won't say who) has tried to let folks know for some time that a Legacy Berk need not cost a king's ransom. 

Bob

Depends on the size of your kingdom...

Rusty

Oh, about the size of a train store. 

Bob

What I  find especially interesting is the introduction on the first page of the Flyer offerings which mentions newly tooled cars to add to work trains (which do NOT appear in the catalog) .  Perhaps this was a project that was not ready at the time the catalog was due to come out, or was canceled at the last minute or perhaps this was a complete mistake and was not edited out in the proofreading stage. 

I think some newly tooled product of a realistic protoype would be well recieved,  maybe it will be ready in the fall

LittleTommy

Last edited by LittleTommy

It is definitely cheaper. O gauge FasTrack Sensor tracks are $95 each. I bought 3 to cut up to make 3 S gauge Sensor tracks. The IRV2 is 2 Sensor tracks for $100, and for $30 2 more can be added, 4 for $130.

The sensor and programming package looks like it will just drop in between the ties and rails of Gilbert track. Using scale track or MTH flex track the sensor will still have to be separated from the programming module. That requires some cable and connector fab and fit up.

banjoflyer posted:

The new aquarium car is another use of the mint car body I guess. 

The picture shows a side A and B so I guess the car does not have an inner mechanism to make the images move like they do in the O gauge aquarium cars. If it did move the image of a moving train on a moving train  would have been kind of neat.

I did not buy any of the S gauge mint cars and won't buy this one either. At one time I had all the commemorative cars along with the GP7/9 engine. It was neat for awhile but then it all went down that eBay highway... 

Mark

The Polar Express aquarium car mentions illumination and motor driven belt for 5 bucks more.

Oddly enough, I would be interested in a bona-fied aquarium car with swimming fishes...

Rusty

banjoflyer posted:

The new aquarium car is another use of the mint car body I guess. 

The picture shows a side A and B so I guess the car does not have an inner mechanism to make the images move like they do in the O gauge aquarium cars. If it did move the image of a moving train on a moving train  would have been kind of neat.

 

The car indeed is motorized and the trains do move inside along the belt. The belt has two trains on it just like in the image above so there's always one of the two trains on each side. And it is also lit. Same mechanism that will be used in the Polar version. This was a fun car to design.

I am likley also in for the PE aquarium/mint car. I always had a soft spot for the two Polar Express freight sets that Lionel had done in O in the past.  I would like one in S.  (Not that I....EVER complained about fantasy schemes in S! ;-).   

I would not mind one of the FC/BT GPs in that  Beautiful “polar railroad” paint scheme that Lionel did with quite a few O Gauge pieces 5 or 6 years ago.   

Ben

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