Future suggestions/predictions thread

[TEHNewClearwaterFeatures]

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 she has 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.

Nia is the only engine I expect in HO for next year, whether she gets announced in January, February or at the NMRA. Somebody ought to make a separate thread about her.

[Coaltronn]

my daughter would be excited for nia to show up and so would my son as she was in all engines go

[TEHNewClearwaterFeatures]

Well needless to say, Bachmann should replicate Nia's appearance from Big World Big Adventures. Not All Engines GO!

[Coaltronn]

lol yes! BWBA not all engines GO

[really called Thomas]

DCC Ready Daisy and Duck are now available in the UK! Got my Daisy at the weekend

Hoping for more to be added to the range, particularly those from the early model seasons. My next personal preferences are Diesel, Bill and Ben.

[Chaz]

I'm surprised Diesel hasn't been added to the Bachmann Europe line yet. They seem to announce new engines bi-yearly, so in 2026 they'll likely announce more. I could see Diesel and Emily being next, as Emily is another engine I'm surprised hasn't been included yet.

[King_of_pc]

I don't know about you, but is Bachmann starting to make side characters for the TTTE Range? I don't know who was the first side character that Bachmann made, nor if we will see other side character locomotives and rolling stock.

[Zekeism]

Instead of rereleasing Emily but with the number #12, could Bachmann just release the tender on it's own?

[Awesometrain77]

They don't usually  sell tenders on their own . However, I do think releasing Emily with her number 12 alongside nia would be pretty cool so we could get the current steam team all at once in their current form number wise. We don't need any of those dumb season 23 rivets.
2026 updated hope/realistic predictions
catalog
Circus cattle van
Mccoll cattle van
Brakevan
N scale Gordon set
NMRA
Nia
Emily with #12
Works unit coach - blue orange and green
Windmill
N scale Edward
G scale Sidney

[Chaz]

The funny thing is, Bachmann didn't even bother adding the number 12 to their N scale Emily model, despite it being introduced long after Emily received her number at the end of the CGI series. I don't know if that's a detail they plan to include in a future revision of the Emily models, or if they'll just skip it altogether since the appeal would be limited; it only appeared in the second half of the final season of the show. 

Granted, I know it carried over into the rest of the merchandise since then and even into All Engines Go, but I'd still argue that doesn't necessarily widen its appeal much, especially since All Engines Go is already becoming less relevant now that it's over and Mattel seems to be shifting merchandise back toward the CGI seasons this year.

[DustyMarie53!]

I'd personally like to see it, it's enough of a major revision like Red Rosie to warrant being a separate product for those who prefer her having a number. But Chaz is right in it not being a really requested product. It is a good thing for Bachmann to consider in their back pocket for years where they may need something simple while they catch up on bigger products, but it does not appear 2026 will be that kind of year really so I wouldn't expect it so soon. In a similar vein it'd be nice to get an updated Henrietta with her face, as an update or separate product. It's probably my most wanted rolling stock at this point as it feels like the biggest thing missing.

[Chaz]

After the announcement that the N scale LMS brake van was canceled due to the cost of using the Farish tooling, I think now is the right time to revisit the idea of introducing the BR brake van instead.



I've brought this up before, but it feels more relevant than ever given that high tooling costs ultimately ended the LMS project. While some fans may have looked forward to the LMS version, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Thomas fans have always preferred the BR brake van; and still do. This post lays out why Bachmann should focus on the BR design rather than the LMS one. The BR brake van has already proven successful in both HO and Large Scale, and there's no doubt it would do just as well in N scale.  So let's look at why:

1. Greater historical and brand significance



The BR brake van has a far stronger presence in Thomas & Friends. Since Season 1, it has consistently appeared in both the model and CGI eras, making it the most recognizable and iconic brake van design associated with the brand. By contrast, the LMS van only appeared in CGI and was introduced in show much later than the BR one, limiting its long-term appeal. Choosing the BR van would clearly resonate more with fans and collectors.


2. More livery and reuse potential
The BR tooling offers Bachmann much greater flexibility. Between the model and CGI series, the BR brake van has appeared in brown, gray, purple, blue and green liveries (though the latter two never appeared on screen). The spiteful brake van remains popular in both HO and Large Scale, and Bachmann has already repurposed the tooling as a track-cleaning wagons and even a Christmas brake van in HO. This proves its versatility and wide appeal.  The LMS brake van, on the other hand, has very limited reuse potential. Beyond its standard brown scheme, there's only Bradford and red and green liveries that were only used used only briefly the Nitrogen era. That's a much smaller pool compared to the wide variety the BR design offers.

3. Cost efficiency

Now, let's say Bachmann is still restricted to reusing Farish toolings, the BR 20-ton brake van by Farish is actually cheaper than the LMS option (BR is £29.95 while LMS is £32.95 on Bachmann UK's webstore). That makes BR brake van not only the more iconic and versatile choice, but also the more cost-effective one if they revisit Farish toolings. Any modifications needed like removing some of the separately fitted details would still likely cost less than sticking with the LMS brake van tooling.

Conclusion

Releasing the LMS brake van was always going to be a niche move with limited appeal, and now we know it's also the more expensive route. By contrast, the BR brake van is a lot more iconic, versatile, and cost-effective—the obvious choice for N scale. In my brutally, honest opinion, there is absolutely no reason for Bachmann to revisit the LMS brake van when there is so much more going for the BR version. It's already worked in HO and Large Scale, and it will work in N scale as well—if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

It's frustrating that the N scale range has gone this long without a generic brake van, with only Toad available. Toad is a niche character, especially since Duck and Oliver haven't been announced and likely won't be for at least a few years. Fans deserve the more common and recognizable brake van design to complete their goods trains, because as the Spiteful Brake Van himself once said:


it's "essential."

I strongly believe the BR brake van should be Bachmann's top priority for the next piece of rolling stock in N scale, or at the very least the next choice of brake van included in the range. Hopefully, this post helps influence that decision.

What do you think?

[Mulfred100]

Its a shame the LMS Brake-van has been cancelled and I do support the idea of revisiting that tooling at some point in the N scale range. However I do agree for now that they should focus on the BR Brake-van.

The N scale range needs a standard Brake-van in the range. Especially if we want the line to grow. As Chaz said theres many liveries they can produce as well as the Spiteful Brake-van using this tooling. As well as that its introducing a good selling bit of rolling stock to a range that needs it. Especially for people who live in the US where it maybe harder to pick up an N scale BR Brake-van.

[TerencetheTractor525]

I definitely agree that a BR Brake Van should be a top rolling stock priority for N scale. While the 20 Ton Brake Van is unique, the BR one stems all the way back to Season 1. I, too, would love to see the Spiteful Brake Van tackled at this scale.

[JacobSK]

While it is a shame that the LMS 20T brake van has been canceled, it actually is a blessing in disguise.

You hit the nail on the head, Chaz. It's no secret that the BR Brake van is iconic. It was used since the very beginning. It was used heavily in both the model series and CGI series. So many toy companies have made it over the years. It was made (albeit from a Mainline tooling, not a bad thing) in OO in standard, Spiteful and track cleaning models and it was made in Large Scale as standard NWR and Spiteful variations. Bringing it in N Scale would be beneficial. Maybe in the future, Bachmann can rethink the LMS Brake Van, but right now, the BR brake van needs to be introduced.

And why not have a field day with the tooling over the next few years? Introduce faceless blue-grey NWR Brake van first (like Large Scale did), then track cleaning and finally Spiteful.

Long story short, the LMS Brake Van getting canceled was probably for the best. The BR brake van is the way to go, and hopefully, we'll see an announcement in January/February.