Future suggestions/predictions thread

[Awesometrain77]

Yeah I am not that shocked Bachmann is doing the model era tanker for G scale .

I'd love to see the old mail car and oil tanker back .

Honestly I am glad people are not saying anything about 2026 because I doubt Bachmann would do anything from it .
Though I do wonder if the packaging will change for the new logo .

[Awesometrain77]

Character toolings I'd like to see

Okay since Rosie is part of the main 3 now she would be a good condender for the G scale range I'd imagine the 2026 face design would not be used for obvious reasons .

For N scale again Rosie would be a nice addition . But I would like to see Edward before her . In addition Oliver we also need for Toad . However I'd imagine Duck will happen before him . Sidney and the Spikeful brakevan would also be nice to see and both would be pretty easy .

For HO scale for this year I feel whiff or Nia are a good option . Next year I feel like diesel 10 to mark the 25th anniversary of the line by doing a high requested character . And 2028 do either whiff or Nia which ever one was not announced in 2026 . Also at some point I feel like Arry and Bert should be brought back.

For narrow gauge there is not much I feel they would do with his current situation with Duncan's cancellation and such, I would like to see him cancelled. But idk . Smudger and Protues could happen . MightyMac as well . Victor would be very cool to see and is the narrow gauge engine I want to see the most and probably one of the most relevant ones . His basis is made by Baldwin and they could possibly reuse him for some Cuban narrow gauge engine engines but I doubt he would happen same applies to every other narrow gauge engine . Heck, mighty Mac would be a stretch. It's a sad situation for sure.

However I do think narrow gauge trouble some slate wagons would be nice 
They would make make two of them . And you would reuse one of the faces for a troublesome tanker TT #9 .

Trevor and Butch are some road vehicles I'd like to see

But yeah, those are the characters that I would like to see in the next few years

[TerencetheTractor525]

So in New Model Monday, it was confirmed during the Q&A portion* that the catalog has the wrong image for the large scale Tidmouth Milk Tanker. It's actually meant to be the one used in the model seasons, which took me by surprise.

So this brings a new question to the table... could we possibly see more rolling stock based on the model seasons, despite there being CGI versions available? Most notably, some reintroductions of the mail car and oil tanker that have been replaced with the newer CGI logos?

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lWKUsxRdM8 Timestamp: 1:14:10-1:14:35

I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that the Large Scale Tidmouth Milk Tanker will be based on the model series, honestly tempting me to begin collecting this scale. I also think it would be fantastic to bring back model era designs such as the original mail car and oil tanker in HO. For the mail car, "Sodor Mail Car" would definitely be an appropriate title, given the text, and I'd buy multiple of these without any hesitation as someone who is primarily a model era guy.

[TrainFan97]

Bachmann may want to look into discontinuing the N Scale tankers and bring them back with a whole new tanker tooling to better match the tankers from the show. Using the Graham Farish tooling was a cost-cutting move they had to do when the N Scale range was brand new. They should invest in a new tanker tooling, so N Scale can finally have show-accurate tankers, as well as a wider variety, including milk and tar. It would cost a lot less to retool rolling stock than it would be for an engine.

Speaking of N Scale engines, the highest priorities are both Edward and Duck. The next time we get a big engine should be Spencer. Flying Scotsman is coming to HO Scale, but at some point, he would be a great addition to N Scale too, especially after they add the red express coaches. Spencer would need the special coaches. Both engines can easily recycle Gordon's chassis. Characters like Mavis and Stanley would recycle Thomas' chassis. Edward and Duck would 100% be new toolings, but Duck's chassis can be recycled for Donald and Douglas. We may see N Scale Oliver before Donald and Douglas, since we already have Toad.

It may be years before Hiro was to be announced for HO Scale, but we'll see if Flying Scotsman sells better than Rebecca, despite his high price. Hiro could very much be the next tender engine for HO Scale. Another idea for a tender engine includes Merlin, who could recycle Spencer or Gordon's chassis; most likely Spencer's. Frankie could recycle Diesel's chassis, and her tooling could be used for American Diesel. The next newly-tooled small engine would most likely be Whiff, Norman, or Nia. It would really be something if Diesel 10 was to be announced for HO Scale, especially when Bachmann is known to surprise us at times. Diesel 10 would be the second large diesel for HO Scale; one that has bogies like Daisy. He's more likely than BoCo since Diesel 10 appeared in both model and CGI. The claw might make him cost about twice as much as Daisy, though it would be manually operated.

[Chaz]

Bachmann may want to look into discontinuing the N Scale tankers and bring them back with a whole new tanker tooling to better match the tankers from the show. Using the Graham Farish tooling was a cost-cutting move they had to do when the N Scale range was brand new. They should invest in a new tanker tooling, so N Scale can finally have show-accurate tankers, as well as a wider variety, including milk and tar. It would cost a lot less to retool rolling stock than it would be for an engine.

