Lionel Catalog Review - 1994 Edition Part 2!

Lionel Catalog Review - 1994 Edition Part 2
See Part 1 here: • It’s Lionel Catalog Da...
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[@HumancityJunction]

I clicked on this thinking you said you were reviewing the 1994 Lionel Catalog. And yep, did not disappoint. I didn't realize that you were doing these videos, great series.

[@trainman5603]

I really enjoyed your walk through Lionel 1994. My mother-in-law was a Florida snow bird and invited us to visit her in Bradenton in the late 80's and early 90's. At the time I had, and still have, but one Lionel Tropicana reefer. One day while visiting her I went past the Tropicana plant in either Bradenton or Sarasota. There must have been 50 Tropicana reefers all lined up and ready to take orange juice to the rest of the Nation. What a sight!

[@robertgrothey2429]

Love looking at old catalogs

[@trainwild]

Thanks Dave, very nice review. I enjoyed watching thanks! 😀

[@green97probe]

This was my second Lionel catalog back in the day. That N&W J made quite the impression on me at 8 years old in 1994, and I finally got one in 2020.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

A "Fun Flashback Friday" Dave. Oh, where to start? You know, I know that Susquehanna Dash 8 exists but I've never seen one anywhere. If there was some way we could pick up North Jersey, turn it over and shake it I'll bet more than a few would fall out! They've got to be out there somewhere. I remember that Class J from 1994. The NS had just cancelled the steam program () the wife and I were furious so I just HAD to get an O Gauge Class J. Then I saw the price on Lionel's, had my heart attack and said "Forget it!" I just couldn't afford $900. The fact it had the wrong number on the engine made the decision easier! I finally got my Class J (With the right number, 611!) when I bought an MTH Class J passenger starter set almost 20 years ago. Still have it and it still runs great! Those orange Tropicana cars! I don't remember the Lionel ones but I DO remember the real ones coming through Richmond on the Tropicana orange juice unit train. It wasn't too long afterward they begn switching to all white cars. I didn't like them but the "taggers' sure did, it's almost impossible to see a real-world white Tropicana car with no graffiti. The "taggers" find those big white sides an irrresistable canvas. The option you mentioned of a basic engine with no extra frills? My Lionel NYO&W Camelback is like that, strictly conventional and a great runner. I paid $250 for it (used) at Henning's in 2019, glad I did! The NYC RS3 passenger set's gorgeous. If I ever see one complete I may just jump on it, it's a dead-ringer for the commuter trains that ran on the West Shore prior to their cancellation in 1959. Oh, Richard Kughn? His last name was pronounced "koon." God rest his soul! OK, I've taken up enough space, got to save some for everyone else. Fun video Dave! Thanks!

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

That Catalog Brings back memories, that was the Year 1994, i got my start in to three rail , Bob Addingtons All Aboard Hobby Shop 6th Street In Bristol Tennessee, i have several locomotives from Bob Running To This Day, A Few Pieces Out Of The Catalog.

[@momatmach1]

Ok let’s all go back to 1994 and buy some 👍👍

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The train companies should sell dummy steam locomotive with no electronics and no motor Shipley so we can have them positioned on the layout or on a turntable. This way we can have examples of our favorite locomotive even if we don't have the room for o72 curve. Dummy cab units have room for a cab interior and a crew. I put dummy units in front of the power unit and run the power unit in reverse this way it is pushing the dummies in front of it and pulling the train behind it. It is ironic that on the 202 Lionel keeping the locomotive by getting rid of the front coupler but by getting rid of the front coupler and having a closed front it looks so much more realistic especially going around the curve. The truck curves but not the front of the locomotive. The closed pilot looks so much more realistic then a great big hole for the coupler plus the truck swing.

[@henryszubielski8601]

That was cool! Thanks.

[@bncsystemsshortline]

Nice video!! I like these kind of videos.

[@ronalddevine9587]

Prices seem high, but dealer discounts were also higher then than now.

[@krtrains123]

I pre-ordered the CSX Dash 8 s and Tropicana cars 1, 2, 3, and4 , also the Whistle tender . Most dealers gave a decent discount for preorders

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

It's cool that you can run a TMCC locomotive with DCs if you have the little module. I have little use for any advanced control system because my layout is basically for great big ovals no switches just so I can sit and run trains.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

My layout's the same, closed loops and no switches. A good way to minimize derailements. I just set 'em up and watch 'em roll. Any switching I do is what's called "Hand of God."😄

[@DRCRailroard]

