http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200507756
Anyone seen this yet, G scale to boot! 
Well, after the Polar Express dissappointment [:(] , I’ll wait, but I do like the British profile!
Battery operated? Geeez. The Thomas in G was crap, but at least it was electric. Lionel seems to have hit bottom…maybe they should stop digging?
Full details here:
http://www.lionel.com/Clubs/FindexLRRC.cfm
In the “top bar” point to “products” select “product finder”. In “product search box” insert “7-11080” , one train set appears in the “listings box.” Click on the Hogwarts name and new screen shows the full product listing.
I tried to put in a direct link but this is a page that shows the catalog without changing the URL.
Rechargeable battery optional, Remote control controls forward/backward, sound/bell, says nothing about speed control.
I really HOPE that they reconsider, but since there are people will buy because of the “Harry Potter” name no matter how crappy the product, I doubt it…
The coaches have too small, and seriously truncated bodies perched a million miles in the air. Shades of 0-27! (We really need a puking emoticon)
The loco also sits too high and the proportions are so far off it barely qualifies as even a caricature. It’s more like a scaled up z scale than anything I would call designed for G. The Hall class engines (the loco in the movies isn’t a real Castle) are a very handsome loco. 
They have been done well in MANY scales, by comparison Lionel’s offering is almost an insult.
Would somebody PLEASE send the people at Lionel large scale a CLUE? They don’t seem to have one. For $140 people should have the right to expect something a bit better than what is found in a $25 New Brite set. The Lionel badge USED to stand for something. I guess it doesn’t anymore…sad. (So much for for me ever getting hired to write a review in GR, lol)
Mik, Its not Lionels fault, I’ll give them credit for being smart enough to try a G Hogswarts, how long as that stupid series been going on? and NO ONE in large scale has offered a decent scale version while its been done in every other scale? So it will be a crappy toylike Lionel, dont blame them thats what they are doing now, I blame Bachmann primarily, they already HAVE one in HO, they would have been the logical choice to do a large scale version since they already have the licensing agreement, did they do it? Nope, so they lose, Lionel wins, and we get a cheapy battery toy instead, thats called marketing at Big B…[:(]
How bad was the Polar Express operational wise? My wife’s boss bought a set for her husband for Christmas and haven’t run it much. She bought it after seeing my layout on a whim.
The Polar Express didn’t appeal to me, but maybe it end the Harry Pothead train will be a entry into G scale for the uneducated masses.
Hog, what? We have hogs here and we trap them! Good eating [C):-)]
Toad
My guess is the Polar Express set sales are going down sense christmas is past so they gotta come up with somthing to sell in the meantime, maybe they will come out with a new set for the new Indiana Jones movie coming out next month theres a train in that movie [:D]
Just need some more movies with trains, wish someone would start making Thomas stuff in G again my sisters kid loves thows shows
I sent Lionel’s sales people an email voicing my displeasure, and the fact that I WON’T be purchasing the (at least) 2 units I might otherwise have … had it been even half decent looking. Probably won’t mean anything unless about a million others do the same.
[quote user=“ElMik”]
I really HOPE that they reconsider, but since there are people will buy because of the “Harry Potter” name no matter how crappy the product, I doubt it…
The coaches have too small, and seriously truncated bodies perched a million miles in the air. Shades of 0-27! (We really need a puking emoticon)
Ah, c’mon Mik, tell us what you really think. You apparently missed Vic’s critique of my innocent little Lionel 0-6-0T (sans tanks). (Snicker). [:P]
The loco also sits too high and the proportions are so far off it barely qualifies as even a caricature.
Yeah, but would I grab for those big, spoked drivers! Why, oh why, aren’t there 6-foot drivers offered anywhere? [%-)]
Would somebody PLEASE send the people at Lionel large scale a CLUE? They don’t seem to have one.
Weelll… I think they do, and it’s called ‘imagination’. You gotta admit, given the prices Thomas & Pals are bringing on Ebay, someone must like the non-rigorous approach. I have to confess a secret passion for Leggo trains: just look how easy you can build a fairly complex setup, and be sure everything will fit. No cutting, no calculations of scale… sigh.
For $140 people should have the right to expect something a bit better than what is found in a $25 New Brite set.
That’s right! My Echo locos have working smoke generators! Cheap New Brites don’t. Even if the smoke smells like an electrical short in old underwear, there’s plenty of it. [;)]
The Lionel badge USED to stand for something. I guess it doesn’t anymore…sad.
Yeah: It stands for treachery. Like when they started reissuing the ‘limited edition’ sets in the '80s. Not to mention selling them in cheap venues in the late fifties, instead of in high-class department stores like Sears, Roebuck.</
Older lego trains were alot more interesting than the new ones they have out now [2c]
I did get 1 set after they switched to track power and that was somthing along the lines of an amtrak train with superliner coaches… I mean it was cool and all but it just wasnt a Lego steam engine with a red battery boxcar with tracks you have to lay your self [B)]
All the cool lego trains are from 20+ years ago
I came within a gnat’s whisker of buying a Lego starter set when I went to the local Trains Around the World (or whatever) show. It was close: if I hadn’t, about half an hour previously, bought 3 HLW dump cars, I think I would’ve. (There were just TWO G Gauge sellers in the whole show). The attraction was overpowering: interesting combinations, no real thinking needed, just lay down your $$ and take it home and snap it together. With directions for the truly feebleminded. Like me. Lotsa different doodads to set alongside the track–those guys had their act together: a huge, huge layout, lots of things going on, colorful … and simple**–**the guy(s) would talk to you as long as necessary–they traded off with me twice. [:I] The non-customer-engaged guy was shovelling ‘kits’ across the counter and stuffing money in a sack. A third guy ran the layout with the help of a fourth. They were raking it in.
Les W.
Hmm
No printable response possable going on the picture.
Should retail at 50c doesn’t look worth any more than that definatly not done to any sort of modern standards.
Thats just looking at the picture, I certanly will not order one had it looked better I might have done for the coaches.
regards John Busby
Yeah, It’s for 4 year olds around the Christmas Tree.
Or for die hard HP fans! (and I don’t mean the computer folks) My wife and daughters are both die hard Harry Pottoer fans and the both want the blooming thing.
Yikes! Hmm, let me guess-made in China? Ah-so- Holgwuts- velly nice movie- so solly, no eletlicity- balterly only prease!
Crap, utter an total crap. Lionel should be ashamed of themselves, and at $140 to boot!
Just thought I’d let everybody know that it has been a week since I sent my email to Lionel about this thing. So far NO RESPONSE, not even a “Thank you for writing” form letter. Helllooooo! Customer service and servicing livestock is NOT the same thing! [soapbox]
ElMik, you got me! I’ve been known to have a way with words but that is quite a polite way of putting it when you say servicing livestock! I’m afraid when it comes to expressing that action the sailor in me comes to the fore!
After seeing the junky Thomas they had, I’d be hard put to buy the new set!
No Shame left anymore on the commercial greed scene-----Gasoline 4 to 5 bucks MAYBE SOON…
Byron C.
No Shame left anymore on the commercial greed scene-----Gasoline 4 to 5 bucks a Gallon, MAYBE SOON…
Byron C.