Future Thomas & Friends product suggestions and predictions

[Zorran202]

Bachmann may have to discontinue the Graham Farish N Scale tankers once they announce show-accurate ones, with the proper tooling. They did a similar thing with the Narrow Gauge vans once we got show-accurate ones. They can do the same with the N Scale tankers. Everyone will be happy once N Scale finally gets show-accurate tankers, so they can be made in a much wider variety. Other new-tooled rolling stock for N Scale we need to increase variety include the mail car, cattle wagon, salt wagon, and of course, brake vans.

The 2027 catalog should at least announce the logoless green coal wagon and gray van. Logoless rolling stock tends to sell better. And for HO Scale, separate wagons with ore loads. Troublesome Truck #8 can be a coal wagon.

I wouldn't be surprised if they at some point consider announcing the "NW" Brake van, as well as the Spiteful Brake Van since so far the latter is released in both HO & Large scale, why not in N scale to round things off, as well as giving a standard brake van that isn't Toad... Heck probably even using the upcoming 20 Ton Brake Van that'll be released later on in HO scale is another one to consider to make this logical.

I'd imagine for Troublesome Truck #8 would either be the Oil Tanker or the standard Open Wagon with the same face on the 12 Ton van, maybe modified differently expression-wise...

[TrainFan97]

Two other pieces of HO Scale rolling stock that were going to be in the cancelled 80th Anniversary set include the orange coal wagon and the dark gray two-vent van. Maybe those can be released separately, since we are getting the brake van from it. If the coal load was to be white for another wagon, it can be ballast or gravel. It would be great if the next two Troublesome Trucks for HO Scale could have coal and stone loads. Don't know if we'll get anymore Troublesome Trucks with model series faces. Some would like the oil tankers with faces; seen in Journey Beyond Sodor. For some reason, they went with the African tanker for #6, probably to make it distinct from the other tankers in the range. Bachmann can always make more Troublesome Trucks.

[RailsByRick]

The new stone wagons announced at NMRA will have the newly tooled China clay load just recolored to resemble gray stone. I know Matt mentioned that it helps with cost if Bachmann can use a new tool across several products which absolutely makes sense.

With that in mind, I think it might a wise choice for Bachmann to finally start selling wagon loads as a separate-sale item. Of course continue to produce wagons that have loads, but additional loads that can be bought separately would help us fill out our empty wagons. Example: the FQC wagon won't be supplied with a load, so a separate sale "stone wagon load pack" would help with that.

I know I've seen this pitched before and it's a great idea. Stone, coal, ore etc. would all make for great separate sale wagon load packs.

[Awesometrain77]

The ore load that comes in that one set. I get why Bachmann wants it to be exclusive . But maybe making a different color .

[TrainFan97]

But what if that set gets discontinued? How would we get that ore load?

Anyways, Bachmann's Facebook just posted a photo showing off the tankers in HO Scale. I said it before, and I'll say it again. Bachmann needs to retool the N Scale tankers so we can have show-accurate ones to replace the Graham Farish tankers that we got back when the N Scale range was in its infancy. With N Scale getting a show-accurate tanker tooling, we can get a much wider variety. Those Graham Farish tankers were made as a cost-cutting measure to give N Scale more rolling stock when it was new. I said it enough times, and I think I can move on to something else.

If the set with the ore loads gets discontinued, the ore load will simply no longer be available, like the Christmas 1-plank wagon with presents, and the Christmas-themed brake van, not the Naughty and Nice one.

[jlkhalaf2707]

Was chocolate syrup chosen for HO scale over Toffee because chocolate is just more familiar in the show.

[TrainFan97]

While we need the logoless green coal wagon and gray van in N Scale, another good choice for a logoless rolling stock is a BROWN 12-Ton van, for all three scales. It can also be used to create Henry's Flying Kipper train. The brown van we do have is the Mr. Jolly van, which is one with a logo. We can also use one without a logo. If they announce the explosives, Brendam Bay and Christmas wreath vans for N Scale, then we'd have all the vans with logos in that scale. I'd love to have N Scale Henry pulling a line of brown vans, as he pulls the Flying Kipper. The Brendam Bay van also works for that train.

N Scale rolling stock that require new toolings include the cattle wagon, salt wagon, mail car, show-accurate tankers, and BR 20-Ton brake van. All of which have potential repaints and can be used multiple times. If Bachmann announces N Scale rolling stock with new toolings, any of those options will be welcomed by everyone. Those toolings will be well worth the investment. The red coaches for N Scale would also be welcomed, and they too have potential repaints like Toby's museum coaches.

