[Lee Willis]

DOES ANYONE KNOW if the Legacy B6sb is 1:48 scale? They don't say it is (and usually they say if it is) in this catalog, or, I looked, in previous iterations of it.
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Comments

It is a big catalog, and impressive in its range of products and licensed products and themes line area 51 and the Disney things and all Lots of products.

Prices are high. No surprise. Not so high that I would not pay for something i want, but not sure there is that much here I want.

One exception to both the cost and "not much I want,": gotta have the LC+ 0-6-0 swticher. Gotta get that just so see all that operation and sound crammed into that size of loco. For only $249? Wow.

Nearly everything not LC+ or Legacy is LC - their new normal and entry level.

I'd get the B6sb if its scale but I have a feeling it might not be.
Edit 15 min later: No matter, found a new PS3 model on e-bay that is scale. I've wanted a B6 for a long time. happy happy.

A Star Trek train? I'm a fan of the series and can't wait for the new movie. But no . . . Lionel, that's just wrong!

They covered GSs didn't they, all the way from GS1 to GS 6. I think they got some details wrong, but at the prices they ask, and given i have a nice "4" already, those details won't be my problem.

 

[Norton]

I believe the B6sb is scale. Its the K-Line engine that Lionel has done in the past at least once before.

Pete

 

[seayakbill]

Did not see anything that I would need to preorder or really wanted. Down the road maybe the Coors Beer reefers if at a super good price. Will be safe until April when the MTH catalog hits the internet.

Bill

 

[Severn]

I didn't look at prices. But I give them credit for trying to broaden their market. I don't really get that from mth. I do from time to time see bachmann rtr sets in larger chains but typically ho or n. They appear to sell slowly. But since I'm only sporadically at any given place ... For example hobby lobby near here.. I'm just going by Shel count that appears the same for weeks to me at least. Anyway Lionel, themes and all that could help.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have the earlier Legacy B6sb and it's certainly scale sized. We had a discussion about it and measured it and compared to the prototype. Also, even in the description, they call it scale.

Pennsylvania LEGACY Scale B6sb 0-6-0 Steam Locomotive #5244

I can't imagine they used different molds having produced this just a few years ago, so I suspect the new one is scale sized as well.

 

[Spence]

I’m not a Lionel guy so there’s nothing in the catalog I’m interested in.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I downloaded the catalog, it's huge when you print it to disk. I didn't see anything that jumped out and called my name, so I'll be saving money this trip.

 

[Rocky Mountaineer]

The catalog is ENORMOUS -- not only in the number of pages, but also product SKU's. Nearly 3 dozen pages devoted to VisionLine products, which tells you VisionLine is now being beaten to death in terms of offerings. Back in the day of LP's and record players, when the album went bad the needle would skip over and over again. That's how I felt paging through all those VisionLine pages with GS-whatevers and reefer/stock sound cars. Just too much of the same thing that got too repetitive -- almost making me lose interest. And through all of that, no VisionLine tankers w/freightsounds AGAIN. As I mentioned over in another forum... if Lionel couldn't manage to re-issue the VisionLine Ethanol tanker 3-pack in THIS catalog, then we're likely never gonna see those puppies re-issued again.

MSRP prices are insane... pushing $2000 for all those GS steamers, $180+/each for 21" ABS cars, same for 18" heavyweights, and even $80/each for basic traditional-line beer reefers that look like cheap plastic. Gosh, for a few bucks more, you're into Atlas-O territory for a full-scale, 40- or 36-foot reefer for stunning graphics. Get real, Lionel.

Not to be outdone, the traditional line is giga-enormous... with practically every big-name RR company represented by a boxed train set. And the breadth of licensed products is to die for this year. I can't help but wonder if one of Lionel's product manages I met a few years ago -- Meegan Unterwrecker -- is responsible for these terrific offerings. She is a breath of fresh air within Lionel's product management team, and her high energy and enthusiasm are infectious. It's been a couple of years since I've spoken with Meegan, but I wouldn't doubt she's behind this portion of Lionel's product line.

As I was saying the other day when a HUGE price-list leaked out onto the Internet, there is just way, way, WAY too much product here for a company that is coming off nearly 2 years of product quality hiccups. Confidence by buyers who typically pre-order Lionel high-end product has gotta be at an all-time low. And what does Lionel do? They publish a catalog which proves my theory that Lionel stateside is a HUGE marketing arm for its overseas factories that are now tasked with producing enormous amounts of toy trains. Whether the quality will be there is anybody's best guess. But I suspect many folks like myself will greatly reduce their pre-order habits to next to nothing.

