I think Lionel has been doing a great job with the Flyer line over the past couple of years. I know that Flyer is a very small piece of their business and its great that they are willing to invest money in new tooling (Mikado, northern, heavyweight passenger cars, U33C). With the economy the way it is, I was thinking of things that I would like to see them do, using existing tooling where possible.

A few years ago, the made the bay window caboose w/o cupola. This is by far the best looking caboose in the AF line, but it has not been reissued since. I’d like to see more of these in new road names (perhaps in EL to go with the new U33C?)

Reissue the hand car (and advertise the fact that it is reversing!) in new road names. Drop the shed. I only need one shed, but you can never have enough hand cars!

I think the next logical choice for a steam passenger set is the Southern Crescent Limited with Pacific engine and heavyweight passenger cars. This would also give those who bought the Southern Mikado something to pull with it.

Release the northern steamer in Great Northern green paint scheme (I know it’s not prototypical, but neither was the MR 261 , and I bet it will still look great) along with a set of green and orange heavyweight passenger cars.

Release a 2 bay hopper with coal load in the Waddell paint scheme (again not prototypical, but based on how well the S-Helper ones have sold, I think it would be a hit).

Release a tank car in the Cities Service green paint scheme. This has always been one of my favorite tank cars, and they have done it in O gauge before, why not S?

This one will require new tooling: The Exploding Boxcar. Being very tough to find, I think a repro of this car would be a blast (pardon the pun). My dad has several originals, but they are in too nice of condition to actually play with. A nice repro that you’re not afraid to enjoy would be great!

Another new tooling item: The 765 Car Washer. A neat accessory that Gilbert never made. I can’t afford the $400 reproduction currently available. If they make it affordable ($100 or so like the track gang) I think it would sell well. It could be marketed for S and O gauge use.

What is on everyone else’s wish list for Lionel to produce next?

How about a NEW 0-8-0?



A "S" version of Lionel's 0-8-0 With TMCC and Power pickups in the Loco and Tender.

Carl

I would love to see a set of heavyweight passenger cars to go with the Milwaukee Northern. I would also like to see the new U33 in Santa Fe, Burlington or Milwaukee colors. A Geep in C&NW would be nice.

How about TMCC/Legacy diesels in NYC or Pennsylvania?

How about a Nickle Plate Road Berkshire with all the "bells and whistles"? I realize that unlike USRA designs, it would be prototypically incorrect to just slap on any road name to appeal to a wider audience but you DID ask what we would LIKE to see produced. A later run could be offered in Pere Marquette livery to hopefully further off-set new tooling costs. I would guess the cost of such a model would be far from inexpensive but I for one would make every effort to obtain one. Anyone second the motion?

Goldie

I would go for an NKP berk too. If we openned up the floor to new tooling items my list would grow by quite a bit too!

To move S into the new century Lionel should make flyer stuff that is modern prototype and full scale size and details like their newer O gauge stuff which is beautiful.....dave

A GG-1 or an AEM-7, or how about a ALP-46 in NJ Transit Colors. Problem is by the time Lionel pays NJ Transit for the rights to use their logo and marks up the price, we won't have enough money to pay for the product.

I have collected Lionel American Flyer since it came out and have about 95% of their trains, plus a lot of original American Flyer. Looking at the new catalog, me thinks it is time to stop. I will not pay seventy dollars for a Comet Tank Car. My days of collecting flyonel is over.

In addition to some new tooling...I would like to see resissues of classic Gilbert items with no changes to the tooling. A real Gilbert Northern, heavyweights with unpainted green bodies, The F3 style diesels, 0-8-0, K5 etc etc. And start using an exact copy of a Gilbert diecast truck and coupler design. And where appropriate an exact copy of the sheet metal Gilbert truck.

As for reissues of the classic Gilbert items, I think the tooling no longer exists or is in too bad of shape to be useable, otherwise Lionel probably would have done it already. Even the new Northern was supposed to be made from original tooling, but if the recall, the only pieces that were are the pilot and maybe the tender?

