Trainz.com Blog

2012 Preorders are Ready!

2012-05-01T09:03:00.000-04:00


The new 2012 catalogs are out, and while we're a bit late getting them online you can still secure your preorder with Trainz.com! The sooner you order the better your chances of securing your item on the release date, but you can still place orders even after the manufacturers' cut-off date. Browse the 2012 MTH Ready to Run Catalog. The MTH Ready to Run Catalog includes everything you need to build a miniature world of your own - or just put up a train around the Christmas tree, or anything in-between. Browse the 2012 Lionel Signature Edition (Volume 1) catalog. Lionel is hoping that everyone can find something they "can't live without" in the latest Signature Edition catalog. With tons of new catalog additions, we're pretty sure you will. Browse the 2012 Lionel Ready to Run Catalog. Check out Lionels latest additions to their line of complete ready to run sets. It truly is a great place to get started. Browse the 2012 American Flyer Catalog. This year Lionel has added a whole new catalog specifically dedicated to American Flyer. It's a touch of old Flyer styling and craftsmanship with all the latest technology on board. Check out the articulated 208082 steam giants and the modern SD70ACe diesel, both equipped with LEGACY electronics and the Railsounds sound system. Our preorder program is a little different than buying new products and collectibles at Trainz.com. To learn all the details please visittrainzpreorder.com and check out the FAQ. Thanks for Shopping with Trainz.com! The Trainz.com Preorder Team preorder@trainz.com

GREAT DEAL on Lionel 6-11722

2012-04-24T09:52:00.000-04:00

Check Out this Fantastic Deal!

Lionel 6-11722 Girls Train Set/Box

In Stock and Ready to Ship!

Here is a Lionel 11722 Girls Train Set from 1991. This set is a remake of the classic Lionel Girls' Set from 1957-58. This set includes a Die-cast Locomotive & Tender, two Box cars, a Gondola, a Hopper and a Caboose. It comes with track, an AC Transformer, lockon, and wires.

Run a fair bit, this set has a few scratches on the locomotive and tender bodies. The locomotive has a few small chips in the paint around the steam chests and cattle guard. The cattle guard also has a small crack where it attaches to the boiler frame. The lettering on the tender is fading on one side. The freight cars are in good shape with very few minimal scratches on the bodies. There are a couple small spots of rust on the locomotive's trailing truck. The track shows just a few small signs of use with a few scratches on the rails and bases; no rust. The original box is included. This item has been quick tested by our repair department and is fully functional. Overall condition is Very Good+.

The Trainz SKU for this item is 3382760.

Condition: Very Good+
TCA Grade: C-6 TCA Grading
Original Box: Yes
Box Condition: P-6 Box Grading
Manufacturer: Lionel
Model Number: 6-11722
Scale/Era: O Modern
Model Type: Sets
Road Name: Girl
Years Manufactured: 1991-1991

Price: $499.99

Lionel Signature 2012 Preorders Are Ready!

2012-04-18T11:41:00.000-04:00

Trainz Announcement: The Lionel 2012 Signature Edition Catalog is posted and we are now accepting Pre-Orders. Don't delay...

