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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 28, 2024 1:44:38 GMT
I had an eerie feeling that this would happen... and sure enough... even with Lionel's BTO Pre-Order Deadline here and gone, dealers (and presumably clubs too) are still announcing custom-runs... which implies they've already placed their order with Lionel AHEAD OF ANNOUNCING THE CUSTOM-RUN TO GAUGE INTEREST IN THE OFFERING. Gutsy move on the part of dealers (and clubs) who do this, but I think this one from Pat's Trains will definitely be a hit.
Of course, the $1,800 price-tag is enough to make one swallow hard -- especially considering Charlie Ro's "early buy" price for Lionel H7's in the 2024 Big Book catalog is $1,650. Then again, custom-runs being what the are... dealers don't seem too shy about making it hurt to reach for our wallet.
Price notwithstanding... I most certainly did a double-take when I saw the cool blue color-scheme, since I have a matching B&O 7-car aluminum passenger set from Lionel's heyday of offering 18" aluminum passenger cars. That would make one cool-looking passenger train.
So the magic question is once again... when will all these amazingly expensive custom-run announcements STOP this year? Answer: I don't think they will, because enthusiasts continue to buy them.
Case in point: Stockyard Express just received their special-run MTH U.S. Army Challenger, reportedly produced in extremely limited quantities (whatever that means). And between pre-orders and quick buys after Mr. Muffins Trains showed the model on one of his videos last week, all mention of this beautiful model on Stockyard's website is already nowhere to be found!!! While I haven't spoken to Clyde to confirm it, I have a sneaky suspicion his MTH Premier U.S. Army Challenger custom-run (at $1,600+) is already sold-out. Who's buying all these gems??? 
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Post by azdutch on Feb 28, 2024 3:35:50 GMT
I'm with you, I'm not buying $1,600 locomotives. I'm more of a Railing guy. I think Pat can be cavalier because it seems like that guy is printing money with all of the Santa Fe black bonnet stuff he has had run.
I do love to see all of the special run stuff though. I think it's a great indicator that the state of the hobby is strong and I think we get to see an awful lot of road names we wouldn't otherwise get.
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Post by david1 on Feb 28, 2024 5:32:22 GMT
I have seen some dealers still taking orders like Trainworld and a few others. I thought the ordering date has closed, maybe the orders are just not there yet. There may be some stuff not made, we shall see.
Dave
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Post by seayakbill on Feb 28, 2024 12:23:21 GMT
It does seem that some of the dealers are really into the exclusive offerings for just their shop. Pats Trains, Mr Muffins and Stockyard Express seem to be announcing exclusive runs almost weekly.
Bill
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Post by dlagrua on Feb 28, 2024 13:02:34 GMT
I never liked or participated in the BTO business model as its a blind purchase that places ALL the risk on the customer and none on the seller. What do you do if the items arrives as an un-inspected piece with no user reports to guide your purchase? Before significant money is put at risk, it is the customers right to see the item, thoroughly inspect it, check the color, graphics and if possible test it. Its like buying an automobile; we come to see them, examine the interior/exterior, test drive them and then make a decision to buy. The "just trust us" buying terms just don't cut it with myself.
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Post by healey36 on Feb 28, 2024 13:14:51 GMT
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Post by dennym57 on Feb 28, 2024 14:02:42 GMT
It's too big for my curves and too much for my budget. So I'm going to move on down the tracks..yeah I said it.
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Post by lionelllc on Feb 28, 2024 15:01:16 GMT
The original post in this thread is spot on. There's a ton of custom runs being done in conjunction with the Lionel 2024 Vol 1 catalog. By my count, only about 50% of them have been announced publically already. Stay tuned for the others to be announced when the group doing the run is ready to announce. And yes, the production quantities for all of them have already been determined, even the ones not yet announced.
Look for another Lionel Legacy diesel announcement from METCA within a month or so ... and about a dozen different freight cars.
I'm already working on Vol 2 custom runs. The market is strong, very strong.