I too would like to see the original Gilbert style heavyweights. The new ones are really nice, don't get me wrong, but they don't have the same character.

Interesting, I've never heard anyone want a Gilbert style F3 reproduced. They are usually the labled as the black sheep of the American Flyer line (and from my experience rightfully so, as I've never seen one that operates well).

I agree that something needs to be done about that truck. I posted a while back about Lionel using the K-Line s gauge truck, but didn't get any responses.

I'll suggest an easy one:
How about a re-issue of the Operating Milk Car (like the 973/25019). Since they already have the operating box car this would be a simple repaint.

For something "new" I'd like a re-issue of the water tank with the operating spout. Theat doesn't seem like something that would take much special tooling (and it would work for the 3-railers, too).

I would love a NKP Berkshire locomotive, too. I have suggested this for S for several years. The same basic design could be reasonably prototypical for NKP, Virginian, C&O, Pere Marquette, and Erie.

As for reissue of Gilbert originals, if an item is fairly common and inexpensive, it doesn't make economic sense to reissue it. The K5 and 596 water tower are very common--why would someone pay $300 or so for a repro K5 when you can find them all day long for ~$150? Same thing for the water tower. The Pennsy B6 0-6-0 switcher (21004/21005) would be a nice reissue if it was relatively inexpensive, like the Docksider. I'd gladly pay $175-200 for a reissued 21004. And since that locomotive was produced relatively late during the Gilbert S gauge era, the tooling might just be available and in decent enough shape to use. I think a reissued New Haven PA passenger set would be very popular. The originals are relatively pricey and somewhat hard to find (only made for a few years). People might also buy a Branford Diner reissue. A Circus Train reissue would probably be popular, although it would involve a lot of potentially unavailable tooling (the Royal Blue/Circus/Silver Bullet locomotive was last produced in 1954, and the New Haven style coaches weren't offered after 1955).

I have a few suggestions for other offerings. I have always been a fan of the Delaware and Hudson blue warbonnet PA's. It would be very easy for Lionel to make a nice set of AA's pulling streamlined passenger cars decorated in the appropriate paint scheme. I'll bet a lot of AF layout owners would find a spot for a Gilbert Hall of Science building if available (I enthusiastically bought an Erector Tower model from Scenery Unlimited a few years ago). I think Lionel would have a winner if they put a mail pickup car mechanism in the streamlined combine car. If they did a good job of matching paint color, they could probably sell these cars for most of the streamline color schemes offered by Gilbert (green, red, blue, orange striped cars), as well as the popular Flyonel sets (SP Daylight, UP, MP, Santa Fe, etc.).

How about it, Lionel?

All new: scale F-3 & F-7 units, and some modern locos (GEs?).
As far as reissues; the 0-6-0 for sure, the Hudson, and D&H PA's would be nice.
Also, more curve radiuses (0-44, 0-63, etc) and switches.

John

How about a set of SD70ACe in Heritage paint schemes, like Rio Grande, etc..... One thing I don't understand about S scale is why there are no modern diesels available to purchase (ES44DC, SD70ACe, Dash 9)

Original Gilbert heavyweights in molded green or red would have that great AF character.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by FlyerMike:
I too would like to see the original Gilbert style heavyweights. The new ones are really nice, don't get me wrong, but they don't have the same character.
QUOTE]

quote:

Original Gilbert heavyweights in molded green or red would have that great AF character.

Yes, they would. Two problems, however: (1) the unpainted heavyweights from the link era were done in cast phenolic, not injection-molded plastic; and (2) a new tool would be required. Both factors are likely to make the final product rather pricy. The painted versions from the link era from the late 1940s were also fabricated from phenolic which is why paint often did not stick to them very well. You might consider seeking out vintage samples, which are findable at a price. The reds are easier to find than the dark olive samples.

