Future suggestions/predictions thread

[harrison05]

My predictions for 2026 engines (who knows with rolling stock)

HO
Whiff

NG
Luke

N Scale
Edward

[really called Thomas]

Judy & Jerome The Breakdown Cranes - New Tooling

If the faces were removable so that they would look like their early seasons' model counterparts, I'd be very happy with that.

[Jake86]

Has anyone ever thought about recreating the flat bed with frozen fish which was seen in series 1 1984 episode The Flying Kipper

[JLK2707]

I have.

[Armada Starscream]

Speaking of the Flying Kipper, anyone else like to use the Live Lobster Refrigerated van in their Flying Kipper trains?

[Stephen62]

More of a wishlist but here:

HO:
Murdoch
Stepney
Boco
Derek
Molly
Class 40
Spamcan
Bear

NG:
Duke
Smudger
Mighty Mac
Freddie
Duncan

HO rolling stock:
Rickety
Fred pehlay
S.C.Ruffy rebuilt
Troublesome truck #? Slate truck
Troublesome truck #? Teal salt truck

NG rolling stock
Green open coaches

[Awesometrain77]

Since everyone has been giving their suggestions or predictions for 2026, here are mine .
For engines I doubt a large engine will be announced since Scottsman just got announced. However I think Nia Whiff or Havery could have a stronger chance of happening .
There are serval underused rolling stock toolings imo in the line that could be expanded upon . These being the 4 plank wagon , the mail vans , the cattle vans. As for some new tools I think we need to see some new rolling stock maybe the works unit coach could go well with havery if they announced him. Rebuilt Scuffy is another idea that I really like . The pink 7 plank wagon is seen all across the CGI era  and would be a good idea as well.  The cream tanker would be nice to see return along with the well wagon .

As for accessories Trevor has been suggested a lot and I would love to see him in the line up . Another suggestion would be the windmill which is a classic location that Bachmann could bring back.

Narrowing it down
Havery
Works unit coach blue
Works unit coach green
Works unit coach orange
circus cattle van
mccoll cattle van
M truck
Pink 7 plank wagon
Rebuilt scruffy
Windmill

[TrainFan97]

I would love for the Works Unit Coach to be the next newly-tooled rolling stock for HO Scale. It can be made in three different liveries; Green, Orange and Blue. All of which appeared in the CGI series.

[RailwayRoundhouse]

In terms of a realistic wishlist?

HO/OO:

• Harvey the Crane Engine

or

• Diesel 10

• Judy and Jerome the Breakdown Cranes

• Trevor the Traction Engine

• Flatbed with Chinese Dragon Load

• The Old Coaches (As seen in Series 1)


009 Narrow Gauge:

• Smudger (Repaint of Rheneas)

or

• Proteus (Repaint of Sir Handel)

• Narrow Gauge Green and Cream Open Coaches


I say realistic because as much I really, REALLY wish Bachmannn would make a character like Stepney or Boco, they seem adamant on leaving those two alone, which is a shame. Harvey, Diesel 10 and Trevor are all characters that appeared in CGI and also have been in the classic series prior. You may be wondering why I'd include someone like Smudger where a character like him is even more rare than either Stepney or Boco. Well he's simply a repaint of an existing tooling and also, Bachmann have produced the Spiteful Brakevan in not one, but TWO scales. Honestly if a one and done character from Series 2 is a feasible repaint, then I feel any repaints are game in all honesty...at least...I really hope so...

I haven't included thoughts or suggestions when it comes to products in other scales as I don't really have much of an opinion regarding them other than I hope both continue to expand and grow going forward.

[JLK2707]

Could Class 40 be a good idea?

[Awesometrain77]

Okay here are my catalog predictions and NMRA predictions separated for 2026

Catalog
Circus cattle van
Mccoll cattle van
Pink 7 plank wagon   
Rebuilt S.C. Ruffy
Windmill
N scale Gordon express set

NMRA
Havery
Works unit coach Blue
Works unit coach green
Works unit coach orange
N scale Edward
N scale Red express coaches
G scale Black James

[TrainFan97]

I'm hoping the 2026 catalog could have HO Scale Whiff OR Norman, along with N Scale Edward. HO Scale should still get the Toffee and Chocolate Syrup Tankers, and if Whiff gets announced, a wagon with a new trash bag load. N Scale should get the green Coal Wagon w/ Load, along with the Red Coaches, being a modified tooling of Annie and Clarabel, which can also be made into Toby's Museum Coaches.

Once N Scale Edward is officially on the cards, we will all then be vouching for Duck. Then we should get Oliver, then Donald and Douglas. After that, we can then start getting even more side characters, like Spencer, Bill and Ben, Mavis, Salty, Daisy, Ryan, Stanley, Flying Scotsman, and more. It will be anyone's guess once N Scale gets Duck, Oliver, Donald and Douglas. Once the original Steam Team is complete, Bachmann can then move on to the Little Western team. After the Little Western gets complete, we would then start getting even more various side characters.

[Awesometrain77]

The more I think about the more I feel Nia will be added to the range as Matt mentioned the phrase main character in a Thomas Tuesday stream . Also I don't know if they will do the works unit coach next year as it seems they have a lot on there plate currently .
I also think a large scale new tool engine could happen with that being either Duck or Rosie rather than black James .

