 | | 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
I'm not usually an alarmist but I did notice the new U.S. sale prices on selected 9V items, including the Train Motor, Speed Regulator, Level Crossing, and Train Engine Shed (in new bley which was somewhat good news, as we hope this set will be (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains) !
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Bert- This certainly doesn't look good. I couldn't see anything good when Jake announced at BrickFest the introdution of the new "play train" system and the reclassification of the 9V train as the "hobby train". So far, there has not been a (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Thanks Ted. I was going to request to cancel this post before anyone responded because of the rambling and negative tone. Plus...it is not very well written. I don't post very often in lugnet.trains but follow it regularly. I've been buying 9V (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) The more and more I think about the whole LEGO train deal, the more I think that we've set ourselves up for these let downs. Almost no other model railroad sub-hobby limits itself to a single companies products. The exceptions I am aware of (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Not showing up on the sales and deals page are the MOT locomotives which appear to be on sale now as well. As far as the essentials, I'd get what you think you'll need in the forseeable future, while you can, now. Definitely a drag. Jonathan (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Further, it appears (whats left of the) the Santa Fe cars and the TTX Double Stack car are on sale in Europe. Signs of things to come in the USA? Are these the last of what is considered a 'hobby' set aside from the BNSF Loco? (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Frank- I see two signficant differences between LEGO train enthusiasts and fans of defunct products from defunct companies: 1. TLC is not defunct and although it's had problems, we all expect it to recover and thrive. 2. While many (most?) of (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) These are apparently (URL) available> from customer support in Europe. (...) The (URL) 8421 crane> definitely uses the new 9V motor, and a new (apparently studless) battery box has appeared in some photos of the recently announced Technic (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Well, this is an interesting question that is distilled into the LTC vs LUG debate. I think that there are distinctions between the two. The TCLTC's motto is that our layout is simply a background for our trains. Without the trains, the whole (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
That may all be true (but I would point out that last I heard, Lionel is alive and well, yet there are folks who only do vintage tinplate Lionel), but my main point is that by chosing to be 100% pure to a single manufacturer, we are totally at the (...) (19 years ago, 27-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Ross- Gee, I've despaired of getting any 9V electric plates for a long time. Last I look there were some in Spain or Hungary, but that was about it. I wonder how someone in the US places an order in France? (...) Ross- OK, so "almost no". (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Ergh, didn't they set up some kind of Ambassadors or GlobalAFOLs or something comprising people who are supposed to relay this kind of info back and forth between TLG and the great unwashed masses? I think if anyone knows who any of those "in (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) AFAIK you can't (this type of order can be placed "everywhere" in europe but is not publicized by TLC and you have to know LEGO item numbers - the ones you can see in the BOM at the end of some 2006 BIs) . Anyway, I'm afraid the Electric 2x4 (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.technic, lugnet.parts, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
"Ted Michon" <ted@scltc.org> wrote in message news:IwtA9E.oJw@lugnet.com... [ ... snipped ... ] (...) [ ... snipped ... ] You have to find a "ship to" address in France. I ordered a bunch of stuff from LEGO Sweden a fair number of years ago and had (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
The silence from LEGO since Jake's departure has been deafening. Jake's blog used to be my first stop in my daily web news crawl. But since the keynote at BrickFest ((URL) there has been very little solid news about the IR train system and the LEGO (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Yes there are LEGO Ambassadors, I am one. We are under NDA so we are very limited in what we can say without permission. If we recieve permission to release information we do so immediately. I honestly can't say what the official status of the (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Eric- Thanks. Glad to know you and the others are on top of this issue that means so much to many of us. At SCLTC we have almost 5 years invested building our club and have reached the point where venues come to us and we have as many events (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Ted, This is very important feedback. Lets try an informal poll... If 9V trains do get discontinued... 1. Would your club disband or significantly cut back on public appearances? (List your club and number of appearances) 2. Are there any (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains) !