As a preference and a source of personnal satisfaction, I'd rather have genuine New Haven, Conn. originals than Asian copies, anyway.

Bob Bubeck

A 20th Century NYC Hudson in either 1938 paint scheme with boxpox wheels or 1940 with Scullins, a NKP Berkshire (as previously mentioned), and then a truly 1/64 proportioned 4-4-0 American. AC Hi-rail. Most preferably Legacy equipped. Would be nice. Keep on dreamin'.

I second the vote for wider radius curves.
The multi gauge layout I'm planning needs about a 65" curve track.
The s helper track is nice,but is quite expensive and I'm not too fond of the roadbed.

Carl T.

Although I am a die hard Lionel Collector, i started getting into Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer only.
I would love to see all the orignal postwar sets released, along with the rest of the operating accessories and switches!

Mark

Who currently makes that reproduction of the car wash accessory?

Thanks!

Mark

The car washer is made by Triple S Supplies
Triple S Supplies

quote:

Originally posted by sgriggs:
A Circus Train reissue would probably be popular, although it would involve a lot of potentially unavailable tooling (the Royal Blue/Circus/Silver Bullet locomotive was last produced in 1954, and the New Haven style coaches weren't offered after 1955).

How about it, Lionel?

Hello S-Scalers,

This is my first post on the S-Scale Forum. I primarily collect O and Standard Gauges. However, I recently acquired a fondness for S-Scale after viewing a Lionel Nations video showing S-Scale intergrated into an O gauge layout as a forced perspective.

Now I sense an addiction to S-Scale coming on. I attempting to limit my collecting of S-Scale to B&O and C&O roadnames. Therefore, as suggested by sgriggs, the Royal Blue/Circus/Silver Bullet would fit nicely into my plans especially with all new electronics. I am also searching for an original
Royal Blue in very good to excellent condition to add to my collection.
I'll find one sooner or later.

I won't attempt too hard to curve my addiction to S-Scale now that the
GG1 electric and Big Boy locomotives are being made in S-Scale. Of course I'll probably buy these locomotives. Now I wish for articulated locomotives in the B&O and C&O roadnames to be manufactured.

Here's hoping that everyone's wish for new S-Scale items become a reality.

Happy Railroading,

Frank

We definitely need to have switches with the 27" radius to match the curved track LTI is currently marketing. I'm in the process of designing a new layout using the wide radius curves except the sticking point becomes the original AF switches integrated into wide curves. I have every piece of the LTI Mopac set and I want it to flow gracefully around the curves, but......

Now if LTI does listen to my pleas, make those switches to match the design of the original AF's. It doesn't matter to me if they are made with the lamp housing like the original, or make them so that the lamp housing can be swapped to either side of the unit, something that has always limited our track designs since most of us began with AF.

I know I could use other brands of track but I'm a guy who likes AF in the most original form.

I'll take a reissued New Haven A-A PA set while were at it. Throw in a Railsounds B unit!

Phil

I would like to see Lionel re-make the original American Flyer "Defender" set pulled by the C. and O. diesel with ringing bell.

Lionel should also, remake the following American Fyler freight cars:
The Dominio Sugar covered hopper car.
The flat car with corvette.
Either of the exploding box cars. Gilberts exploding box cars was 100% better than Lionel's.

I would also like to see them remake the American Flyer whistling billboards. Especially the two in one whistling billboard.

quote:

The Dominio Sugar covered hopper car.

Nicely done in 1992 as the 6-48608. They're around.

Aside from the No. 762 2-in-1 whistling billboard, nice whistling and diesel horn billboards (Nos. 561, 566, 567, and 577) are out there in great abundance for $40 - $50. Happy hunting.

Bob Bubeck

I agree with Flyermike on the exploding box car. I once had a bad repro that I didn't mind playing with and I LOVED it. It truely is an exceptional working car, but way to fragile and expensive to use an original.

