I don’t know. I’m thinking silver New York Central repaint! The three operating cars that come with it open and frosty air (think smoke unit) billows out. Sounds pretty cool, to me, but then my trains have three rails, so what do I know.
I’m a beer snob! I admit it.
I see budwieser and coors and other stuff out there but I keep waiting on a Dogfishhead or Southern Tier, or even a Sam Adams car or something. I’m not gonna buy a beer train (or boxcar) that I would never drink. It’s all about the taste…
Beer is beer - to me. This looks like a great train.
Coors…somewhere between Koolaid and beer.
Personally I prefer Lionel’s Phantom series because it’s more prototypical :).
I seem to recall there being a thread about the “train” used in the Coors ad on one of the forums a few months back. In that thread, there was some interest expressed about seeing the train replicated in O gauge. Looks like MTH was listening. Not exactly my cup of tea, but whatever gets it for ya…
Regards,
Clint
Looks like a must have for my next kegger.
I think the McKenzie brothers designed this one. “Ya hoser”.
Seriously,
I don’t think many of us are taken aback simply by the use of a commercial alcoholic beverage
car being produced, as much as the prominent publicity and use on the cover of the catalog,
given MTH’s emphasis on “family values.” Most of us acknowledge and, as a physician, I know only too well the problems with abuse of alcohol, which is, IMO, greatly encouraged by the marketing and advertising approaches used by the manufacturers of beer. A little is good, a lot is really, really bad. I’d like some day to see a beer commercial that finishes with the tag line, “responsible drinkers know to stop at one or two.” Probably when hades freezes over, thaws and freezes over again. I don’t believe this catalog cover or train will encourage many or even any kids to abuse alcohol, but I see it as symptomatic of an unhealthy attitude on the part of our society and its marketing professionals that such marketing exists at all. The same for ads encouraging reckless driving by automobile manufacturers.
At the very least, this is a curious and dubious choice of cover subject and smacks of marketing desperation by MTH, IMO. I support the ban on tobacco advertising, and I’d support the same for alcoholic beverage advertising. Kids overall are influenced by these ads and what they say about society’s attitude towards alcohol (as opposed to marijuana, heroin and such) to a greater extent than we might wish.
Finally, I hope never to see the Lionel Zithromycin Phantom for treating infectious diseases caused by excessive affection with strangers :).
Neil
I’m not opposed to the train. I’m just wondering how many they will actually sell. I also wonder how many NASCAR sets Lionel will sell. My guess on both accounts is, not many. But never underestimate the American consumer. Jim
The heck with the train, I’ll take the ladies they have in the commercials.[:D]
It seems that if you operate at a public venue Coors should be paying the operator an advertising fee. [;)]
“…and I’d support the same for alcoholic beverage advertising. Kids overall are influenced by these ads and what they say about society’s attitude towards alcohol .”
So you support Lionels NASCAR #8 Railroad set?
Who’s car is sponsored by:
Hmmm…NASCAR = the “Busch Series”?
Well, kids don’t grow up in isolation, and if they see a Coors train by MTH, or cars from Lionel’s famed booze and smokes series, or Weaver’s Rolling Rock items, I don’t think they are suddenly going to become binge drinkers or chain smokers. I suspect that the color of the box the train will come in has more to do with the cluck-clucking over the “side-effects” of the train, than does the errosion of the moral fiber of the country. If merely seeing a train in beer company logos is such a danger to the children of America, then television, movies, and books (in addition to booze, smokes, and some prescription medications) probably need to be banned, lest they taint the innocent. I think X-Box has far more influence over the public than a train set, regardless of who makes it or what is in the set.
Beer or booze labelled cars are nothing new, 'tis true. But can you imagine the mystification and consternation if Lionel had featured a NASCAR train on it’s latest catalog cover? Much less a Jack Daniels locomotive and train set for $600 with TMCC II and RS 5.0 :).
I read little moral outrage and more puzzlement and disbelief amongst the commentary, at least the stuff I’ve been reading. What’s it all about, a response to Jerry Calabrese’s comments on the importance of branding in recent public comments? Or just to counter the NASCAR stuff with more NFL and NBA related stuff? I’m sure there are loyal drinkers of Coors amongst the hobby that will purchase the set, and maybe a few loyal cable TV viewing Coors drinkers who will spring for $500 for the set who don’t know a turnout from turnover. But like the NASCAR stuff, I don’t think any real revolution in model railroading popularity is likely to occur. Thus my serious surprise at seeing this “thing” on the cover of the next catalog. No moral disapprobation, just a little flabbergasted that a company that made its rep amongst hi-railers now going full steam ahead for the lo-railers, just like their competition.
I totally agree there. The difference to me, at least, is the proposed engine looks cool. The NASCAR stuff looks cheap to me. BUT - even if it the COORS LIGHT engine and set looks great - I wouldn’t buy it. Too much other stuff out there that is on the list…
Actually, Neil, I can’t envision anyone being outraged at a NASCAR train set being on the cover of a Lionel catalog. Be offended if you want, but with so much that is wrong with the environment kids grow up in, this is a pretty odd area to be outraged. Maybe MTH should have put Rudolph on the cover instead. Lionel could put Thomas on their next book,too! Both those oughta keep kids on the straight and narrow. Yeah, buddy.