Thanks Dave that was good information. I had no idea what some of those items sold for originally. Gives me a new appreciation for some of the really good deals I've had so far. I mentioned in your earlier post that I, too, have a complete freight set of the 1st FARR set, and only by coincidence I have the last set of the Fallen Flags freight set, which is the most unpopular set of the series of the Richard Kughn/Niel Young Era. The Fallen Flags were some of the 1st sets to contain the early railsounds that were developed by Niel's partnership. Ironically, the last set, which was headed up by a set of Erie Alco FA diesels in a striking Black and Yellow paint scheme, was produced without railsounds. Niel also helps pioneer Liontech remote control. He has a son who is a quadriplegic and has a disability, I believe it is cerebral palsy. If I remember correctly, the Fallen Flags sets were all headed up by diesels except for one. I'm not sure how challenging it is to acquire the complete sets, but the Erie set wasn't too challenging.

[@ralphswartz8046]

I have several engines that can be converted over to the Trainmaster style, but I am an old school zw train operator. Those old catalogs are fun and interesting to look through.

[@DRCRailroard]

Hello Dave. My curiosity was sparked by my earlier comment. I think the first set of the Fallen Flags series would fit right into your collection. In fact, I would think this set would be the next priority on your list. It's a really sharp looking set. Like I said, it's the only set headed up by a steam engine, and it's also the only passenger set from that series. It's the 8610 Wabash in a striking navy blue and silver paint scheme. This is a Pacific style engine with smoke deflectors. It's so cool, Lionel painted blue.Trainz is a good source that lists all of the sets with pictures of engines and car numbers from the FARR and Fallen Flags sets. It's also the most difficult set to find from that series. If you find one for sale, let me know, as I would like to add this to my collection if you don't want one.

[@dagryffynhobby]

The Fallen Flags Wabash set fits right in with my MPC sets. I’ve seen that engine a few times, I like it.

[@gregleuze6657]

It is amazing to see the difference in engines and rolling stock from then to today. Can’t wait to see the improvements in the future. I am interested in seeing what that J goes for today.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I'd have to look more closely but I THINK I've seen them around in the $400 to $600 range, I've never paid too much attention since I'm not in the market for one. Next train show (March 18th -19th) I go too I'll look more closely and report back if I see any.

[@gregleuze6657]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Thank you for the response. I really like the J but would want either an early one or the latest one with all the bells and whistles.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@gregleuze6657 I've seen the early ones, Lionel's 746 around, so they're out there. Good hunting!

[@dbtech7914]

Enjoyed pictures of "scary kids!" Can I order the Heinz car and the Tropicana?

[@dagryffynhobby]

Haha. I’ll place that order right away!

[@tomrogers5516]

Amazing how things have changed since 1994, both electronics and prices! I guess those go hand-in-hand. I like your idea of offering some of the exterior detailing w/o the electronics for conventional users. Obviously, their bottom line is more important than pleasing customer preference. 'Oh, but there's a switch to change into conventional mode', they'll say. Rubbish! They still make you pay for the stuff you don't want or need. Never liked Lionel, even from childhood. All the kids on my street were snotty little f*rts because they had a Lionel train sets.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Interesting. I was the only kid on the block with Lionels, all my friends when they got trains got HO sets. The thing was those sets left me cold, they just didn't have the visual impact of the bigger Lionels and seemed to be derailing constantly. In all fairness they were probably cheap sets but they turned me off to HO permanently. By the way since I've never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings at the time I kept my thoughts to myself, but I couldn't help but notice those HO sets disappeared from my friends basements pretty quickly.

[@railfansammy4974]

Nice

[@radarditti560]

I think Lionel should come out with a conventional line can motor electronic e-unit led headlight puffing smoke whistle and bell in the tender no tether a traction tire with the option for magne-traction no fancy boards to worry about.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I think so too, and if I had my way they would. A budget entry-level set with a minumum of electronics and transformer controlled. But they won't. They do have the LioneChief budget sets but those are remote controlled by a handheld with no conventional control option as a fall-back and quite honestly I don't think they're going to last anywhere near as long as the post-wars have. I won't touch 'em. If I was looking for a starter set for a youngster I'd shop around for an MPC or early Kughn era set in as-new condition. They're out there, you just have to hit the bricks and do some looking. And by the way, I will never, ever, spend $1000+ on an O Gauge engine. Ive seen those models and they are spectacularly done but they're still a toy, in my eyes at least. I can't bring myself to spend that kind of money on a toy. More power to those who do, it's a big hobby with lots of room,

[@radarditti560]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I have several post war steam and one NH GP 5 with magne- traction my post war 2065 mini Hudson will pull 14 cars around my 5/8 layout at 11 volts with no problem.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@radarditti560 Hey, I've got a post-war 2056 that'll pull 16 cars with no problem and NO MagneTraction. It might even pull more but the cowcatcher would be touching the caboose rear coupler! I got it for $150 at a show and it's one of my best engines. Man, if you see a 2056 at a decent price grab it! They're real sleepers and great runners!