Here are the Details
2 Easy Ways To Place Your Pre-Order:
Trainz Pre-Order Website (Preferred Order Method)
- Select add to cart to add items to your shopping cart.
- When finished shopping, complete your checkout by simply filling out your shipping & billing info.
- If paying by credit card, at checkout time your card will be authorized (not charged) $1.00 to validate your card.
Call Us - To place your order call 1-866-285-5840 and press 3 for pre-orders.
E-mail - preorder@trainz.com
Payment Methods & Terms:
You can choose to secure your preorder with a credit card. You will only be billed as the items you preordered are shipped to you. There is no up-front charge.
We do not accept PayPal as a method of payment for preorders.
You may now secure your preorder with a check or money order. With this option, you must pay in full when submitting your preorder.
When your order is complete, you will receive an email with a summary of your order information.
Shipping is FREE! (we ship within the lower 48 United States only)
We now ship to Alaska, Hawaii & Canada. Please see listing for shipping amount.
We will ship items to you immediately upon receiving them from the Manufacturer!
We charge a 10% fee for cancellations.
Prepayment Discount:
Save an additional 3% if you pre-pay! Trainz is now accepting pre-payments on all preorders and warranty upgrades.
Simply create your order on the website and then call our customer service department at 866-285-5840. You will need to provide your credit card number and give us your order number so your transaction can be completed and the pre-payment discount applied. (This is currently due to system limitations)
If you choose a warranty option and want to pre-pay your purchase, both the product and warranty must be pre-paid together.
If you choose to pre-pay, all items on your order must be pre-paid.
Delivery:
Items that are ordered after the initial manufacturers’ deadline are not guaranteed to be available from the manufacturer by Trainz and may result in us having to cancel your order due to the manufacturer selling out. This is an extremely rare occurrence. We work with many people in the industry and usually don't have any problems finding what you are looking for, even when we can’t fill your order directly from the manufacturer.
Release Dates:
Up to date Lionel release dates can be found at http://lionel.com/Products/ShippingSchedule/index.cfm. Please bookmark this page for easy reference.
Click here to shop the catalog...

February Instock Sale

2012-02-15T17:10:00.003-05:00

Shhhhh it's a secret...

Go Treasure Hunting at Trainz.com! Save 20% on this and other select in stock products when you use coupon code FEBINSTOCK during check-out!

Big Modern SALE!

2012-01-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

When it comes to model trains we're known for having it all. To be perfectly honest though... we're a little partial to the Modern O Gauge stuff. We've had a good couple months for collecting it too... with over 5000 new and gently used items currently available for sale at Trainz.com. Now through January 18th you can grab as many of those items as you want for 10% offour already low prices!

Just use coupon code "OMODERN10" when checking out at Trainz.com to receive your 10% discount.

You can search our site for the coupon code "OMODERN10", then narrow your search by Manufacturer, Category, SubCategory, and Price by using the links on the left of the page. You can also add search terms to the search box at the top of the page... Looking for an F3 Diesel Loco that's part of the sale? Just search for "OMODERN10 F-3".

If you prefer the human touch you can give us a call (866-285-5840 Ext 2) and one of our product experts will gladly help you look.

Thanks for shopping at Trainz.com!

New Year's Sale in Full Swing!

2012-01-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

- Ready to add on to that new set you got under the tree?
- Need a couple switches to keep everything rolling the right way?
- Want more room for all the rolling stock you've collected from Trainz.com?

We can provide all the parts you need to build your dream track layout and save you 10% on our already reduced prices in the process. Just purchase your track between now and January 10th, 2012 and use coupon codeNEWYEARS10 when checking out at Trainz.com!

Search our site for the coupon code "NEWYEARS10", then narrow your search by Manufacturer, Scale -or- Gauge, and price range by using the links on the left of the page. You can also add search terms to the search box at the top of the page... Looking for Lionel Switches that are part of the sale? Just search for "NEWYEARS10 Lionel Switch".

If you're having trouble finding the right item just give us a call (866-285-5840 Ext 2) and one of our product experts will gladly help you look.

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Last Minute Shopping?

2011-12-16T17:10:00.001-05:00

We asked some of our regulars if they'd prefer us to send a card for the holidays... or bring back their favorite sale. Not surprisingly they all voted for the sale. So what else could we do but bring back 10% off on all collectible items at Trainz.com! Just use coupon code HOLIDAY10 when you check out!

Choose from over 5000 collectible, gently used, and like new items available across every category! As usual we've made these items easy to find, just look for the sale message on individual product listings or search Trainz.com for HOLIDAY10.

Need it in time for Christmas? Just complete your order for any instock item by the end of December 17th and we'll get it anywhere within the contiguous US by the 25th. Need an extra day or two? Order as late as the 19th and opt for one or two day shipping when checking out.

If you're having trouble finding the right item just give us a call (866-285-5840 Ext 2) and one of our product experts will gladly help you look.

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Huge Lionel Set SALE!

2011-11-28T11:46:00.000-05:00

Lights strung, ornaments hung, but the tree wasn't quite done until dad had finished laying the track. That little Lionel set, dutifully circling the tree, puffing white smoke the whole way around, was part of our family tradition... One that I continue with my family to this very day. Family traditions are important, and this year at Trainz.com we're ready to help you start your own.

