Roger,

Lanny, as I'm sure you've seen, has done a great job upgrading the OOB Connie to a specific IC loco (#908).  He's working on a #907 for me right now and his in-progress photos are great.  As for his 2-8-2, I expect the same sort of craftsmanship from him.

The problem, as Lanny has mentioned, is that the firebox on the extended Connie doesn't look right.  I suppose (key word here being "suppose") that the stock firebox sides could be cut away and replaced with ones salvaged from another project.  Whatever Lanny ends up turing out will be right better than most other options out there on the market now (including brass both for price and operation).  

As this link has already pointed out though, just how difficult would it be for Bachmann to build a new 2-8-2 from the excellent 2-8-0 foundation they have already produced?  One wouldn't think it could cost as much as erecting a brand new locomotive from the railhead up.  It probably goes without saying that the popularity of the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement coupled with a specimen different from all of those USRAs flooding the market (and the added bonus that the Harriman's were PLENTIFUL, historically speaking) should be a success.  

With all of the road specific and prototypically-rare steam locos out there being marketed (I assume) because there is money to be made on so doing, how is it that none of the manufacturers' marketing departments understand they have a potential boon just waiting to be faithfully and reliably represented?

By now I know I'm preaching to the choir, however, it would be nice to hear the Bach Man weigh in on this months-long recurring topic with a little insight into how the corporate guys see this.

Brad
Modeling the IC in 1950

Hoople wrote:

"Modeling UP, SP, and D&RGW in colorado between 1930 and 1960.

GIVE US HARRIMAN STEAMERS BACHMANN!"


INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!

Brad
Modeling the IC in 1950

Harriman 2-8-2's?  Whoever releases them can't do it fast enough.  This subject has been hashed out many times before on this forum; hopefully one of these days some of this mud we're throwing will stick!  Hoople is absolutely correct in requesting Harriman-style steam locos.  The USRAs have been done to death.  If a manufacturer wants to be unique, then do something different from eveyone else.  Bachmann Spectrum had the foresight and intiative to offer something revolutionary:  affordable, plastic, quality steam.  It's time for them to lead the industry again!

BTW, Harriman refers to Mr. E.H. Harriman, and, generally speaking, refers to the sort/design of locos built for and operated by those roads in his sphere of influence like UP, SP, IC, et al.

Brad
Modeling the IC in 1950

Bach-man,

Nothing says "We love steam modelers" more than a nice "generic" Harriman standard 2-8-2!   I can imagine the happy UP, SP, NYC guys, at a minimum, that would welcome it.  Us IC guys wouldn't be too disappointed either 

Cheers,
Brad

Contrary to the comments about there being too many Mikados out there on the market, I can only conditionally agree.  Without a doubt there are too many USRA designs out there (Trix, Athearn, BLI, old Bachmann, et.al.)!  The Harriman design, as was pointed out nicely by Orsonroy however, has been conveniently ignored.  From a purely UP and SP perspective, that's nearly impossible to fathom.  Obviously those two roads are sentimental favorites to alot of modelers who, I'd venture to guess, would be glad to populate their rosters with that design.

For us Illinois Central guys, that design is critical for an accurate rendering of the ICRR under steam.  That road, alone, rostered several hundred of that style (and no USRA models!).  How manufacturers make the argument to keep cranking out 4-8-8-4s and the like, while ignoring such a prototypically popular design as the Harriman-style 2-8-2, is one I suppose only the Bach Man can shed light on!!  

Brad
Modeling the Illinois Central in Bloomington and Normal, Illinois

P.S. That's not a dig on Bachmann, by the way.  They at least had the foresight to lead/drag the rest of the industry into the world of affordable, quality plastic steam locomotives so those of us that aren't burdened by heavy bank accounts can still enjoy the "glory" days of railroading.