Just today I received my J.C. Penney Christmas catalog, and on page 181 there are two Lionel toy train sets for sale. The $199 set is a regular electric toy train, O gauge, with a Santa Fe reefer car, gon and caboose. The HEP appears to be some sort of 2-4-2 or 2-4-0, diecast as usual, with a tender.
For $129 Penney’s also has available a battery-powered, plastic-track G gauge set with engine, tender, one freight car and caboose, all Santa Fe. I think a battery fits into the locomotive but there is also supposed to be a controller for direction, whistle and bells.
These prices and equipment packages are about what I am used to in prior years from Menard’s. So far I know nothing about Menard’s carrying Lionel (for the prior two years my local Menards didn’t carry the set but IIRC some others did). On Target’s website I found a trainset but there was no availability.
Who else would like to sound off about what some of the other stores are doing with their electric toy trains this year?
As of today (10/15) both the Target and JC Penney sets are shown as in-stock, and ready for purchase. Hopefully both sets will wind up in their retail stores, as Target did last year. There are thouands upon thousands of potential buyers (and future hobbiests) who will see these sets in stores like these. I have the Menard’s set from 2 years ago (WC Passenger Set), and we will have to see what Menard’s will carry this year. Ken PS Bring back Two Guys ! (as long as it comes with a year round hobby department).
Here are links to JC Penny and Target showing their Lionel offerings. Both sets feature the basic standard but well-proven value 4-4-2 steamer. Interesting though, that Target offers a couple of separate sale add-on cars. Bear in mind, Target has some big mistakes listed in the descriptions that still have not been fixed. They have the text for the battery and electric sets mixed up. And the Lionel B&O set shows 2 different box car illustrations for the same set.
While these products will obviously not appeal to every adult train buyer, many have criticized Lionel in the past for having no mass retail exposure. Lionel CEO Jerry Calabres
Target usually gives a big discount after Christmas in the stores.I was able get a fastrac expansion set for half off.Also bought the train sets the last two years at a good price.
Many have bemoaned the fact that most of us are Post War, or earlier, ourselves. These inexpensive uncataloged sets are what got many of us started back in the 50’s and 60’s. These and the fantastic new TMCC type items should provide something for everyone.
I’m looking forward to checking out Menard’s; it’s only 150 miles away.
Hunting season, then Thanksgiving, and Christmas layouts and catalogs; it doesn’t get any better.
I was in my local Target store (Riverhead, NY) last evening. They have the B & O set featured, as well as a Fastrack expansion pack. As noted the B & O set has a “bonus” car inlcuded, a repro of the PW Sentinal Boxcar. The engine with this set is a 2-4-2, NOT a 4-4-2. Ken
My local Target is considered a “baby” Target and does not carry Lionel. But all the other nearby Targets do have them. I just checked the local “Mills Fleet Farm” and they have a starter set for $170 and the plastic G scale set for $130. No Lionels yet at my local Menards.