Whether you're starting a new tradition, upgrading an old tradition, or trying to introduce a new generation to a hobby that quite literally includes all the bells and whistles... our Lionel Starter Sets deal will get you everything you need.

Shop Trainz.com for a new Lionel Starter Set between now and November 30th and you'll not only save 8% on our already reduced prices, but we'll throw in free domestic shipping as well! Help us spread the word and get your coupon code by clicking the "Unlock Offer" button below.

If you're having trouble finding the right item just give us a call (866-285-5840 Ext 2) and one of our product experts will gladly help you look.

Thank you for shopping at Trainz.com.

Rolling Stock SALE!

2011-11-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

Looking for a car that hauls people? How about a car that hauls boxes, cattle, or timber? What about a locomotive to pull all those cars? You can get it all right now at Trainz.com for 10% off! Almost every piece of individual rolling stock is on sale. Just shop Trainz.com between now and November 23rd and use coupon code ROLLING10 at checkout.

There's no question about what items qualify, everything that's on sale mentions ROLLING10 in the item description. To make it easy you can search our site, or any category within our site, for ROLLING10 to find exactly what you're looking for.

If you're having trouble finding the right item just give us a call (866-285-5840 Ext 2) and one of our product experts will gladly help you look.

Thank you for shopping at Trainz.com!

MTH 2012 Volume 1 Released!

2011-11-01T16:56:00.001-04:00

Trainz.com MTH 2012 Volume 1 Catalog Pre-Order Details

Pre-Order Deadline: November 28, 2011
You may still pre-order after this deadline. The only difference is we cannot guarantee items after this date. We work with many people in the industry and usually don't have any problems finding what you are looking for. Of course, it is best to order before the deadline.

2 Easy Ways To Place Your Pre-Order:

Trainz Pre-Order Website (Preferred Order Method)
- Select add to cart to add items to your shopping cart.
- When finished shopping, complete your checkout by simply filling out your shipping & billing info.
- If paying by credit card, at checkout time your card will be authorized (not charged) $1.00 to validate your card.
Call Us - To place your order call 1-866-285-5840 and press 3 for pre-orders.
E-mail - preorder@trainz.com

Payment Methods & Terms:

You can choose to secure your preorder with a credit card. You will only be billed as the items you preordered are shipped to you. There is no up-front charge.
We do not accept PayPal as a method of payment for preorders.
You may now secure your preorder with a check or money order. With this option, you must pay in full when submitting your preorder.
When your order is complete, you will receive an email with a summary of your order information.
Shipping is FREE! (we ship within the lower 48 United States only)
We will ship items to you immediately upon receiving them from the Manufacturer!
We charge a 10% fee for cancellations.

Prepayment Discount:

Save an additional 3% if you pre-pay! Trainz is now accepting pre-payments on all preorders and warranty upgrades.

Simply create your order on the website and then call our customer service department at 866-285-5840. You will need to provide your credit card number and give us your order number so your transaction can be completed and the pre-payment discount applied. (This is currently due to system limitations)

If you choose a warranty option and want to pre-pay your purchase, both the product and warranty must be pre-paid together.
If you choose to pre-pay, all items on your order must be pre-paid.

Delivery:

Items that are ordered after the initial manufacturers’ deadline are not guaranteed to be available from the manufacturer by Trainz and may result in us having to cancel your order due to the manufacturer selling out. This is an extremely rare occurrence. We work with many people in the industry and usually don't have any problems finding what you are looking for, even when we can’t fill your order directly from the manufacturer.

Release Dates:

Up to date MTH release dates can be found at http://www.mthtrains.com/content/item-shipping-dates. Please bookmark this page for easy reference.

Click here to shop the catalog...

Everything 10% OFF!!!

2011-10-24T13:27:00.001-04:00

Remember the last time you visited Trainz.com and you saw something you really wanted, but it wasn't part of the sale? Well check again, because for the next 12 days everything at Trainz.com is on sale! Every scale, every era, every single item is 10% off when you use the coupon code EVERYTHING10.

