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Post by runamuckchuck on Feb 2, 2024 2:29:32 GMT
Up until now my viewing of the 2024 Lionel catalog has been exclusively on line. Consequently the Nickel Plate Berkshire 2431510 #777 struck me as a razzle dazzle fantasy theme that was a real eye catcher. My surprise could not have been more profound when I viewed the same engine in the print catalog that I picked up today.
What a bore by comparison.
Once again in the age of BTO production we are faced with the question of which of the versions of this engine is correct? The print catalog or the online version?
Dare I mention Yuletide/Yueltide?
Consequently unless Ryan Kunkel wishes to clarify the real version Lionel will produce in his Trainworld live feed next week, I will not preorder either version.
And in the BTO world if that means it does not get built; so what?
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 2, 2024 3:17:02 GMT
I feel your pain, re: BTO items. Now that we're 3 weeks past the release of Lionel's 2024 Big Book, I have streamlined my pre-order list CONSIDERABLY. And it feels good!!!
On tap -- and still rating a DEFINITE PRE-ORDER -- is the AEC Legacy Set with the additional SuperBass GP9. Next up is the Polar Express 20th Anniversary Set w/burgundy locomotive. That's a BIG MAYBE, but Charlie Ro's pre-order price is VERY tempting. That leaves me with just a few odds-and-ends: a hotbox reefer, the flatcar w/KATY PUPs, and the 3 Wings of Angels boxcars.
That's it!!! I'll sit on the sideline for the rest of the stuff I had on my earlier wishlist -- including the 18" aluminum passenger cars in Christmas livery. The more I looked at it -- both online and in the printed catalog -- the more something didn't seem quite right about the catalog illustration. Namely, the bodies appear to ride very high (i.e., above the trucks). And the couplers/trucks almost appear lob-sided because of that. Just not something I want to gamble on, until I see what's built with my own eyes. Even Charlie Ro's aggressive passenger car pre-order pricing isn't tempting me on these. Not to mention I have second thoughts whether this set will coordinate with the NPC Sleigh Bell Ltd F-19 steam locomotive due out later this year. I have something up my sleeve with the NPC Christmas theme, which I'll (hopefully) have more to discuss in short order.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Feb 2, 2024 3:42:00 GMT
You would have to imagine that it is pretty difficult to mess up fantasy scheme items but then again....
The Hiawatha Christmas set is IMO a stand alone and will not integrate well with the F-19 Sleigh Bell engine. Other than your insightful concerns about physical integration with the F-19 and the Hiawatha cars just the ability to match the green and red tones of each to the other is dicey at best.
The price of those F-19 engines was/is so favorable IMO that I preordered both the Christmas and the Halloween from the previous catalog to swap out with heir diesel equivalents when the mood struck.
I had not considered the AEC set however it is so weird, that I could conceivably convince myself that it fit into a Halloween theme.
Other than that the Halloween coaches, blood Tonic milk car and the caboose are it for me.
The Nickel Plate #777 is definitely out.
The AEC may be guilty pleasure that I can resist.
I am not a Polar Express guy but if I were the plasma coat exclusive from the Lionel Store would be my pick.
While not an inconsiderable list this is a far cry from my previous preorder.
Maybe I will trim my list further and take the 'savings' and dip my toe back into MTH Standard gauge which even at the higher prices it commands these days is still a relative bargain.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 2, 2024 4:24:12 GMT
I should mention my "that's it" comment was in reference to Lionel's new catalog. I have a few goodies carrying over from 2022 (the Lionel B&A Berk from Mr. Muffin) and 2023 (the Vision Line Triplex and a few MTH/Lionel custom-runs). Not to mention I've done some "selective shopping" with all the dealer sales going on in January. All of these jewels combined made it that much easier to knock off quite a few items from my original Lionel 2024 Big Book wish-list. 
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Post by Traindiesel! on Feb 3, 2024 3:06:23 GMT
My $10,000+ Lionel 2024 Big Book wish list is looking like it’ll be just that.
For the past month or so I’ve been receiving preorders and impulse buys of custom freight car announcements that has deeply cut into my Big Book budget. Not to mention part of my York Meet budget too.
On top of that, should I pull the trigger on my pre- Lionel 2024 Big Book list of other importers including Lionel previous releases, I’ll have an approximate $6,500 knuckle sandwich to my budget. It’s looking like I’ll be missing out on quite a few trains I’d really love to get from both lists.
But beyond the financial irresponsibility, I take pause as far as Lionel steam locomotives. I’m not as concerned with color variations as I am with self destructing gear boxes, missing or broken parts and other mechanical and electronic issues I’ve encountered with my last few purchases. It pains me to say it but I can’t take a chance with the prices of the Polar Express Berkshire and the Milwaukee Road Atlantic.
