Subject:
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Re: All plastic track
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Tue, 16 Aug 2005 23:03:29 GMT
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Highlighted:
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(details)
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2385 times
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In lugnet.trains, Ted Michon wrote:
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For all the train folk who were reading the gloom and doom threads earlier
this month about a possible RC train, the news at BrickFest was: Sometimes
the sky really does fall. TLC announced it is going to focus on a new RC
(where RC = remote control, not Radio Control, BTW) train system to sell as a
“play train” for kids. The explanation is that electric rails are too
expensive to manufacture so TLC will switch to a battery powered, infrared
controlled, line-of-sight, all plastic rail system. They will create
trains will less detail and lower costs in order to be competitive in the kid
train market.
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First, to be completely clear about a very very important distinction - we’re
not “switching”, we’re “including”. Plastic rails will not kill the metal
rails. Metal rails will continue into the future. We are working on production
process that will allow metal rails to be produced well into the future.
Secondly, both Jorgen Vig and I outlined a number of other reason, not just the
cost of the production price of the rails - although that’s certainly a part
of the discussion.
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In making the announcement, Jake pointed out that the new track will snap
right into existing track, And that for the moment, TLC will continue to sell
the old “hobby train” track via lego.com.
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Ted, as we chatted about in D.C., this isn’t a “for the moment” thing. We’re
not going to simply continue selling metal rails until our stock runs out, as
you voiced concern for in D.C. We’re putting plans in place to ensure that metal
rails stay around long term. How do I know? Because I’m on the project team
that’s working on the Hobby Train.
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I was so astonished and depressed by the announcement that I didn’t ask any
questions at the end of Jake’s address. In fact, the whole audience was
fairly silent about the subject too.
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That’s what LUGNET’s for, right? :)
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Here’s some observations:
1. Just one month after L Gauge made its (splashy!) debut at NMRA, its sole
manufacturer announced the switch over to all plastic track.
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Again, it’s not a “switch”. In fact, the incredible work of the train clubs and
ILTCO and individual train fans is a huge reason our team has gotten solid
support from management and a committment to ensure that the Hobby Train
continues.
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2. After years
of waiting patiently for new track geometry and expansion and always being
told that it’s expensive and will take time, we get new track we don’t want:
All plastic.
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...and a committment to L Gauge (and I’m saying L Gauge rather than 9v). As I
mentioned at BF, we’re not replacing the current system (like we have in the
past when switching from 4.5 > 12v or 12v > 9v), we’re “stretching” it to
include additional components.
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3. It’s been hard enough to get track at retail outlets the
past few years, now it will (probably) be impossible.
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I’d like to point out that you’re making assumptions, as you yourself point out.
Personally, I’m not making that assumption, based on where things are going. The
fact that trains are getting increased support at all in retail actually opens
up possibilities.
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4. Most of us get our
bulk LEGO from closeouts and/or BrickLink. Since track and 9V motors and 9V
systems won’t be in retail outlets, we aren’t going to get them for anything
other than full MSRP.
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Out of honest curiousity, are you buying 9v track and motors at a discount now?
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5. When asked (before Jake’s presentation) about plans
for other 9V track, the TLC guy in charge said no plans at present. That was
surprisingly worse than the standard “we can’t tell you” and it became clear
why when Jake announced the all plastic track.
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Ted, I’m not sure who you’re referring to - there were quite a few LEGO people
there. Do you mean Jorgen Vig?Out of curiousity, was the LEGO person in question
the Trains project team (which would have only included myself, Mark Hansen, and
Tormod Askildsen)? If not, the details of the future might not be well
understood.
There is absolutely a discussion in place about track geometry and how to
achieve that in our new Hobby Train concept. There are no plans for it, yes...
meaning we’ve not put plans in place to start up the machines. But there is
absolutely an ongoing discussion about how, when, and if it would make sense
from all perspectives.
As much as I want to spill the full story on the Play Train and Hobby Train
details, I simply can’t. We’re about a year away from release of the Play Train,
and we have a ton of work to do between now and then. Some things are still
being finalized. We know competitors are able to knock off our products in 6
months or less, so revealing too many details is simply not smart.
But to be clear, just because our focus is not on adding new 9v functionality
today, that doesn’t mean that we’re not thinking about it or have ideas up our
sleeves.
Because of that, I know I sound a bit vauge and I’m very sorry for that. I
really do wish I could share more, and I will as we get closer to launch.
We’ve tried to ensure that we’re doing it right with this project. We’ve worked
closely with the group of fans we’ve been calling the Signal group (Steve
Barile, Huw Millington, Mike Walsh, Holger Matthes) to make sure all issues have
been considered.
We’re working hard to ensure that this isn’t going to be another debacle, and
in fact delivers something very positive.
Hopefully that helps makes you a bit more comfortable, Ted. If not, I’m open for
questions here or on my blog.
Also, if anyone is interested, the keynote is here:
Audio
My notes for the keynote
address
Jake
---
Jake McKee
Community Liaison
LEGO Community Team
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: All plastic track
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| (...) OK, here's two I was *dying* to ask at BrickFest, but didn't want to take time away from the more "serious" questioners (i.e. - I'm not first & formost a train type). (1) What is the battery life goal? (2) Is the IR system potential compatable (...) (19 years ago, 16-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: All plastic track
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| Jake- I haven't quite figured out why I am more concerned about the recent track announcements than most other LTC types I have spoken with. Certainly there's not much anxiety with SCLTC (and even some enthusiasm) as I check in with members. (That (...) (19 years ago, 17-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: All plastic track
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| In lugnet.trains, Jake McKee wrote: snip snip (...) Just to clarify Jake, will you be referring to both (Play and Hobby) as L gauge? That would make sense to me as they are all the same gauge. But it might confuse "real" train modellers - when we (...) (19 years ago, 17-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | All plastic track
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| (Sometimes I think that if TLC announced it was closing down, the first post on LUGNET or elsewhere might be something like "Oh, no! That's really terrible! I've got to have 7 more 2x6 pink plates! Can't they wait until I find some on BrickLink?") (...) (19 years ago, 16-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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