The next Large Scale engine could be Sidney, Mainland Diesel, Stanley, or Origin James. Sidney and Mainland Diesel are soon to be released for HO Scale, and Stanley can recycle Thomas' chassis, just like his HO Scale model. LBSC Thomas is soon to release in Large and N Scales, while Origin James is also soon to release in N Scale, but not announced for Large Scale yet.

[GordonPacific04]

Hello Everyone, a few years ago I posted concepts of ideas for future HO scale figure packs, and thought i'd spark some interest in it again. My Ideas were as follows

Classic Characters - A well round pack of much beloved classic characters with a good variety of human designs

- The Vicar of Sodor
- Jem Cole
- The Refreshment lady
- Nancy the guard's daughter
- Mrs. Kindly
- Cryil the Fogman

People in Charge - Characters who are essential for the running of operations on sodor, as well as homages to thomas's roots.

- Ms. Jenny
- Sir Robert Norramby
- Mr. Fergus Duncan
- The Thin Clergyman (Rev. W. Awdry)
- The Fat Clergyman (Teddy Boston)

V.I.P's - a variety of more classic Characters with high prestige and followings.

- The Mayor of Sodor
- Alicia Botti
- The Duke of Boxford
- The Duchess of Boxford
- Lord Callan
- Mr. Bubbles

Sodor Brass Band - Self explanatory, a group of band players who have appeared all across the series.

- Bandleader
- tuba player
- drummer
- trombone player
- cymbals player
- trumpeter

sorry if the image is low quality, better quality on my instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/DAT7gxKvMx8/?hl=en

The Figure packs are not only good for bachmann thomas, but they fit well for other toy ranges like wooden railway or trackmaster, even the new 2026 merch, they're pretty cheap to boot. I'm not sure how much bachmann wants to make new packs at the moment, but these Character picks I feel has a good variety and would please all fans. Let me know whatcha think!

[RailsByRick]

Great suggestions- I especially want a Sodor VIP pack and the Brass Band. The brass band rode in the open blue carriage a few times in the series so it'd be great to pair them together.

[TrainFan97]

We may not be that far off from Sidney, Mainland Diesel and Stanley existing in all three scales. I doubt N Scale would get Sidney or Mainland Diesel just yet, as the next Class 08 repaints for that scale will most likely be 'Arry and Bert. Daisy is also a popular choice for N Scale, if we can't get Edward yet for technical reasons. Could Daisy even be possible for Large Scale as well? Since Bachmann has been making larger diesels for Large Scale outside the Thomas line. Bachmann could make Large Scale Daisy, as a larger diesel in that scale for the Thomas line. It took 13 years since Toby for him to finally get Henrietta. The last newly-tooled engine for Large Scale was Diesel. Daisy could be the first large diesel with bogies in all three scales. Diesel 10 is the second one for HO Scale, and was only recently announced.

For a sense of size, Daisy is about twice as long as Thomas.

[GordonPacific04]

We may not be that far off from Sidney, Mainland Diesel and Stanley existing in all three scales. I doubt N Scale would get Sidney or Mainland Diesel just yet, as the next Class 08 repaints for that scale will most likely be 'Arry and Bert. Daisy is also a popular choice for N Scale, if we can't get Edward yet for technical reasons. Could Daisy even be possible for Large Scale as well? Since Bachmann has been making larger diesels for Large Scale outside the Thomas line. Bachmann could make Large Scale Daisy, as a larger diesel in that scale for the Thomas line. It took 13 years since Toby for him to finally get Henrietta. The last newly-tooled engine for Large Scale was Diesel. Daisy could be the first large diesel with bogies in all three scales. Diesel 10 is the second one for HO Scale, and was only recently announced.

For a sense of size, Daisy is about twice as long as Thomas.

Ooooh... Daisy for large scale would be insane and I would definitely buy her. Edward would still be my top choice though. Bill and Ben could also be very fun if you consider them using the Percy chassis. Gordon and Henry would still be very much desired, though still unlikely considering they're more complex designs.

However, I will say that support for Large Scale is niche and it's still hard to imagine what the future is like for it, considering we haven't had a new tooling since Diesel and Paxton which was over five years ago. I imagine it's because it's still more niche and is very pricey, and how the unpredictable tariff situation, as well as shipping and the fact that they just take up more space on store shelves. I don't think it's ending any time soon, given that we got the new Thomas set and keep getting various repaints.

