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I'm really afraid of what will become of this decision.
What to do now?
Stock up on any remaining 9volt stuff I can get?
Switch back to 6-wide trains if these new motors aren't strong enough to pull
8-wides?
Cross my fingers and hope this decision is better thought out than the color
change was?
Switch to HO trains since that is an 'open' system supported by hundreds of
manufacturers?
I can see it now, we'll be set up at a train show and people will ask where they
can buy trains like ours. "Well, gee - sorry. Lego doesn't sell these
anymore..."
fut: .trains
JohnG, GMLTC
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In lugnet.lego, John Gerlach wrote:
> What to do now?
>
> Stock up on any remaining 9volt stuff I can get?
Good question for those, like me, without much of a train collection (yet). I
guess I could be considered "lucky" that I don't have the investment in track
and accessories but I cannot even do much more than a really big oval with what
I have.
I hope they answer your question quickly: will the new system pull 8-wide
trains? It makes a big difference in my LEGO-budgeting for the next year ie:
dump every dollar possible into acquiring 9V track and accessories or jump ship
now and start buying the cheaper plastic track (which I ASSUME will remain the
platform for L-Gauge.)
Of course I am really confused since I am about to go to NWBrickCon in the U.S.
where I get a 25-30% discount just for crossing the border and was planning on
spending several hundred dollars at the LEGO Store! Am I going to buy nothing
but track and accessories now?
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In lugnet.lego, John Gerlach wrote:
> I'm really afraid of what will become of this decision.
>
> What to do now?
I believe this to be a very bad decision, to discontinue the 9volt system at
this time. Perhaps the new electrical system will be better, but at this time,
it is still in the planning stage and is curently scheduled to be out in 2009.
What do we do until then?
Do we continue doing our train shows and tell visitors that the line is
discontinued but in a couple of years another train system may be ready? We are
continued being asked "where can we buy the trains?'. Had TLG made the LEGO
Trains, both 9volt and RC available to Train Hobby Shops along with their
accessories such as track, motors, and controllers, they may have sold more, or
is it that this was not done to prove their point that the 9volt trains were not
selling, therefore, not profitable. If a product is not seen by the buying
public, they are not apt to buy...
And all the money invested into the 9volt system, will we be able to convert our
present engines to the new system? Is the track going to be of the same scale
so that the current RC and 9volt trains will run on them?
As it is now, I will spend less for LEGO to 'house' my layout and I will
continue to do train shows until my motors burn out. After that...
Another question... When the new electrical train system comes out and those who
invest in it climb onboard, will TLG continue it or develope another system and
discontinue it in a few years?
We are finally accepted into the Train Hobby, please don't mess it up!!!
With deep concerns,
Don Cox GtwLUG Lugnet#1239 St. Louis, Mo. USA
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> In lugnet.trains, Don Cox wrote:
> > I'm really afraid of what will become of this decision.
> >
> > What to do now?
>
>
> I believe this to be a very bad decision, to discontinue the 9volt system at
> this time. Perhaps the new electrical system will be better, but at this time,
> it is still in the planning stage and is currently scheduled to be out in 2009.
> What do we do until then?
I know how you feel, my recent re-involvement in the hobby has come to a
screeching halt.
>
> Do we continue doing our train shows and tell visitors that the line is
> discontinued but in a couple of years another train system may be ready? We are
> continued being asked "where can we buy the trains?'. Had TLG made the LEGO
> Trains, both 9volt and RC available to Train Hobby Shops along with their
> accessories such as track, motors, and controllers, they may have sold more, or
> is it that this was not done to prove their point that the 9volt trains were not
> selling, therefore, not profitable. If a product is not seen by the buying
> public, they are not apt to buy...
Be sure to tell those interested that the 9V system is discontinued. After all,
this is the calamity of the LEGO Group -- they brought this upon themselves.
> And all the money invested into the 9volt system, will we be able to convert our
> present engines to the new system? Is the track going to be of the same scale
> so that the current RC and 9volt trains will run on them?
I suspect not, concerning converting present MOCs to use the new system, there
are too many variables.
The self-contained, truck-mounted electric motor drawing track current is the
most low-profile design available. Any deviation from this will serve as a crimp
on creative possibilities. Again witness the R/C system.
> As it is now, I will spend less for LEGO to 'house' my layout and I will
> continue to do train shows until my motors burn out. After that...
After your motors burn out, you'll have expensive push toys <G>
LEGO are truly the Nintendo of toy train makers. As they introduce new product
lines, they orphan previous generations of their train system.
> Another question... When the new electrical train system comes out and those who
> invest in it climb onboard, will TLG continue it or develope another system and
> discontinue it in a few years?
I don't think LEGO would break this pattern after 30+ years. Of course something
else will come along. That is the nature of Big Business -- keeping the profits
coming.
> We are finally accepted into the Train Hobby, please don't mess it up!!!
They already have, just as LEGO was beginning to draw some serious attention
from train hobbyists, TLG has to screw it up.
> With deep concerns,
>
> Don Cox GtwLUG Lugnet#1239 St. Louis, Mo. USA
Deep concerns is only the beginning, more like misgivings and mistrust.
-HRH
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In lugnet.trains, Harvey Henkelman wrote:
> > In lugnet.trains, Don Cox wrote:
> The self-contained, truck-mounted electric motor drawing track current is the
> most low-profile design available. Any deviation from this will serve as a crimp
> on creative possibilities. Again witness the R/C system.
>
> > As it is now, I will spend less for LEGO to 'house' my layout and I will
> > continue to do train shows until my motors burn out. After that...
>
>
>
> After your motors burn out, you'll have expensive push toys <G>
> -HRH
Hey Harvey,
I think you missed the point in the original post by Steve. The next "Train"
will have motors as well. What we do not know is if the motors will fit in
existing locomotive designs allowing the trains to look realistic.
If the new motors are based upon the new Power Functions sets, like Monster
Dino, Ferris Wheel, or the Bulldozer, then perhaps this will work. I do not
know. There are many questions left unanswered that hopefully LEGO will reveal
soon.
Todd
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