Updated predictions
Catalog

HO scale Circus cattle van
HO scale Mccoll  cattle van
HO scale brakevan 
N scale Gordon express set

NMRA

HO scale Nia
HO scale Rebuilt S.C. Ruffy
HO scale Pink 7 plank wagon
HO scale Windmill
G scale Duck
Narrow gauge Duncan


I really like how small I made this rather then a big announcement . It has a set that is guaranteed for profit , 2 cattle wagons which is something the range is lacking , the brakevan which was made only for its set to be cancelled , etc .
If I were to add something it would be Emily with her 12 but that is about it .
I subbed out n scale Edward for Duncan as I felt it was about time and also the fact that N scale would likely still have a back log .

[Jake86]

Has anybody thought about recreating the flatbed wagon with rail sleepers on top as well as the red open wagon that had eight wheels with metals poles in the wagon that was seen in Series 2 1986 episode Better Late Than Never

[Mulfred100]

Ok so I'm gonna split this into two sections for what I'd like and what I expect we'll get in 2026. I'll do what I'm expecting first

HO Nia
I feel like its a question of when and not if with Nia at the moment. She's is the last engine of the BWBA steam team they'd need to make, unlike Rebecca and other engines shes also been carried over to AEG so I do feel like in 2026 we'll get her announced. Maybe in Jan/Feb, maybe at NMRA. I guess that depends on how much progress they make on Sidney, Mainland and Scotsman.

N Scale Edward
Similar to Nia, Edward is the last remaining original steam team member thry need to introduce in N scale. I think he is a very safe bet for 2026. I again am not too sure when they'll announce him. That probably depends on progress they make on Henry, Diesel, Paxton, LBSC Thomas and Origins James. I suppose one positive is while that does seem like a lot. Diesel and Paxton share same basis so once they only need to make one tooling, Thomas and James both have their tooling aswell its just repainting. So Edward could be announced in Jan/Feb all being well.

Recolours
Now I wanna move onto recolours. Since I haven't mentioned the 009 range I'll start with Brown and Grey Box van and Break-van. I think either of these are a safe bet for the next recolours in 009. Ever since they announced the original models, people have been asking for Brown versions of them and the Grey would also be a nice variation too.
The next recolour I think we could get is a Circus van (using the 12 ton van) we already have the festival vans so it feels like a natural progression to add a Circus van. Now there are two versions they could go for, either the Topham Circus vans from series 4 or the HiT era vans from series 8. Not too sure what they would go for but either would be welcome. Other HO recolours I can see happening is a tanker recolour and maybe a new cattle wagon
In N scale I think there's alot of recolours that are definitely on the horizon, Blue open wagon, Coal Wagon with load, Milk tanker, Tar Tanker, Festival vans, red express coaches. Personally the two wagons will be introduced in Jan/Feb along with the tankers. Then maybe the festival vans and Red express coaches in NMRA or maybe 27.

G scale Origins James
I honestly don't think we'll get any "new tooling" for G scale. I think however Origins James is probably a safe bet.

Now for what I'd like For the catalogue 26.

HO Skiff
I don't think there will be a "new engine" in the Catalogue. I think they'll save that for the NMRA but I can still see Skiff being made. As I've said before hes the perfect cross between non rail and rolling stock. We have Ryan and all the other engines he interacts with in the range. I can definitely see him being a fun piece for Bachmann to make and I think people will buy him.

New Figure packs
I don't think we'll get 6 announced however I do think we may get 2 in the Catalogue and 2 in the NMRA or maybe 1 and 2 or visas versa. For these I have a few ideas. A sodor VIP pack, including the Mayor, Sir Robert Noramby, Alicia Botti, Duke and Dutchess and Lord Callen. A workers/people of Sodor pack, including Cyril the fogman, Jem Cole, Sailor John (to go with Skiff) Captain Joe (again Skiff) Bertie's driver and Miss Jenny. Maybe an animals pack too.

New 009 engine
Now for 009 as I've said before I'd like Luke or Millie, either engine in the range would make me very happy. Luke would complete the Blue Mountain Quarry crew and Millie would be a perfect engine to build out the Ulfstead Castle crew which I do have another 2 ideas to flesh out this side of Sodor.

N scale Edward
See above

N scale Red Branchline Coaches
An extremely popular item in HO and G scale. I feel like this is another item where its when it happens, not if.

N Scale Christmas Set
I can see this being announced in the Catalogue in 2026. I'm just unsure if the snow plow would be able to be separately fitted. As for the rolling stock included. There are alot of possibilities.

NMRA
New Engine
Now for me personally I want Stephen to be introduced. By the time NMRA is announced we'll have had the Open Carriage for a while. Stephen also taps into that History of real life railways like Scotsman does. He'd look great along side Millie and in Bachmann's recent NMRA they have proven they aren't scared to tackle vintage locos. Another possibility I think is Hiro, however I think maybe 2 tender engines back to back maybe too much but I do see him being made. I think now Scotsman is on the table and if he sells well Hiro definitely could happen sooner rather then later. If Nia is announced at the beginning of 2026 I could see either Stephen or Hiro being made in NMRA. If she isn't then I'll bump these to 2027. However If you asked me if Scotsman would be made in 2025 I wouldn't have said yes.

Butch
Butch is someone I've been thinking about alot lately and a character I can definitely see Bachmann making. He has alot of merchandise and is one of those characters that classic and CGI fans would Unite behind. I mean don't get me wrong I'd kill for Trevor to be next. However I can see the case for Butch and appreciate he'll be easier to make.

Newly tooled N Scale rolling stock
Theres a few options I can see Bachmann going for. Guessing it'll be a 20ton Break-van and Sodor Mail Car.

That's just my thoughts. They are abit all over at the moment and hopefully I'll be able to make better predictions closer to the catalogue drop once we see where the production line is at