Wow this is incredible news! Can't say I didn't see this coming but I didn't think it would happen so soon! Fantastic news for Bachmann!!

Quote from: Plow Bender on February 28, 2019, 11:30:01 PM

Quote from: rjmets41 on February 28, 2019, 06:41:48 PM
I don't know how many of you guys have seen this but, this is Bachmann last fall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrkkJVVSqzE&t=398s). Basically, Bachmann is saying the market is not there to put out new toolings and mentions that Bachmann milks the Thomas and Friends line in order to help pay for its other projects. Don't be so quick to blame Mattel.

Saying that Bachmann milks their Thomas & Friends line to pay for everything else they do is basically like saying they use the range as a crutch to get them out of trouble with collectors of their other products.  That's pretty harsh if you ask me...  Jack clearly says that the Thomas & Friends range helps to "subsidize" (if you don't know what that means, look it up) all the other ranges that Bachmann offers.  It's no different than Bachmann taking profits from ranges like HO or N and investing said profits back into the Thomas range.  All the scales Bachmann produces share a common backbone, and regardless what brings in better sales the money all goes to the same place.

Then we get on to the topic of new tooling's, which is not going to happen simply for the fact the cost of everything has gone completely out of control.  As another member mentioned in a previous post, the prices for the ranges (or HO at least) have gone up over 200% within the last 10 years, and it's ridiculous to pay over $120 for a model that you could once pick up at your hobby shop in yesteryears for only $35.  That was the main cause of Hornby's downfall as the models they produced were too expensive for what they were, considering some of their tooling's had been around since the 1950's.  While I don't know if this price issue was caused by Mattel's doing or not, I'm in no way pointing fingers at them.  Getting back to Bachmann and present day, I can honestly say (as will others I'm sure) that models such as Thomas and/or Percy are not worth $100 for what little they have to offer.

At the end of the day you have Bachmann trying to produce what little they can, while dealing with the uprising production costs and throwing money away trying to afford a license to produce the Thomas ranges.  Then you have Mattel over in the corner losing their shirt because of their own recklessness, and "we're" suppose to feel sorry for them?   Furthermore, I just read last night Mattel has yet again had another setback recently with an 18% stock drop, claiming that the toys aren't selling.  I know Mattel clearly has a problem, but Firemen have problems all the time.  Ever seen one throw gas on it?

-Rusty

I couldn't have put this better myself! Models are so expensive to produce. Mr. Lynch has a point, they can only produce so many models with roadnames that they know are going to sell because there will be a higher turnover for them. Look at the brand Rapido, they have a niche market for models that aren't/can't be/won't be produced by manufactures such as Bachmann because there is such a small demand for them, then they charge a higher price for the model. They are expensive for a reason. For example, take a look at their Stirling Single model. I have one myself and its a gorgeous model. Rapido was willing to produce this, but when they did, they said "Ok we'll produce this model, but we'll have to charge a lot for it." As consumers we said "ok!" The price tag was to offset their tooling and manufacturing costs especially since they're not producing as many models as a bigger name manufacturer would.

Since Thomas does subsidize a bunch of other lines, I truly believe Bachmann have a bunch of new toolings and projects they want to do, but in order t get to that point, they need to sell some produces that use existing tooling already with roadnames/paint schemes (i.e. Red Rosie, sodor scrap co truck) because they know there's a demand and those products will sell. I'm actually kind of surprised they haven't done an Original Thomas or Original James yet...but they're probaby waiting for another significant anniversary again like the 75th anniversary or something.

*I probably threw in a lot of business jargen while writing this...the perks being a marketing graduate student ...so if there are any words that need explaining, let me know!

A few things i wanted to bring up:

1.) Like what Chaz said about new toolings...we might be in for a surprise for 2020! I know I've mentioned it recently with the NG line, Bachmann could have new toolings already in the works so they are able to release things within the year they are announced. Rusty was announced in 2017. still no Rusty and no coaches. I think Bachmann wanted to focus on new products for the NG line and now with the N scale line which is probably why there has been a lack of new tooled items.

2.) I was kind of surprised they kept Rosie in her original livery on the roster, as well as Diesel with his happy face. The rolling stock announced look like nice pieces and I'm kind of surprised this hasn't been done before.

3.) As we've noticed, prices have indeed gone up, but a few things still remain the same price as last year, like the resin buildings, the windmill, and the lighthouse, just to name a few.  

4.) Things that were discontinued: (As said previously) Arry and Bert. I wasn't too surprised but i was surprised at the resin signal box being discontinued.

5.) There are also updated pictures of Annie and Clarabel

Maybe next year we"ll see some new toolings in a few of the product lines!