With almost 18,000 new items and over 6,000 collectible items you're almost guaranteed to find what you're looking for. If you're having trouble finding the right item just give us a call (866-285-5840 Ext 2) and one of our product experts will gladly help you look.

Here's a few suggestions to get you started...

Thank you for shopping at Trainz.com!

P.S. While you're at the site check out our new video all about our buying process. Remember... We pay finders fees!

* 10% discount is applicable only to orders placed on www.trainz.com and cannot be combined with any other offers or discount codes. Discount is applied to order subtotal before taxes and shipping. This offer does not apply to orders placed via eBay, or to items available via our pre-order website. Coupon code must be used at time of checkout to receive discount. Offer good now through November 1, 2011.

1600 Items on Sale!

2011-10-13T09:12:00.000-04:00

There's 5 days left to save an additional 15% on over 1600 items atTrainz.com! We're clearing shelf space for the Christmas season and don't expect to see these items priced this low again for quite some time.

To receive your 15% discount, just enter the code INSTOCK15 when you checkout at Trainz.com. This deal is good only through October 17th.

We still have...

- Hundreds of O Gauge products
- Hundreds of HO Scale products
- Plenty of G Scale and N Scale products
- Loads of Maintenance Items and Supplies
- Quite a few Scenery products

There are plenty of items for every other scale to go around, including a fewThomas products. We even have a number of train related books and movies, along with over 200 railroad artwork prints.

All applicable sale items include mention of this limited time offer in the product description. You can even search our site for INSTOCK15 to find them all at once.

If you need help finding a specific item, need product advice, or would like to place an order over the phone, call us at 866-285-5840 Ext 2. and mention coupon code INSTOCK15.

Thank you for shopping at Trainz.com!

Looking to Sell Your Collection?

2011-10-12T15:33:00.002-04:00

We Buy Trains! Click on the video below for more details.

Over 1600 Items on Sale!

2011-10-10T09:38:00.001-04:00

For the next 10 days Trainz.com is offering an additional 15% off on over1600 of our already low price in stock items. Whether you're looking for some new rolling stock, some new track to roll it on, or want to make a few additions to your layout - this sale has you covered.

To receive your 15% discount, just enter the code INSTOCK15 when you checkout at Trainz.com. This deal is good now through October 17th and can be used on every order you place.

We have...

- Over 400 O Gauge products
- Nearly 400 HO Scale products
- Plenty of G Scale and N Scale products
- Loads of Maintenance Items and Supplies
- Over 100 Scenery products

There are plenty of items for every other scale to go around, including a fewThomas products. We even have a number of train related books and movies, along with over 200 railroad artwork prints.

All applicable sale items include mention of this limited time offer in the product description. You can even search our site for INSTOCK15 to find them all at once.

Thank You! Free Shipping on Buy it Now Listings

2011-10-05T09:12:00.000-04:00

Feedback means everything to eBay buyers and sellers. As an eBay buyer, you know exactly how hard it is to get to know a seller just by looking at their product listing. You've probably used feedback left by other buyers to help you decide which sellers to trust.

We're honored that you (and others like you) have helped build our feedback rating. Since our first eBay listing a decade ago, eBay buyers have left Trainz feedback more than 200,000 times!

Your "word of mouth" means everything to us, and we want to thank you for letting other eBay buyers know that buying from Trainz will be a positive experience. For the next two weeks, you'll automatically receive free shipping on any of our "Buy It Now" listings in the Trainz eBay Store. It's just our little way of saying thanks - not just for that 99.2 percent positive feedback that gives confidence to first-time buyers, but for the more critical feedback that helps us grow.

We have a lot of items listed on eBay, if you want to see only our Buy It Now listings we've started a search for you.

Limited Time Sale

2011-09-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

Trainz.com has a special treat for you! For the next 10 days you can get 10%Off our entire in stock inventory of collectible items!

To receive your 10% discount, just enter the code COLLECTIBLES10 when you checkout at Trainz.com. This deal is good now through September 26th and can be used on every order you place.

To browse by scale, follow the links below.