I just don't know when or if we will ever get another new tooled engine.

[GordonPacific04]

In fact, if I were to give and rank my top 5 characters to be produced in all three scales it would go something like this:

HO scale

1. Harvey - Last classic and CGI character that needs to be made
2. Hiro - Popular and stays relevant in the show.
3. Whiff - last of 2 MODEL and CGI character that need to be made, plus his basis being unavailable in HO/OO
4. Norman - again, his basis being unavailable in HO/OO
5. Stepney - Classic and much beloved fan favorite that is also small and affordable
 
N scale

1. Edward - Last member of the steam team to be made
2. Spencer - Very popular
3. Duck
4. Oliver
5. Donald and Douglas
Same reasoning for the last three, classic and much beloved fan favorites. (plus it would be cool to see Donald and Douglas' CGI renders made)

Large Scale

1. Edward - Last (More Feasible) member of the steam team to be made
2. Bill and Ben - Classic characters that are small and more affordable and can reuse Percy's chassis
3. Daisy - Large, but simple bogied diesel engine to make
4 and 5. Henry and Gordon - same reason for both, would be the natural next picks but they're larger designs cause uncertainty

[TrainFan97]

I can say pretty much the exact same thing, but with some differences. I'll also say my top picks for all three scales, but in no particular order. Also including suggestions that aren't talked about much.

HO Scale, top four are most popular, but bottom four are rather niche picks:

-Harvey
-Whiff - Both he and Harvey are the last characters to appear in both model and CGI.
-Norman - We have Paxton and Sidney, would complete the trio, no ready-to-run model of his basis exists, plus Dennis is a potential repaint.
-Hiro - Fan favorite CGI character and should be the next tender engine. Wheels recycled from Rebecca, but configured differently.
The niche picks however...
-Timothy - Not brought up that much, but he's a small engine to go with Bill and Ben. Would be great with the China Clay wagon.
-Marion - Also not talked about, but with Diesel 10 on the cards, she could also be possible with a shovel that can swivel with limited movement. A prominent character to also go with Bill and Ben.
-Merlin - Could recycle Henry's chassis.
-Frankie - Could recycle Diesel's chassis, and American Diesel is a potential repaint.

Tooling repaints for HO Scale:

-Splatter and Dodge - To go with Diesel 10.
-Fernando - One of the last Class 08 repaints.
-Green Salty - Another use of Salty's tooling.
-Blue Bill and Ben - Another use of Bill and Ben's tooling.

N Scale:

-Edward - Last member of the original Steam Team.
-Spencer - Very popular choice, and must be the third big engine. Would then need the special coaches.
-Duck
-Oliver
-Donald and Douglas - They, along with Duck and Oliver, are beloved classic fan favorites. The Scottish twins can also recycle Duck's chassis.
-Stanley - Recent addition to HO Scale, but Thomas' chassis can be recycled for him.
-Mavis - Can also recycle Thomas' chassis, and could be the first diesel in that scale that isn't a Class 08.

Tooling repaints for N Scale:

-'Arry and Bert - Most likely next out of all Class 08 choices. Must have different faces, with Bert having more stubble, and 'Arry having little or none.
-Sidney
-Mainland Diesel - He and Sidney are about to release in HO Scale, but the tooling is also there for them in N Scale.
-Busy Bee James - Another use of James' tooling.

Large Scale, including tooling repaints:

-Edward - Last feasible member of the original Steam Team.
-Bill and Ben - Small engines that only need one tooling.
-Rosie - Can be made in two different liveries.
-Stanley - Can recycle Thomas' chassis
-Daisy - Large but simple bogied diesel for this scale.
-Origin James - Tooling repaint of James we should've got.
-Sidney
-Mainland Diesel - He and Sidney are also very much possible in this scale and likely the next picks.

I pretty much gave up hope on characters like Stepney and BoCo, since they haven't appeared in the show for so long. I mentioned Splatter and Dodge, but at least their tooling is there.

[cedricvale]

I'd be interested to see Bachmann put a bit more attention into lighting and small detail features on future releases, especially for the larger scales. Things like working lamps or more realistic lighting would add a lot to models without necessarily needing a completely new locomotive tooling.

For the characters, I'd still like to see some of the older model-era characters make a return. There are quite a few that could probably attract interest alongside the newer releases.