Lionel 2010 Catalog Due Out Very Soon

Rumors have been flying around the Web concerning Lionel's 2010 catalog. Like everyone else, we're very excited to see the new catalog, and we have our annual Preorder program fired up and ready to go as soon as the catalog is released. If you are not yet on our mailing list, be sure to sign up to receive the email notice when 2010 Lionel offerings are available to order.

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Write a Product Review on Trainz.com, Get $5 Off

We have recently installed product review software on our site, allowing people to write comments. All we need now are some actual written reviews. Help us out, and we'll return the favor.

If you write a product review, we will email you a $5 coupon good for your next purchase at Trainz.com. Please note that the coupon is only applies for the first review written.

It's quick, easy and fun, and can save some money, too. What could be better?

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Lionel looking at Marklin?

This was reported by our friends at www.ogaugewatch.com a couple weeks ago. Model Retailer magazine is reporting that Lionel sent some representatives to Marklin's facilities in Germany and Hungary, exploring the possibility of purchasing the venerable trainmaker. Marklin is currently reorganzing under bankruptcy protection.

Could two of the most legendary train makers join forces in the near future? Stay tuned. . . .

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New Conventional Classics are in stock at Trainz

In early February the latest additions to Lionel's Conventional Classics line arrived at Trainz:

#38310 2185W New York Central Freight Set $399.99

#38324 New Haven Freight Set $474.99

#38329 2261WS Steam Freight Set $489.99

#27912 #2445 Elizabeth Passenger Car $51.99

For those not familiar with Conventional Classics, these are reissues of popular Lionel classics without command control or advanced sound systems. They feature magnetraction, a whistle or horn, and the same type of trucks and couplers used on the originals.

We tested out one of the New York Central Freight sets, and it is fantastic. The lettering and coloring was nearly spot-on with the originals, the set ran great, and the powered engine features the classic AC-style motors of the Postwar Era--no can motors here.

If you like your trains they way they used to make 'em, the Conventional Classics are right down your alley.

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The Rare Item of the Month--
The Lionel 6357-50 Santa Fe Caboose

A new feature in our 2010 newsletters, we will feature a rare train, locomotive, car or accessory that passed through Trainz at some point. Sometimes it will be an item currently on the site, while others may be from a while ago. The Rare Item of the Month will not necessarily always be an expensive or well-known piece, just something strange that doesn't show up very often.

The second installment in our Rare Item of the Month feature is the Lionel 6357-50 Santa Fe caboose from 1960. This is the caboose included in the famous HO/O Scale 'Father and Son' set, which included a Santa Fe F-3 freight set in O and HO scale, with the O Gauge set running on trestles over the HO set.

Most pieces from this set are relatively easy to find, but the original set box, the special trestles, and this caboose are nearly impossible to find. This one came through Trainz back about a year ago.

If you ever have an opportunity to purchase one of these cabooses, be aware that this car has been faked before. Make sure the trucks, lettering, and smokestack are original and authentic.

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Like to Write about Trains?
We'd Like to Hear From You

One of the more popular features on Trainz is our free articles section, which contains columns discussing how to build and expand layouts, articles about different model trains made over the years, and other train-related information.

Tommy Feldman, our General Manager, has been writing all of the articles currently on the site. He plans to continue to do so and add several more articles in 2010, but other job responsibilities and raising a rambunctious 2-year-old limit the time he can spend writing them. Therefore, we're interested in hearing from any train enthusiasts interested in writing articles for our site.

The articles can deal with collecting or operating O or G Scale trains, building a layout, or historic articles about real railroads or train manufacturers.

While we offer the articles for free on our site, we will pay for approved submissions.

Please contact tommy@trainz.com for more information. Please, please, contact us with an idea for an article prior to writing it to see if it meets our current needs.