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
"Eric Kingsley" <kingsley@nelug.org> wrote in message news:Iwuo0x.BMJ@lugnet.com... [ ... snipped ... ] (...) Do you want this feedback via e-mail or posted to LUGNET? Mike (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Lets post it on LUGNET for all to see. I will then collect it and put it together in a single document for those at LEGO to go through. Again honest answers without the vitriol is important. I won't include any fire-brand comments in my (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
Eric, Is there anyway for you to also gather input from "club-less" LEGO train enthusists? While I don't belong to a club or do exhibitions, I do have my own home layout for both myself and my children. And I too have a big investment in 9V gear. I (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Sure post anything that you feel would be helpful. The reason I wanted to focus on clubs is that they are essentially providing free advertising for LEGO which can be quantified and have a value attached. Any time you can say that LEGO will (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) The GMLTC doesn't do too many appearances each year. But, almost all our appearances are at 'train events' - model railroading shows and at the Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul. We consider ourselves model railroaders first, and Lego (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) SCLTC (Southern California LEGO Train Club does about 6 display events covering 100 show days that attract about 150,000 visitors per year. The trend is upward. (...) We probably could not avoid having some members bring IR trains to our (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) I am a Castle Builder who as only recently begun collecting trains, and even more recently, building MOC trains, and both specifically for the purpose of bringing them to TexLUG displays. Yes, they're for my enjoyment, too, but as a Castle (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Eric, The poll is a great idea. I have posted below answers to your three items. I have also added a few survey items that I humbly submit for you to include. 1. Would your club disband or significantly cut back on public appearances? (List (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Oh, and I was misled. I thought the trains were radio controlled. Apprently, they are Infra-RED controlled. I mistakenly put radio in my post. I revise my statement in the EE Degree. I will now need a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
In lugnet.trains, Eric Kingsley wrote: [...] (...) Hello Eric, As a member of FreeLUG (ILTCO affiliated) and a 9V train fan here are some answers to your questions. 1 In 2005 we had about 4 public appearances with train layouts. Personnally I manage (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) I would assume this would cause problems over the long term. Since I own 20+ 9V motors myself, and represent the major train interest in Victoria, BC. I have done shows in the past around here, as well as aiding PNLTC, NALUG, NovaLUG, and VLC. (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) (Speaking for the Twin Cities LEGO Train Club) No. We would continue to do our 2-4 shows a year until all of our 9 volt motors die. (...) Given the design restrictions that appear to be a part of the new system, I can say that, in all (...) (19 years ago, 28-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) The battery box is the same as they've been using for years (albeit a new colour) (URL) Dean Earley, Dee (dean@earlsoft.co.uk) irc: irc://irc.blitzed.org/ web: (URL) +44 (0)780 8369596 (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Speaking as part of Michiana-LTC, we would continue to do shows until our equipment gave out. We do about 3 or 4 shows per year. (...) Michiana-LTC will likely not widely adopt the new trains other than giving them a small loop of their own. (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) ROSCO (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) 1. I would not show LEGO trains in public ever again. This is because my trains are bigger than 8-wide, and I would be ashamed to mislead the public by displaying an obsolete product. I'm not prepared to change my sales pitch from an (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) This is a good point which bears repeating in my mind. If TLG thinks that we as LEGO train AFOLs think this will somehow be a BETTER system, then they are (again) sorely mistaken. As Mark said, however, TLG is a toy company, so the point may (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Just a thought question from this: What do folks think about the fact that almost every other model railroad displayed at a train show displays obsolete, no longer available products? How about the American Flyer folks, or the vintage Lionel (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) I asked other members of RichLUG to respond last evening so we could reach consensus. So far Rich and Dustin have responded: Rich - I don't believe that our club would disband over this. If it was a decision by consensus to use the new train (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
"Todd Thuma" <thumat@gactr.uga.edu> wrote in message news:Iwus58.yn2@lugnet.com... (...) [ ... snipped ... ] (...) Bluetooth would have been the right answer! Mike (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Todd- IR is cheaper and easier than R/C. R/C requires regulatory approval in many places (like the US) and frequencies must vary with country. IR can be the same everywhere and requires no approvals. Of course IR has the disadvantage of being (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Particular products may be "no longer available", but the *system* is still available. Just because the friendly N-scalers at the next layout are running a locomotive that was last sold in 1985 doesn't change the fact that there are hundreds (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) For what its worth this is one thing I have asked specifically about and have yet to get an answer. If there were a really good rechargable battery would that make a differance. My feeling is that it depends on the following. 1. Pulling power (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) One more. Tim from RichLUG wrote: (...) No and no (at least not right away). We only do about 3-4 public appearances each year. Amoung our group, we have a significant amount of track, motors and controllers - enough to continue to run large (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) In which case it might be interesting to answer: How much more would you (or your club) be willing to pay for 9V track and accessories? ROSCO (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Tim actually wrote this. I've just been compiling our responses. That's a good question.We purchased 20 packs of track at a brick and mortar with the 10% LUG discount several weeks ago.That was still $240 for 160 straights. Would I pay LEGO (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued
