I know that they announced this program (but not the name) for the ex-Weaver tooling at York, but I was wondering when they were going to make the first run.

Looks like images are up on the web site, too.

Don't know if the "six-pack" model is a good thing or not, but I am glad to see that this tooling is not going to waste.

Andy

 

That seems extremely expensive to me. Guess I'll stick with Menards cars. Sure there is more detail with lionscale but that's not worth more than $200 to me

 

Since Lionel will be using the Weaver tooling for these freight cars they will be scale but will the detail be comparable to Atlas or will they have less detail than Atlas.

Bill

 

I'm into Menards or secondary market for my consists. I'll let someone else buy them new at full price, then when they no longer want or have use for them, buy em at half price.

 

They are not going to put Menard's out of business with those prices.

 

No way in h*** it will happen ever!

 

Having purchased complete Weaver cars (two-rail) for less than twenty bucks at train shows, I will take a pass.

 

After looking at pictures of the rail cars I see no difference in detail than what Weaver produced. What is strange is some of Lionels traditional rolling stock will be more expensive than the LionScale rolling stock. Is this the end of the line for Lionel's traditional rolling stock ?

Bill

 

What Lionel O gauge scale are these cars? 1:48 "Scale" or 1:56 "Traditional"?

http://www.lionel.com/articles/Lionel-Model-Trains-Introduces-LionScale

 

Click on one of the product links and you will see the details. The answer is "Scale" 1:48

 

Lionscale is full 1/48 scale size. They differ from Lionel's standard line in the detail. That said while some of the detail is cast on, much of it is separately added.
They were priced fairly when Weaver was making them. Lionel's prices seem pretty optimistic.

Pete

 

i think i will venture into a few of these they have some decent roadnames. it will be interesting to see what they put out in the future.

 

Lionel has priced them out of the market IMO. Why would I spend that kind of money on those with Menards around? They're simply not that much better than the Menards cars, and I'm hoping Menards ramps up the quality of the couplers and trucks a bit on the boxcars, that's my only sticking point with them.

 

Actually, Lionel had announced this "new Lionscale line of affordable O scale freight cars" on page 30 of its Volume 2 catalog last Wednesday.

But they hardly seem "affordable" when compared with Menards or what one can find new on Ebay.

 

Traditional, Lionscale, and scale, Lionel is trying to be something for everybody. I think Lionel's traditional line will eventually be used for their whimsical line such as the Presidents cars or the Batman cars.

Bill

 

Can't believe I missed that. DOH! hwell:

 

I'll stick with Menard's. More bang for the buck.

 

The pricing on the Lionscale rolling stock is not far from what Weaver pricing was near its end. The detail is not comparable to Atlas, but compare the $80 price for Atlas, and the playing field is level. Weaver produced some rolling stock abroad, for example, the H30 hopper and the B&O wagon top box cars which retailed for around $70, going back a few years. These had the same level of detail as Atlas, and were comparably priced.
One thing I like about the open hoppers is that regardless of the style, rib side or offset side, the inside dimensions are the same.Other manufactures' have hoppers with dimensions varying widely, apparently for prototype accuracy, but it sure is a pain making templates for coal loads, having 3 or 4 different sized 2 bay hoppers for example. It keeps the rivet counters happy I guess.
Another forum I'm a member of has done a club car project since 2006, offering a fallen flag car from different roads across the country. We used Weaver for several reasons: cost, convenience, (Weaver is about an hour south of me), Very flexible, (some of the greatest folks in the industry to work with), and American made product quality. After several talks with Mike Reagan of Lionel, we are anxiously awaiting production of the double door box car which was slated to be our next offering prior to the closing of Weaver Models.
For those who have purchased the 3 bay hoppers, I have loads available.Since Lionscale hoppers don't include coal loads, Mike Reagan had recommended me another forum. We had talked and communicated via e mail to make sure that all the dimensions were the same.
I have not seen any of Menard's products, but have followed them on several forums. The seem truly committed to customer satisfaction and product quality, having dealt with several quality control issues early on.
It is my hope that more manufacturing can be brought back to the US. Lionel began with the presidential box cars in the mid 2000's, and is continuing with the Lionscale offerings.
Don

 

Atlas O might be considered the standard for scale 3 rail though MTH Premiere and most of Lionel Standard is close if not equal. A better comparison to Lionscale/Weaver is Atlas Trainman which like
Weaver has cast on grabs but separately applied ladders and brake gear.

Pete

 

A good comparison in detail, but I believe the Trainman line isn't scale, or maybe like MTH Railking, some are scale and some are not. The only Trainman I have is a 4 bay hopper as a template for coal loads, and I believe it isn't scale sized.
Don

 

Did Lionel acquire the Weaver wood chip hoppers ? This was one of the last new tooling that Weaver produced. If so hope to see some SP&S or Northern Pacific wood chip hoppers down the road.

Bill

 

Yes, Lionel has the tooling for the wood chip hoppers. The wood chip car started way back as a kit in the 90's. There is no specific tooling for the wood chip car, there were sides that were glued to a standard two bay hopper, I believe it was a rib side car. Lionel may have the conversion kits, but it would be just as easy to fabricate sides from styrene plastic. I worked with Joe on the wood chip project to make sure the loads I made would fit the extension sides properly before the conversion kit was produced.My concern was having a suitable rest inside the kit that would allow the wood chip load sit at the proper height. I miss Weaver! Joe just posted an auction announcement on the OGR forum that will be coming up shortly.

Don

 

Don, I only have a few Trainman passenger cars. No freights but I was under the impression Trainman is scale and Atlas Industrial Rail is their traditional line.

As for Bill's question, I think only Lionel knows for sure what Weaver cars they can make. Good question for them at York. I know Mike Reagan was coy when asked by a friend if they were going to do the Weaver TOFCs.

Pete

 

Pete, I would have to pull out the hopper and compare it to an Atlas Master line hopper, but I know the loads are not interchangeable, but that might be a car type difference. As for the TOFC's they were one of Weaver's all time biggest sellers. Every time I was down there on business, or for a club car project, they were always in production.
Don