Stu
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Post by runamuckchuck on Feb 28, 2024 15:50:13 GMT
Fortunately up until now were it not for a custom run, I would not have BTOed the catalog version. Conflict avoided.
However a scenario where a BTO was placed with one dealer and later a more desired custom run was announced by a different dealer could lead to some unpleasant discussions with the possible loss of a deposit or customer/dealer relationship.
Other wise it is fun to have these custom run email announcements fill my inbox regardless of my level of interest rather than the normal junk I get.
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Post by superwarp1 on Feb 28, 2024 16:28:35 GMT
I'm already working on Vol 2 custom runs. The market is strong, very strong. Stu Is the Market strong because Lionel has very little competition or the hobby has enough hobbyist to keep it going?? Time will tell. With prices through the roof I often wonder when the bubble will burst? Are we going to reach a breaking point sooner or later, things can't keep going up and up. Can they? My salary isn't going up and up.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Feb 28, 2024 16:37:02 GMT
I'm already working on Vol 2 custom runs. The market is strong, very strong. Stu Is the Market strong because Lionel has very little competition or the hobby has enough hobbyist to keep it going?? Time will tell. With prices through the roof I often wonder when the bubble will burst? Are we going to reach a breaking point sooner or later, things can't keep going up and up. Can they? My salary isn't going up and up.
How about your credit card balance?!
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Post by josef on Feb 28, 2024 16:45:07 GMT
This maybe odd, but I am enjoying the smaller engines of smaller railroads more and more. Seems lately instead of running the bigger engines on my layout, I get more pleasure of seeing switchers and smaller road engines. and the 2-8-0s running as the biggest on my layout.
I haven't run my BB in 6 months, rather it sits in its case in my office.
But then the profit margin I guess isn't there for the manufacturer nor Hobby Shops on smaller engines.
My biggest reason not buying BTO special run is also 1 mold with new colors and Decals make them so. Which I don't understand when a hobbyist can do the same.
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Post by dasboot on Feb 28, 2024 23:53:42 GMT
The original post in this thread is spot on. There's a ton of custom runs being done in conjunction with the Lionel 2024 Vol 1 catalog. By my count, only about 50% of them have been announced publically already. Stay tuned for the others to be announced when the group doing the run is ready to announce. And yes, the production quantities for all of them have already been determined, even the ones not yet announced. Look for another Lionel Legacy diesel announcement from METCA within a month or so ... and about a dozen different freight cars. I'm already working on Vol 2 custom runs. The market is strong, very strong. Stu Waiting to see what graphic design METCA will be using for their upcoming Lionel E6 AB set.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Mar 1, 2024 23:15:00 GMT
Although not related to Lionel's BTO pre-order deadline, Pat's Trains also just announced more MTH custom-runs today: quite a few intermodal flatcars with double-stack containers in Santa Fe black-bonnet, regular war-bonnet, blue-bonnet and yellow-bonnet liveries. As I said... there's just no end to these announcements this year that are getting unveiled every few days/weeks. Very difficult to "budget" and plan one's spending for the year. And there's still more to come. Count on it.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Mar 2, 2024 6:14:28 GMT
Something to consider is that there are many more O gauge model railroaders than in all the train forums combined. And out of all those people not many of them have as many trains as some of us do. So there are probably many new hobbyists in the same spot a lot of us were in twenty years ago when we were buying anything not nailed down. Just look at the younger YouTube guys and all the new stuff they bought.
With so many custom runs being announced almost daily it seems like this is the replacement for catalogs. No printing or mailing costs, easy distribution of announcements and seemingly good sales results. With the catalogs that are printed, they are like appetizers building anticipation for what custom runs might be coming. Don’t like the catalog offerings? Maybe a custom run you’ve been hoping for will be announced!
A lot of what I’ve been buying lately has been custom offerings after they have been delivered. That was not my plan, they just got my attention. And aside from the catalogs and custom announcements, there’s still the beautiful trains 3Rd Rail makes! We’re surrounded with products! Just imagine if K-Line, Weaver and Williams were still pouring products into the market!
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