[@radarditti560]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 That's great i also have a post war 2018 no MagneTraction and it to is a great puller

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@radarditti560 A 2018! I've got one of those too! A bit of a story behind it. A 2018 was my first Lionel engine when I was a boy. It just showed up Christmas of 1958 or 1959, I'm not sure, I was six years old in '59. Anyway, it only came out at Christmas until Dad built a layout in the early '60s. I still had it into my late 50's when I passed it on to a then 12 year old nephew and he was thrilled to have it! (With cars, track, and transformer I should add, an engine without the rest isn't much use after all!) But, I missed it, even though I didn't run it much anymore. So when I got a chance to buy a near mint 2018 about ten years ago for $50 I grabbed it! I don't run it much (and it's a great puller!) but it does occupy a place of honor over the layout! A "monument" that still works! Good story, huh? And everyone else, those post-war small 2-6-4's may not be prototypical but they're great value for the money. Because they're so common they usually go cheap and it's no sin if you want to give them custom paint jobs of your own taste.

[@railchief74]

I almost have the completed set for the Union Pacific alcos

[@dagryffynhobby]

Nice!

[@Shipwright1918]

What a change compared to today, not a scale engine in sight and not one pricetag in the quadruple-digits. Makes one wonder what the heck happened between then and now.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Inflation and the cost of the electronics they're putting into todays engines. Those electronics ain't cheap, trust me. On the flip side, a lot of what you see in that 1994 catalog can be found at train shows at a fraction of the original prices. Sometimes used, sometimes new in the box.

[@Shipwright1918]

@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Change of focus would be another factor, at least in my opinion. When this catalog came out Lionel was still mostly making toy trains as they always had, then not long after they shifted over to scale models and the old-style stuff became secondary. It's not entirely on their shoulders. The clientele wanted scale, more detail, more features, more new toolings, and most seem happy to shell out the moolah to pay for it all. If there is one upshot, the older generations of trains without all that come down in price as most pass them over for the scale stuff just as you say, goodness knows the majority of my collection was built that way. It also opens the door to outfits like Menards who are proving budget-friendly trains and semi-scake aren't going out of style anytime soon.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@Shipwright1918 Good points, all of them! One thing I'd add is now for the "high end" products Lionel (and MTH as well) have gone to the "Build to Order" business model. Simply put, a prototype will be assembled in finished form and then advertised. If enough orders come in it goes to production, if not it's quietly dropped. It makes sense when you consider the four-digit retail costs of some of the products like the O Scale steamers. The days of producing X-number of items and then warehousing them hoping for orders is pretty much over for them. Of course this doesn't apply to the low-end starter sets and products.

[@genemanno1533]

I did not realize the in 1994 lionel still had magna traction. Maybe only on the more pricy models. I was under the impression magna traction was out and rubber band drive the thing. I always learn something from your presentations. When did ac motors stop and dc can take over? Seems this year ‘94 offered both. I agree sounds and electronics are not necessary. No need for power train master. I hardly ever blow the whistle tender. This period is when prices really start climbing. This delegates me to used train show & ebay purchases.

[@krtrains123]

AC motors and magna traction continued to show up as features for a limited number of models for many years after this, but on higher price models

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

As far as I know if AC motors weren't phased out by the year 2000 they were shortly afterward. Considering that more and more electronics were being added year after year it was easier to go all DC, even though AC motors will run on DC as well. The reverse isn't true though. DC motors do give finer speed control however the life of AC motors is pretty open-ended, no-one knows how long they' last. A good example: About two weeks ago a friend asked me to look at a 1912 Standard Gauge Lionel Model 53, the "Can you see if it still works?" thing. Well I hooked up some leads to the engine, gave it the power and WOW! It still worked, although a bit sluggishly. Not wanting to strip the whole thing apart (and probably get myself in trouble) I sprayed the motor armature and brush assemblys with electical contact cleaner, gave it plenty of time to dry, then lubed all around, Powered it up again and it went like mad! A LOT of life left in that engine! And you can really smell the ozone! Can you imagine? That Lionel engine is as old as the "Titanic," and it's in a hell of a lot better shape! 111 years old and it still runs! What a thrill to work on it! (And I seriously doubt anything made today and packed with electronics is going to be working 111 years from now!)

[@huntercoleman460]

Neat. Do you have any other 90s catalogs?

[@dagryffynhobby]

Unfortunately no, just the two from 1994