Hopefully someone from Lionel sees the ideas we propose here?! The TNT and Mine Carrier would be a no brainer. They can make other styles and sell 'em like hotcakes. The machanism is also simple and I would think the real cost is in the new molds (if they don't have old ones). With multiple decorations, they could be a real money maker and fun for us collectors/operators.

The car washer would also be nice to see!

Also, how about a miners work train to pull behind the already produced hand car? I would think those would be effective as well... good money maker and faily inexpensive to produce.

I read on the 3 rail forum that the Lionel Catalog Vol. 2 is going to have an American Flyer "ALCO Santa Fe passenger set (Blue)". I am assuming this means the blue and yellow paint scheme but I could be wrong. Might be cool...

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Tuveson:
How about a NEW 0-8-0?



A "S" version of Lionel's 0-8-0 With TMCC and Power pickups in the Loco and Tender.

How does the new Lionel 027 0-8-0 compare to the Gilbert original, sizewise?

I saw the 0-8-0 at a hobby shop, but didn't look at it too closely. From first glance, it looks much bigger than the Gilbert 0-8-0.

quote:

Originally posted by RoyD:

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Tuveson:
How about a NEW 0-8-0?



A "S" version of Lionel's 0-8-0 With TMCC and Power pickups in the Loco and Tender.

How does the new Lionel 027 0-8-0 compare to the Gilbert original, sizewise?

I did not intend to convert the new Lionel "O" 0-8-0 to "S" but meant that it would be great prototype to be resized to "S" with new tooling.

The "O" version is nicely done and is a very reasonably priced loco.

Carl

quote:

Originally posted by RoyD:

How does the new Lionel 027 0-8-0 compare to the Gilbert original, sizewise?

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Tuveson:

I did not intend to convert the new Lionel "O" 0-8-0 to "S" but meant that it would be great prototype to be resized to "S" with new tooling...

Of course, the reason I asked is that pictures of the Lionel 0-8-0 suggest it may be built to 3/16" to the foot scale. The Flyer 0-8-0 started as a 3/16 O ga. piece.

A Fairbanks-Morse H10-44 or the Mark Twain Zephyr

Would anyone else be interested in a heavyweight animated coach to go with the knuckle coupler red and green cars?

Looks like I got my wish for the EL Baywindow caboose!

I'm not too impressed with the rest of the Flyer offerings in Lionel's 2009 volume 2.

Lionel has FasTrack and SuperStreets in O Gauge, so it would make sense to make S Gauge versions of FasTrack and SuperStreets that easily connect together.

With the new track systems they could make S Scale speeders and high-rail trucks.

It would be great to see the Trinity Industries TrinCool 64' Mechanical Refrigerator in S Scale and Traditional O Gauge at the same time since they would be in mostly the same proportions.

There has to be an S Scale version of the 4650 Cubic Foot Capacity, Plate B height, ACF Center Flow 3-Bay Covered Hopper.
It can be made part of the Traditional O Gauge Line with just an extra height bolster addition. Maximum use of the freight car model is possible.

Andrew

Falcon Service

Some more reissues of Gilbert tooling made just like the originals with the correct trucks and couplers!!! And real Gilbert heavyweights...rather than the new "me too" generic semi scale heavyweights.

What I meant to say is that they should make the Plate C, 4650 Cu. Ft. Capy and Plate B, 4600 Cu. Ft. Capy. ACF Center Flow Hoppers in the 1972 body styles in S Scale. Then use them again for O Gauge with new road numbers for the paint schemes.

Andrew

The questions now are whether the U33C will actually have a fan driven smoke unit, and come with 1 or 2 motors? 2009 Volume I did not list fan driven smoke unit for it. 2009 Vol.II does. The description says "motor", but so did the description for 6-48075 (NH EP5) and it comes with 2. Time will tell.

I'll also cast a vote for a set of Milwaukee Road pullmans. I bought a set of
UP's just to repaint them but haven't yet.
Tumbleweed 381