Quote from: Chaz on February 18, 2019, 04:02:29 PM
The large scale range is not being discontinued.  People on Facebook/Twitter has been making that rumor up for the last couple of months but never provided solid evidence to back it up.  Once the catalog gets posted, which should hopefully be this week, we will likely see the same products in the range as before plus the new tankers.  Until the catalog is posted, just ignore people who are saying that.

Don't feed the troll.

This ^^^
Plus, as I've said recently before, for Bachmann to discontinue the line all together, they would take a big hit. They would have to make up the lost sales somehow. Now one would say "Well, Tony, that's what the N scale line will do". No. The n scale line will come no where near making as much as the Large scale line does. Bachmann would have to produce and sell a heck of a lot of merchendise to match the sales of the large scale line.
Also, when does the catalogue even come out?

Very interesting! I'm excited to see what the rolling stock looks like. Wagons with loads are always nice to have and adds variety. I'm kind of surprised Bachmann hasn't come out with anymore wagons with loads since the coal truck and and flat car with paint drums. Another new Christmas set is nice to have too with different rolling stock. Red Rosie was expected along with Sydney but I definitely would have Red Rosie as a first pick to be introduced. No NG, LS, or accessories this year but oh well! There's always next year! I feel like since Rusty and the coaches are taking longer than expected, Bachmann probably has something in the works so they become available within a shorter span of time. Maybe some new resin buildings for next year? Farquhar station would be neat! Or since Hornby has discontinued their Thomas line, maybe there's a way Bachmann could purchase the old building toolings  from them (if that's possible?) and produce Great Wateron buildings? (Not sure if this would be possible but it would be neat if it could happen!)
I actually didn't see an N scale range anytime soon so that was a neat surprise! This is probably one of the main reasons there's nothing else new outside the HO line. Bachmann probably wants to focus on rolling this line out.

There's probably no chance they would ever be introduced...at least under those names. They were names chosen by Learning Curve to sell the toy versions. That's practically the reason they were canceled.

Quote from: Cheeky_ULP on February 04, 2019, 01:11:07 PM
Cancelling the line would be shooting themselves in the foot since Bachmann has straight up said at NRMA that the Thomas range is a huge revenue bringer for the company. Cost cuts and production scale backs are likely but it'd be bad news for them if they had to end the line.

Very true! Plus if thy cancel the line all together then that's profits they lose and have to make them back up somehow. It's easier for them to just cancel a single product instead of a whole line

Gordon sells pretty well so I don't think he's been discontinued. Most likely a new batch of Gordon models is being made and are probably being shipped soon and should be available soon! 

These are pretty pieces! I think i like the Water tanker the most. Hopefully spiteful brakevan will be out soon.

If anyone is looking for an alternative to amazon, trainworld.com has pretty good prices and they give you the option to pre-order items! The ship packages out relatively quick, and have great customer service!

to be honest, if all we got next year was Peter Sam, Neptune's Refreshments, and the Christmas truck from "Hunt the Truck," I would be cool with that! Doesn't matter to me what HO loco comes out next year. I could see Bachmann producing Sidney to get the most bang for their buck with their "Diesel" tooling, but it would be nice to see something like Stepney or Daisy. I totally understand if Bachmann go with the "Diesel" recolor with Sidney though.

Defiantly going to be getting Rusty! Might have to pass on Duncan if his model based off the CGI render. Would defiantly get him if Bachmann used Douglas' proportions for their 009 version. Defiantly will be getting the rest of the NG engines though. Im quite content with the CGI renders of the rest of the NG engines so I would have no problem purchasing 009 models based off of them.im sure Bachmann will do a great job as always with their 009 RTR models. I'll be repainting and modifying the 009 models down the line (pun intended) with 3D printed kits as well as a RWS livery but I feel Duncan's model would be harder to modify. Will defiantly preorder Rusty soon!

I'm really liking the added face! Defiantly will be getting the HO model...or maybe a few! I really like how Bachman is incorporating NWR into some of their rolling stock. Something that would go unnoticed to most but something fun for the older fans! Great job once again on spiteful brakevan, Bachman!

Awesome! Thanks for the update on Rusty, Grandpuff!
Looking forward to seeing pictures of the HOn30 layout!

without a doubt i would buy Peter Sam! I've always loved the character and I'm really happy they gave him a proper Geisl ejector when the NG engines came back in full CGI! Plus he would be the only RTR model of the tattoo class which would be nice for modelers of both the Talyllyn Railway as well as the Corris Railway. Honestly, I think any narrow gauge engine Bachmann produces will be a big seller.