Very much on board with this! I've said it before, but the N scale tankers have never sold well at local hobby shops I've been to. Christian even commented something similar about N scale tanker sales with TrainWorld. Personally, I think it's definitely in Bachmann's best interest to invest in new N scale tanker tooling before introducing more variants of the Farish tooling. Not only would it be much more accurate, but it would likely sell a lot better. As has been proven multiple times, there are also several livery options to choose from, including both model and CGI variations of some of the tankers. It's an investment I think Bachmann needs to make that will pay off majorly in the long run.

[Zorran202]

I wonder if that's the case, IF they plan on making Troublesome Tankers, they should at least keep the flat surface on the front and back for the faces to prop onto since the Bachmann one looks awkward with the curved front for the face plate to attach to.

[TrainFan97]

It's better that Bachmann just discontinues the N Scale tankers, and replaces them with a brand new tanker tooling, so they'd better match the tankers from the show. They'll sell a lot better this way, and we'll see more varieties like milk and tar. Maybe even raspberry syrup and cream, which are discontinued in HO Scale. HO Scale still has yet to get chocolate syrup and toffee tankers. For other rolling stock that can come to N Scale, those that can be made from existing toolings include the green coal wagon w/ load, orange cargo car, Brendam Bay van, explosives van, red express coaches and red branch line coaches. The mail car, and BR 20-Ton brake van would be welcome additions for N Scale rolling stock that require new toolings. The special coaches could probably be modified from the express coaches. Unlike HO Scale, the special coaches can even have a brake variant in N Scale. Might be made to be like the special coaches from the model series, rather than the CGI series, and would be perfect for Spencer, especially once he gets announced at some point. I know Gordon's special coaches are big request for HO Scale.

If Bachmann still isn't ready to bring Hiro to HO Scale, then another option for a tender engine is Merlin, since he can recycle an existing chassis. Hiro would be about 95% a new tooling, with wheels being recycled from Rebecca. Just configured differently. Just like how Oliver's wheels were recycled for Ryan, with Ryan having two extra drive wheels and his trailing wheels on a bogie. At least Bachmann does have some parts for Hiro. Hiro's tooling can also be used a second time for his patchwork livery. Merlin doesn't have trailing wheels, so his chassis can be recycled from Henry's. Merlin would also be the first ready-to-run model of the King Arthur Class stealth engine.

For small engines that require new toolings in HO Scale, I mentioned Whiff, Norman and Nia. Norman would have a potential repaint, with his tooling also being used for Dennis. If we were to get Den and Dart, Natalie can also potentially be made using Dart's tooling. At some point, we're bound to get Fernando using Diesel's tooling, but Sidney and Mainland Diesel aren't out yet. For Narrow Gauge, I keep bringing up Smudger and Proteus, who can also be made using existing toolings, Rheneas and Sir Handel respectively. If they were to be made, we could also see Splatter and Dodge using the 'Arry and Bert tooling.

We'll have to wait and see what gets announced this NMRA. It could be anything I mentioned here. It could be a total surprise.

[MrConductorMan]

Bachmann, PLEASE take note of this, this is something small I and many others could use.

I really want some NEM pockets or adapters i can just screw on to the HO Thomas models and put Kadee knuckles in. Or, have future models have NEM coupler pockets. I would gladly purchase NEM pockets that are designed to work with your Thomas models specifically

[JLK2707]

I wonder why they did announcements for January this year. Is this a permanent change?

[TrainFan97]

It's fun to speculate what the next big engine announcement from Bachmann will be, whether it's HO Scale, Narrow Gauge, or N Scale.

For HO Scale, the next engine could be Whiff, Norman, Nia, Hiro, Merlin, or even Diesel 10, especially if Bachmann surprises us again. I personally would be interested in Frankie, since she would recycle Diesel's chassis, plus American Diesel would be a potential repaint. Hurricane would require a new tooling altogether. A Diesel repaint like Fernando could get his first ever piece of merchandise. We could get Porter for HO Scale, but the big issue is his scaling. Harvey is also possible, since the gear can raise or lower his hook. If we were to get Samson, his brake van, Bradford, would most likely be made from a new tooling altogether. Because Samson doesn't have a cab, he can have crew figures put there. So many guesses for the next HO Scale engine. Which one could it be? May even be someone I didn't mention.

For N Scale, the next engine could be Edward or Duck. If another Narrow Gauge engine gets announced this NMRA, it will most likely be Luke, or a repaint like Smudger or Proteus.

[JLK2707]

Bachmann, please do the season 1 Troublesome Trucks from the original TTTE. Please do the chocolate syrup and toffee tanker wagons in HO scale and N scale. Please do the spiteful brake van for N Scale.