Wow…I’m in shock!
Frankly, I’m not surprised. When I saw it in the catalog I kind of wondered why they were offering a model that I had bought in the last 10 years again, in a time of economic stagnation and uncertainty. I suspect they didn’t get the 1,000-2,000 orders from dealers they need to make it worth their while.
I suspect a lot of folks are waiting for re-releases of Lionel locos already released to get the Legacy stuff on them. I will wait for a GG-1 with Legacy before buying any of the current JLC GG-1s that are out there. If they release a JLC GG-1 with Legacy, that would motivate me to buy the Legacy system. Wellllllll…maybe. [;)] If they released a scale S-2 with Legacy…definitely!!! [tup]
I’m not surprised because not many people can afford those!![:(!] I mean, you could almost get a car for that!! Don’t get me wrong, I think those models are awesome, but I think Lionel needs to concentrate on their postwar reissues instead of the more expensive models. Just make them with basic can motors and the basic air whistles, and puffing smoke to keep the price down. But they probably wouldn’t be as entertaining as ones with all the bells and whistles though. Well, I probably got off subject but this is just my 2 cents anyway.
Berk: What I would like to see is Lionel use K-Line for their postwar and non-scale issues and specialized sets like Harry Potter or Halloween, and use Lionel for the middle-to-higher end stuff. I just browsed the K-Line catalog and there is a lot of stuff there like scale boxcars for $65. I wonder how many people that buy scale even know K-Line sells that stuff?? I sure didn’t and I buy mainly scale. The whole K-Line/Lionel situation seems to be kinda confused right now.
It’s ironic that looking back to Standard O freight cars, the Reading T-1, The 1-700e, the Mohawk and the Mikados, Lionel is the company that moved us 3 railers from traditional Lionel locomotives and rolling stock into the world of scale sized and detailed equipment.
[sigh]
I still have what I consider to be a top shelf postwar collection, at least from my postwar years. But, as far as operating trains now a days, I’ve committed to 3 rail scale and it would be hard for me to go back!
Is this cancellation the beginning of things to come? Berk, I don’t think your 2 cents is off the mark.
My bet is that Lionel is going to play the conservative game in the short run and selectively bench the production and release of pricier pipeline items previously announced but not yet produced. The higher end market will be thrown just enough bones here and there to keep them at bay while not defecting to the competition. [:(] Seems to be the direction Lionel is already taking with the postwar rereleases.
Lionel’s competition is in the same boat and may follow suit. They too need the gross profit dollars that only market share and the higher volumes can sustain. Add in restless venture capitalists and shareholders, the toy train companies’ track record (of financial failure), tightening of the credit markets, and the economic impact consumers are facing with the recent turn of events.
To me that spells a retrenchment in the industry to the bread and butter low and middle markets. And I expect there will be some industry consolidation sooner than later as well. [:(] The bells and whistles stuff may go into a holding pattern
[quote user=“RockIsland52”]
Is this cancellation the beginning of things to come? Berk, I don’t think your 2 cents is off the mark.
My bet is that Lionel is going to play the conservative game in the short run and selectively bench the production and release of pricier pipeline items previously announced but not yet produced. The higher end market will be thrown just enough bones here and there to keep them at bay while not defecting to the competition. [:(] Seems to be the direction Lionel is already taking with the postwar rereleases.
Lionel’s competition is in the same boat and may follow suit. They too need the gross profit dollars that only market share and the higher volumes can sustain. Add in restless venture capitalists and shareholders, the toy train companies’ track record (of financial failure), tightening of the credit markets, and the economic impact consumers are facing with the recent turn of events.
To me that spells a retrenchment in the industry to the bread and butter low and middle markets. And I expect there will be some industry consolidation sooner than later as well. [:(] The bells and whistles stuff may go into a holdin
Well, if that would keep the prices low for the basic stuff that I am interested in I am all for that.[:D]
[quote user=“Deputy”]
[quote user=“RockIsland52”]
Is this cancellation the beginning of things to come? Berk, I don’t think your 2 cents is off the mark.
My bet is that Lionel is going to play the conservative game in the short run and selectively bench the production and release of pricier pipeline items previously announced but not yet produced. The higher end market will be thrown just enough bones here and there to keep them at bay while not defecting to the competition. [:(] Seems to be the direction Lionel is already taking with the postwar rereleases.
Lionel’s competition is in the same boat and may follow suit. They too need the gross profit dollars that only market share and the higher volumes can sustain. Add in restless venture capitalists and shareholders, the toy train companies’ track record (of financial failure), tightening of the credit markets, and the economic impact consumers are facing with the recent turn of events.
To me that spells a retrenchment in the industry to the bread and butter low and middle markets. And I expect there will be some industr
Jack: I thought you were saying Lionel and MTH were going to go “back to basics” and stop making scale high price stuff???
I don’t foresee another manufacturer coming out to compete against Lionel or MTH. At least, not with present market conditions.
Edited my post to clarify, sorry!