|
|
In lugnet.trains, Eric Kingsley wrote: Dear Eric, (...) The club is already inactive as club. 1000steine is running and guiding the fan activity in Germany. Me and other (former?) FGLTC members join the 1000steine-land and other shows like the (...) (19 years ago, 29-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Having not actually used the new trains, some of this is conjecture. Running one for a weekend on a layout first will give me a better perspective. But.. From what I have seen, I doubt they would be suitable replacements for the existing (...) (19 years ago, 30-Mar-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
--snip--- I'm sure this has been posted somewhere but I've been out of the LEGO loop for about a year now. What is this RC Track and IR Train that I keep reading about? And images, links, thanks? -AHui (19 years ago, 1-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Discontinued? - Rechargeable Batteries
|
|
(...) (SNIP) (...) It seems there are a few types of rechargeable batteries to consider: NiCds are made obsolete by the European RoHS directive (banning Cadmium), and they also suffer from memory effect. NiMH are becoming more common in standard (...) (19 years ago, 2-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
Here is a gallery hosted at ILTCO: (URL) Bryan "Ahui Herrera" <jedi_agh@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:Ix26MJ.24E6@lugnet.com... (...) (19 years ago, 3-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Discontinued? - Rechargeable Batteries
|
|
(...) The trains at LLCA apear to use gel cell/lead acid batteries. I'm considering a similar system, and have already tested something like it. I built a 4 wide train for a recent display. I used 4.5v track but had it spaced 2 studs apart enstead (...) (19 years ago, 3-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
Thanks Bryan.. The frieght train looks nice. The passanger train just one word: YUK! (jr. junk...) I know you and perhaps others may not know this but I'll ask anyways. Will there be a way for us to take that new track and add the metal strips to (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Hi Ahui and welcome back, To answer your question : there's no way - let me explain : Jan told us that, in order to be compatible (sic) with the metallic tracks, new insulated tracks are a bit thicker to adjust the size. So if you add a metal (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) I think this is a very important point. Most of us are quite resourceful and some have come up with their own custom track parts. The problem is most of us don't have those skills and to purchase those parts on the second hand market is very (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) I'm not sure it's safe to assume that LEGO would be the lowest cost provider of 9v items. What if they licensed it to another entity to reduce overhead, marketing and production costs? I agree with your main point, however, that private party (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Ok, I'll add my $0.02 to the pile. Summary: Lego trains are the reason there are now 100,000 Lego bricks in my Lego room upstairs. Details: When I was a little kid in Wisconsin in the 1970s, we had HO trains in the basement (didn't (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) The MILLION dollar question is... Is there a 3rd Party Vendor even interested in making the 9V parts? TLC could offer the license (I doubt they will) but if there is no party interetsed then it is pointless. (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Here's a reality check. The way LEGO makes train track is realy just wrong. It's way more expensive than it needs to be. Result - LEGO really can't afford to keep producing the existing 9v track and hope to remain profitable. The way I see it, (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Without actually having seen the numbers in regards to the company's sales and manufacturering costs, I'm not sure any of us can say definately that that's the reality. We can speculate a lot, but without some hard numbers, I don't think we (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Dear Rafe, thanks for your story here. It was more worth than just 2 cent for me! I only hope some people at LEGO see, that metal track trains attract lots of people and that these often enough end with a 100.000 ++ collection of bricks. And (...) (19 years ago, 4-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Hey, I have $0.02 here is my take. (...) I’m with you here. In 2002 I went to my first Brickfest. At that point I had just about no bricks and no Lego room. After that I started with castle but still did not have much in the way of bricks or a (...) (19 years ago, 5-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) . . . . (...) I wish to add my $0.02 worth also I think this story can be told by many Rafe, just change the names and ages and you have summed up my history with Lego Trains as well. (which has now made me a bit paranoid, is someone watching (...) (19 years ago, 6-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.loc.au)
|
| |
| | Re: 9V Train Motor Being Discontinued?
|
|
(...) Hi Gary, I'd really encourage you guys to voice this information to ILTCO, or at (URL) - if TLC don't hear it, they can't take it into account when making their decision. And it appears their deadline is not far off. ROSCO (19 years ago, 7-Apr-06, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.loc.au)
|