O Gauge Postwar - All 500+ Items
O Gauge MPC Era - All 400+ Items
O Gauge Prewar - All 50+ Items
S Gauge Postwar - All 60+ Items
HO Scale Vintage - All 100 Items
G Scale - 500+ Items
O Gauge Modern - 1300+ Items
HO Scale Modern - 1400+ Items

All applicable sale items include mention of this limited time offer in the product description.

If you need help finding a specific item, need product advice, or would like to place an order over the phone, call us at 866-285-5840 Ext 2. and mention coupon code COLLECTIBLES10.

Thank you for shopping at Trainz.com!

Delker Helix Electric Train Tower

2011-08-30T18:21:00.005-04:00

Scott recently came across a very unusual prewar Delker Figure 8 layout from during his buying travels. From the little bit of information we can gather these things were made in the 20s and 30s to be used for store window displays. This is by far the best one we've seen up for sale (most come in parts).

This layout features two vertical spirals of track with crossover pieces at the top and bottom, allowing the train to operate in a relatively small area. The track is prewar O gauge. There are three levels on each helix then a long straight piece at both the top and bottom to connect the two. The whole assembly is mounted on a wooden door, which measures approximately 79" long by 36" wide. The layout itself is approximately 18" tall at the highest point on each of the helices.

There is moderate wear on the rails from a long life of use, and a few of the support pieces have been repaired with screws. It still is fully functional and has been tested out by our repair shop. A postwar Lionel ZW transformer is included to power the loops for smooth, even speed uphill and down. Overall the condition is Very Good.

Check it out at Trainz.com.

2011-08-30T14:13:00.002-04:00

Trainz.com Money Train!

Through the end of this month every purchase you make at Trainz.com enters you for a chance to win a $200 Trainz.com gift card. See the Trainz.com offer page for more details.

MTH Preorder Product Cancellation

2011-08-30T10:36:00.001-04:00

MTH Preorder Product Cancellation

MTH is canceling production on the following item:

30-20037-1 Union Pacific- Gas Turbine

All open preorders will be cancelled today.

In case you missed it last week...

2011-07-11T16:25:00.001-04:00

Trainz.com is proud to announce their 2nd Annual Christmas in July Sale!

For the entire month of July, you can receive 1o% off your order (excluding eBay and pre-orders) by using the coupon code JULY2011 when you check out.

For more information about this event click here.

Happy Railroading!

Christmas in July is Here!

2011-07-06T17:04:00.001-04:00

Trainz.com is giving you a reason to celebrate Christmas early this year!

We are happy to announce our 2nd Annual Christmas in July sale! For the entire month of July, you can receive an additional 10% off your order at www.trainz.com (excluding eBay and pre-order items). Just use the coupon code JULY2011 upon checkout to get your discount.

Happy Holidays and Happy Railroading!

Free Shipping at Trainz.com

2011-06-17T15:04:00.001-04:00

It isn't too late to give your favorite father the gift of model railroading! From now through Sunday, June 19th, 2011 Trainz.com is offering free shipping on all orders of $75 or more! What better way is there to show dad how much you love him than by getting him that locomotive he's always wanted!

Lionel 2011 Christmas Catalog Arrives Any Day Now!

2011-05-27T16:15:00.002-04:00

Christmas comes early at Trainz.com!

Keep checking our pre-order site for more information on the Lionel 2011 Christmas Catalog. It should arrive any day now. We will inform you in advance of pre-order deadlines.

Happy Railroading and Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Correction to MTH Pre-Order Deadline

2011-05-18T16:03:00.001-04:00

The deadline to order from the MTH 2011 Volume 2 Catalog is actually on May 20, 2011. We originally had the date listed as the 22nd. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you still need to place your pre-order, you may do so here. Please note that Trainz.com is not carrying any individual freight cars with this catalog.

Happy Railroading!

Pre-Ordering Ends Soon for MTH 2011 V2 Catalog!

2011-05-13T17:13:00.002-04:00

There are less than two weeks left to place your pre-order from the MTH 2011 Volume 2 Catalog. You can always place an order after that date, but we cannot gaurantee delivery of your item because MTH often sells out of its products. Please note that Trainz is not offering individual freight cars with this catalog.

You can place your pre-order by clicking here.

Happy Railroading!