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Post by rtraincollector on Feb 3, 2024 11:47:07 GMT
I know that preorder seems the only way to get something, but to me the gamble is not worth it, nor the wait to see if there really going to make it or not. And the prices now days, I can do without anything Lionel is making.
To me the new stuff is just to much of a gamble, and should something happen, will they have the part to fix it, probably not from what I have heard over the past few years.
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Post by dlagrua on Feb 3, 2024 13:16:21 GMT
I know that preorder seems the only way to get something, but to me the gamble is not worth it, nor the wait to see if there really going to make it or not. And the prices now days, I can do without anything Lionel is making.
To me the new stuff is just to much of a gamble, and should something happen, will they have the part to fix it, probably not from what I have heard over the past few years. Like everything else the O gauge hobby has really changed in the last 20 or 30 years. Once a hobby that appealed to more of the masses it has become a specialty market for high end users. For the most part I dropped out of the buying end and now buy only the select Eastern road piece. My layout also features a variety of curves ranging from O32 to O72 so its hardly one for the newer scale sized equipment. I maintain it and operate it using scenery, layout techniques of old and it doesn't require but two Z's and one 1033 90 W transformer to run it. Some will say that I am caught in the past but as an antique and art collector, it all seems to fit in. Have several other collections so there is always much to do.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Feb 3, 2024 13:40:55 GMT
My $10,000+ Lionel 2024 Big Book wish list is looking like it’ll be just that.
For the past month or so I’ve been receiving preorders and impulse buys of custom freight car announcements that has deeply cut into my Big Book budget. Not to mention part of my York Meet budget too.
On top of that, should I pull the trigger on my pre- Lionel 2024 Big Book list of other importers including Lionel previous releases, I’ll have an approximate $6,500 knuckle sandwich to my budget. It’s looking like I’ll be missing out on quite a few trains I’d really love to get from both lists.
But beyond the financial irresponsibility, I take pause as far as Lionel steam locomotives. I’m not as concerned with color variations as I am with self destructing gear boxes, missing or broken parts and other mechanical and electronic issues I’ve encountered with my last few purchases. It pains me to say it but I can’t take a chance with the prices of the Polar Express Berkshire and the Milwaukee Road Atlantic. It is for this very reason that I passed on Strasburg #90. It is also the reason why my K-4s from the Broadway Ltd and Harding Funeral sets are still in the box from a recent NOS purchase. It is bad enough when I don't take a train item out of the box for whatever reason. It is worse when you learn an engine model is prone to gear malfunctions after the fact and leave it in the box until you can get it to Harmon Yard to do his shim kit retrofit. It is too bad there is not a recall protocol in place for model trains. I took what otherwise might have been some 2024 Lionel preorder money and bought some NOS MTH/Lionel tinplate instead.
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Post by ron045 on Feb 3, 2024 13:59:12 GMT
I have never jumped into the BTO pool. I hear too many bad reviews to take that chance with a big chunk of money.
The only "long term" wait I have had was this silly 2 bay Atlas Hopper I've been waiting on. I joined the Atlas Golden Spike club for the "privilege" of buying this hopper... IN 2023!!! Still not delivered.
If I need something badly enough (That's not much of anything), I'll wait for the secondary market, or kitbash / repaint something to my liking.
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Post by curtis on Feb 3, 2024 14:49:09 GMT
I have never jumped into the BTO pool. I hear too many bad reviews to take that chance with a big chunk of money. The only "long term" wait I have had was this silly 2 bay Atlas Hopper I've been waiting on. I joined the Atlas Golden Spike club for the "privilege" of buying this hopper... IN 2023!!! Still not delivered. If I need something badly enough (That's not much of anything), I'll wait for the secondary market, or kitbash / repaint something to my liking. As much as I wish I didn't have to say I agree with you on Atlas Golden Spike Cars taking so long I have to say I agree. On top of that if you join at the end of the year, like December, they send you the current year car not the next year so you have to wait till December of that year to renew to get it. Really in this computer age you can't track membership and the dates and move them accordingly?
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Post by david1 on Feb 3, 2024 23:43:00 GMT
The catalog, BTO, the big book has no meaning to me anymore because I just Dont pay attention to them anymore. The quality, prices and the limited runs have just bypassed me now.
when i need or want any train items I would like to have, I look to the secondary market. I will Not buy nothing made after 2012. Too ridged you say I don't!!
I feel bad for train guys today buying these expensive trains where the build quality is second rate which is from stem to stern including the electronics and to put a cherry on it, parts availability!!!
Sorry for being for all The doom saying but the writing and proof is in the items being made now.
Dave
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