I live outside Chicago, & am looking for a subway set (4 cars) to add to an elevated layout I'm doing. I've been looking via eBay for the past few months, & havn't seen much. A lotta NY subway trains, but not much in the way of Chicago, or even plain generic.

My biggest irritation is that in over a 100 years of operation, Lionel does't produce any. You would think with the harsh rivalry between them & MTH, they would have a whole line of cars.

Anyway, just wonder why finding this is so obscure in a Chicago base line.

Don't know why finding them is so hard, but MTH is releasing another Chi-Town set in the next month or so...get ready to snatch up a couple of sets!

Lionel is scheduled to relase their first subway set in the next month or so also. Maybe the finally realized that there is a market for subways.

"Hard To Get" or hard to understand why MTH lost their MTA subway license to LIONEL because of subway grafitti, but not their CTA license.

www.njhirailers,com

In my experience, the Chicago subways have been a definite "pre-order" item. You probably have already thought of this but you may want to call a Chicago-area LHS such as Berwyn's Toy Trains, who is an MTH Mega dealer. I just noticed their ad in the latest OGR.

I believe the Chicago subway runs were much smaller than the NY ones - leaving less out there to start with. They also apparently don't sell quite as well, but after seeing how nice the 6200s are, I would expect that sales may pick up a bit! I'm tempted...very tempted to stray - at least for a 2 car add-on set. I have a feeling it may be an October York purchase...making a very dangerous precedent. My first non-NY train! That could be trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by Norb:
"Hard To Get" or hard to understand why MTH lost their MTA subway license to LIONEL because of subway grafitti, but not their CTA license.

No CTA sets were produced with graffiti, so no reason to revoke the Chicago license. I don't think Chicago's system is widely associated with graffiti anyway. On the other hand, there are still people around who think NYC's trains today are the same messes they were in the 1970's.

Filmmakers frequently ask for the use of Shoreline Trolley Museum's R17, and the question of having graffiti on the car always comes up. They are always turned down on that, because of a need to stay in the good graces of the MTA, being that they still have stuff needed to keep that car (among other things) running and all.

As for Lionel, I'm beginning to think that they got that license as a tactic to derail MTH's success with rapid transit. It's been three years since they announced the R27, and all they have to show for it is a couple of Photoshopped vintage photographs. There wasn't even an engineering sample present at the last York meet. I don't think the Acela was this long in development, and even then samples were available for inspection at York prior to it's release.

---PCJ

quote:

Lionel is scheduled to relase their first subway set in the next month or so also. Maybe the finally realized that there is a market for subways.

NOT!!!

quote:

As for Lionel, I'm beginning to think that they got that license as a tactic to derail MTH's success with rapid transit. It's been three years since they announced the R27, and all they have to show for it is a couple of Photoshopped vintage photographs. There wasn't even an engineering sample present at the last York meet. I don't think the Acela was this long in development, and even then samples were available for inspection at York prior to it's release.

---PCJ

I agree with PCJ and the pressue needs to be placed on the MTA marketing dept. as well as Lionel to get the product out there or else no one cares!

quote:

It's been three years since they announced the R27, and all they have to show for it is a couple of Photoshopped vintage photographs. There wasn't even an engineering sample present at the last York meet. I don't think the Acela was this long in development, and even then samples were available for inspection at York prior to it's release.

Not exactly true. Not sure why they weren't at this past York, but they were at last years...




Personally I could care less if they ever get it to market. The longer they drag their feet the more sets I get from MTH. Leaving less for Lionel to release - at least as the first to offer a particular model. I have nothing against Lionel, but at this point it doesn't make sense for me to buy any motor power from them. I have plenty of rolling stock type stuff, but with all the subways I'll be running DCS. Why bother with two command systems, if it's going to be for 1 engine?

Clearly the aggravating thing here is that they pushed the issue and got the MTA to take the license away from MTH, and then didn't even come up with a plan to use it themselves! I can guarantee you had they at least announced that same set in MTA colors with M logo and all, even I would have ordered it and would have been asking about it a lot. As it is, I really don't care...and suspect I'm not the only one who feels that way.

forget lionel. they just tried to throw a wrinkle into mths plans. they don't care about us. never did. never will.

At this point I could care less if/when Lionel gets their act togeather & actually produces a set.

I just want to get a hold of one of these...............



and I can't seem to find one under $750 on eBay, the MTH site (which is horrendous btw) shows none available, & every shop I search in a 20 mile radius in Chicagoland has zip.

What gives with these. Does MTH wanna make money or not?

They did make money. Those were sold out years ago. Unless they re-release them - aftermarket is your only chance. They do show up occasionally for less than $750 - but your best chance would probably be at York. Next one is in October.

I didnt see any at york,your best bet is ebay.i remember seeing a few sets acouple of months back.I even saw 1 as low as 250$ and nobody bid.I told the guy, how about 200$ ,but he declined,so i did not buy.

I saw one at York for I think $275, but kept myself in check. So far I have managed to stick to NY only stuff.

If you are interested in the Yellow Book Chicago sets, they appear to be in stock at several dealers on product locator.

The Yellow Book ones are hideous.

I actually find the yellowbook set to be very unique. Mix in 4 of these were a silver 2 car add on of the 3200's and you have a pretty cool lookin train

I'm sorry. The Yellow Book ones are hidious.

Here ya go,let the bidding begin:

2600's

I hope Lionel forgets about the collectors and makes large enough runs so that their stuff is readily available. The tendency of "O" gauge manufacturers to pander to collectors (a group which is dying out) keeps prices high and participation low. MTH electronics do not interest me and Lionel needs to lose the kludgy operating door idea and O-72 minimum curvature. Heck, the prototypes can take tighter curves than a 144' radius.

Afc I see your opinion but in my mind the yellowbooks are a very cool looking subway and with a 2 car silver 32000 add on makes it look even better
Skierdude909

Skier, how'dya get your wife to give you so much precious real estate on the living room floor for the layout??

Looks cool, but I still think the Yellow Books are hideous.

quote:

Originally posted by MCD4x4:
Here ya go,let the bidding begin:

2600's

Three simple words.

"reserve not met"

That's gonna go way north of $250, the question is how far north.