Prewar Times

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

MTH has announced the shipment of the following tinplate items:

• Item No. 10-1316-1 Black #1134 Ives Steamer w/Proto-Sound 2.0 (pictured)


• Item No. 10-1318-1 Blue #1134 Dorfan Steamer w/Proto-Sound 2.0


• Item No. 10-1319-1 Black #1134 Dorfan Steamer w/Proto-Sound 2.0


• Item No. 10-2081 195 Caboose


• Item No. 10-2083 193 Stock Car


• Item No. 10-2239 Blue w/Nickel Trim No. 212 Std. Gauge Gondola Car w/Containers


• Item No. 10-5030 Orange 4-Car Std. Gauge Dorfan Passenger Set

See your MTH dealer for price and availability.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Lionel Corp. email newsletter arrived today. It contains the first image that's been released of the new Lionel Corp. packaging (seen above), as well as the following text:

"June 24, 2009 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has unveiled the first packaging photo of its Lionel Corporation Tinplate product line. The new packaging combines classic Lionel packaging elements in a modern presentation. The above photo depicts a 200 Series package. Other packages, depending on size will utilize similar elements whenever possible in an effort to present a unified corporate identity for this newly licensed product line. Inside most packages, the locomotives and cars will come wrapped in special protective sheets - decorated in Lionel Corporation Tinplate decor - and inserted in impact-resistant polyfoam."

Looks good so far!

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Sunday, May 31, 2009

I have it on good authority that MTH/Lionel Corporation will be offering their O gauge tinplate reproductions in both Contemporary AND Traditional versions, probably starting with the next catalog. Good news for the purists.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Judging by Roger Carp's last sentence in his post on this thread, it sure sounds like it. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Joe Mania emailed to let me know he is offering a reproduction of the Ives No. 87 Flag Pole that was originally made from 1926-1930. Price: $40.00 each. Click here for more info.

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

I'm going to take a little break from this blog for the next 4 to 6 weeks. This is my absolute busiest time of the year with my (non-computer-related) job, and I barely have time to check my emails, let alone search the web for train info. I don't want to take the time off, but I really don't have any choice at this point; there just aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with everything. So I'll see you all back here in a month or so -- and my sincerest THANK YOU to all of you for your continued support.

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Jim Robinson will be debuting prototypes of a new train shed at the Standard Gauge Module Association (SGMA) luncheon in the cafeteria at the York fairgrounds at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 24. The train sheds, originally conceived by the SGMA's Bob Nelson, will be produced in sections approx. 2' x 4', making them suitable for six Standard Gauge tracks or ten 0 gauge tracks. Prices will range from $169.00 per section for an unfinished kit to $269.00 per section for a finished and painted kit. Complete details can be found by clicking here.

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Antiques Roadshow recently featured the appraisal of a Standard gauge Lionel freight set from the 1930s. The set featured a 385E and three 500-series freight cars. Noel Barrett himself appraised the set at a value of $2,500 - $3,000. Not especially rare, but a neat set nonetheless! You can check out the video of the appraisal here.

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Thursday, April 09, 2009

Tim O'Malley has posted the first pics I have seen on the internet of Lionel's O gauge tinplate Christmas set from last year's Lionel Signature catalogs. Check it out in his post on this thread over on OGR's tinplate forum. There are a lot of other beautiful tinplate steamers in this thread as well.

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MTH/Lionel Corporation has posted a video of their new "Brute" reproduction in action. They have also confirmed that this model will come with only TWO motors instead of three as originally listed in the catalog. More info and pics here.

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Wednesday, April 01, 2009

MTH's weekly email newsletter arrived today. It contains the following info regarding the new Lionel Corp. "Baby Blue Comet" set:

"April 1, 2009 - Last week we failed to include information about a pricing discrepancy in the new Lionel Corporation Tinplate catalog concerning the 11-6004-1 Two Tone Blue 263E O Gauge 2600 Series Passenger Set. The catalog depicts the wrong price for the set. The correct price is $699.95.

M.T.H. will honor the $649.95 price shown in the catalog for any orders received from M.T.H. Authorized Retailers by April 15, 2009. Orders received after April 15th will be booked at the higher price. Initial orders for the 11-6004-1 and the rest of the 2009 Lionel Corporation Tinplate catalog were due yesterday, March 31, 2009. Because of the pricing discrepancy, we are extending the deadline for 11-6004-1 until April 15, 2009.

As always, we will continue to accept orders from M.T.H. Authorized Retailers after the pre-order closing date as long as supplies last."

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Ace Trains of London has announced the production of a new E/5 Fowler 4F 0-6-0. From the Ace website:

"The ACE E/5 Fowler 4F is scheduled for release in September 2009. The motor is based on the E/8 type and will be for 2 & 3-rail running. Liveries to include BR/LMS in satin and gloss. LMS lined maroon in gloss and SDJR lined blue."

Click here for more info. There are a couple more pics of the pre-production loco here.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

MTH is offering to send out the printed version of the debut Lionel Corp. tinplate catalog. If you would like to be on the list to receive this catalog, click here for more info.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The MTH/Lionel Corp. email newsletter arrived today, and it contains the following clarifications with regard to the new repro "Brute":

"March 25, 2009 - The legendary Brute, featured in the 2009 Lionel Corporation Tinplate catalog is available in two versions; a contemporary powered version featuring (2) flywheel equipped precision can motors and Proto-Sound 2.0 digital sound package and a traditional, non-powered 3.25 (Buddy L Gauge) version. The latter version does not feature any motors and will only fit on Buddy L Gauge track. The catalog copy had focused on the original prototype which caused some confusion for readers about whether the production model will be equipped with 2 or 3 motors."

The newsletter also contained the following info about two new non-tinplate items that will bear Lionel Corporation graphics:

"In an effort to spread the word about the new M.T.H./Lionel Electric Trains licensing agreement that created the Lionel Corporation Tinplate product line, M.T.H. has secured a second agreement with Lionel to produce two additional items celebrating this exciting new relationship.

The new agreement allows M.T.H. to produce an HO Operating Action Car, complete with "moving" graphics of iconic Lionel tinplate items and a One Gauge hopper car. Both cars come decorated with Lionel Corporation Tinplate graphics designed to spread the word to the HO and One Gauge marketplaces about Lionel Corporation Tinplate."

If you would like to subscribe to the Lionel Corporation Tinplate newsletter, click here.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Kirk Lindvig (a.k.a. "Ironhorse061252") is working on organizing a "group buy" of the Lionel Corporation's new repro "Brute" in Milwaukee Road livery. According to a post he made over on OGR, if they can get twenty firm orders for the engine in this paint scheme, it looks like MTH will make it for them. If you are interested, see his post in this thread for the details.

Update: Kirk has announced that MTH has decided not to make the Brute in the Milwaukee Road paint scheme.

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