Indeed, I will likely pre-order a few odds-and-ends like the American Freedom Train 2-pack add-ons, so I can complete the AFT train Lionel started 3 or 4 years ago. I "might" pre-order the Preamble Express train, simply because LOVE the patriotic themed trains... and THIS one has one heck of a pricing anomaly in favor of the buyer: namely an $800 MSRP that includes one powered E8 (typically $500 MSRP) plus 4 heavyweight passenger cars (typically pushing $200/each). So right there, an $800 MSRP for the set is basically giving you the E8 locomotive for free -- at least that's one way of thinking about it. It's very likely the best bang for your dollar in Lionel's high-end, scale product line. Still expensive mind you -- but a good price/performer given the all the other price-points.

At the end of the day, I still might spend between $1,000-$2000 just for various miscellaneous goodies. But that's pretty much what this hobby has become nowadays. To buy stuff like I once did 15+ years ago would require a huge 6-figure income these days. And I'm not sure I wanna get on that rat race treadmill again. So I'll watch from the sidelines... and most certainly will wait out delivery of these products before making large purchases. Aside from a few specialty items, my days of pre-ordering Lionel high-end products are history. There's just too huge a gap between what's often delivered vs. what's conjured up in our minds with all the catalog excitement.

So now that the catalog is officially released, it's time to sit back... let the street-prices settle... wait 'till later in 2020 when products hit the States... and maybe go on a shopping spree when we KNOW what's been delivered -- and perhaps even get a great deal in the process. With very few exceptions, that's my M-O these days.

David

P.S. It's still early, but I haven't heard of any dealers offering special-runs of products in THIS catalog. The Pat's Trains black bonnet Northern is actually from the 2019V2 catalog but just recently announced. For 2020 product however, there might just be too much product in the catalog itself for any one special-run concept to gain traction this time. We shall see.....

 

[Jeff T]

Looking at the Boston & Maine passenger set. Single E8, milk car, baggage, combine and coach. MSRP $799, dealer $639. I was considering the EMD E8 from a few years ago, but this set appears to be a nice deal.

 

[SDIV Tim]

Maybe the Blue Coal Hoppers apart from looking at an 0-6-0T is the only thing I really want. I would take a T-1 but wish 2102 was offered with just Reading on the Tender.


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[seayakbill]

Reading the statements on numerous forums, it does not seem that Lionel hit a homerun with this catalog. A lot of comments stating that nothing is a must have for a pre-order but may purchase this or that once released. It will be interesting to see if any of the BTO will be cancelled due to lack of orders.

Bill

 

[Severn]

I think it depends on what they sell more of now -- collector/dedicated hobbyist or RTRs and the lionechief stuff. If it's the latter, I found all the themed and licensed products to be kinda cool. All that's missing practically is the ubiquitous star wars... I mean there's a Frozen themed train set -- I can't fault them for not trying.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I personally suffered overload from all the themed and licensed products.

 

[SantaFeJim]

The latest Lionel catalog us BIGGER than the 1959 Sears Wish Book.

It appears that Lionel is planning for the future. The prices in this catalog are actually for the 2120 book, with 100 years of inflation already factored in.

 

[superwarp1]

I personally suffered overload from all the themed and licensed products.

You me both. It's crazy.

 

[Lee Willis]

I personally suffered overload from all the themed and licensed products.

Oh wow, yes. That is getting really bad. that catalog is infested with far too many, and few of them seem done in a creative, quality way.

 

[Jeff T]

I personally suffered overload from all the themed and licensed products.

Wouldn't that be Lionel trying to expand their base?? Sure they're not for the hardcore model rr group, just the same as the typical family isn't spending $2k for a engine to go around the tree.

 

[IAIS513]

Wouldn't that be Lionel trying to expand their base?? Sure they're not for the hardcore model rr group, just the same as the typical family isn't spending $2k for a engine to go around the tree.

Jeff I think you nailed it. I keep reading how this hobby is dying and what can be done to get more people interested. I think we really saw an effort from Lionel in this catalog. Ya, there are a ton of licensed and holiday products, that maybe for the more hardcore collectors and operators aren't to their liking. For someone new to the hobby or to their kids or grand kids these are exactly what they need to get started and stay in the hobby. I'm not a big fan of a lot of the licensed products but my boys (11 and 8) love batman from the 60's and love the batman boxcars. Guess what I'll be adding to the layout. If that is what it takes for at least one of them to continue enjoying the hobby as they get older, it's a small price to pay.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I saw a few things I liked, I think the items are good but prices are a little high on some things. I think it's a really nice catalog though. I pre ordered the Strasburg set already.

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[Big Jim]

...and few of them seem done in a creative, quality way.

I disagree. I think most of them appear to be very well done!