I heard that Lionel plans to reissue the Percy locomotive from the Thomas the Tank Engine series for right around $100. It’s due out in December. I’ll buy one for my kids. After seeing what the originals go for on Ebay, I’ll pick one up at the hobby shop. Here’s hoping Lionel expands the Thomas line to include some of the larger engines.
Jim
Hurray! I was aware Thomas was previously issued by LIonel in large scale but I didn’t know Percy used to be out in O?
Yup. O gauge Percy sells for $300 - $500 on auction sites. The previous time both engines were issued in O, they were painted with a much glossier paint. I like the current flat painted version of Thomas better. Percy is probably my least favorite loco in that series, but my kids like him and if enough people buy the Thomas line, it could expand. Personally, I’m hoping for Gordon!
Jim
It would be a nice market for the youngest of railroaders. The most extensive models offered is by Hornby, in OO/HO. Bachmann’s largest HO is James the Red Engine. I would be nice to see someone come out with some nice Thomas models.
On the surface, it appears that Lionel is expanding the Thomas line. But so far, everthing “new” is just a reissue. Toby could easily be made from the same motor/wheel combo as Percy, but he’s yet another small engine in that line.
I hope the recent lawsuits don’t put a stop to the development and expansion of the Thomas line at Lionel.
Jim
If you want to attract the youngsters into the hobby you have to have things that they are familiar with and the Thomas line fits that to a “T”. At the museum when Thomas or Sponge-Bob are running it is a hoot watching the little ones scurry around to see them at different places on the layout.
I also hope Lionel continues to expand the Thomas line. I would also encourage them to add a few features to the engines–like a good smoke unit and a whistle. I have a set from the late 90’s and, while the engine is cute, it doesn’t even have a reversing unit. (I think the new ones have a reversing unit at least.) They also need to keep putting out rolling stock (even if it is a repainted Marx-type hopper), firgures, and working buildings. They also need to package extra track with the expansion packs including (manual) switches.
All of my children played with the BRIO/Thomas trains until they were 8 or 9 years old. The logical place for them to go is O gauge IF someone can capture the essential elements that made BRIO so attractive to the kids:
A $300 set to start will not do–keep it at $150 or less with expansion packs in the $25 to $100 range. And they can’t expect to get over $25 for Thomas rolling stock.
[#ditto]
One thing that I think would make many of the starter sets more attractive to kids is put electrocouplers in the engines that activate with the bell button on newer transformers. Puffing/running sounds would also be nice.
I have no idea if either of these things can be done and still keep down the prices, but they would be nice.
The newer Thomases do have an e-unit and a whistle. They are also geared so that they don’t go fast enough to be run off the tracks by heavy handed kids at the throttle.
My kids also have a NYC Flyer set with Railsounds. It definitely adds to the enjoyment of kids of all ages. I hope at some point that Trainsounds/Railsounds becomes a standard feature on all of Lionel’s sets, regardless of whether or not it’s a starter.
Jim