Hamish,
I appologize if it seems that I diverged from the Eastern thread but I am trying to justify to Bachmann the production of a Mason Bogie 0-6-4, 0-6-6 or 2-6-6 in Eastern road names. Additional Eastern roads that would fit this general design aside from the Peach Bottom are the Toledo, Delphos & Burlington (2-6-6s - 6 engines) , Cincinnati & Northern (2-6-6 - 1 engine) and Calumet & Helca Minning (0-6-4s - 2 engines). I believe there were more and of coarse many were boomers. To say that the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn's are "The classic Eastern Mason Bogie" is only an opinion, just like saying "the only reason for Bachmann to produce the Peach Bottom Mason Bogie would be as a spinnoff of the DSP&P 2-6-6" is only an opinion. After all, Bachmann has produced Ma&Pa locomotives with great sucess (4 soon to be 5 in HO and 1 4-4-0 in G gauge of narrow gauge Baltimore & Leigh#6). The Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn's Mason Bogie 2-4-4s were certainly beautiful. I would buy one. Due to there quantity you could say that they were the most common, but they were used nation wide also. The obvious choices for production in my OPINION are Heislers, 4-4-0s, 4-6-0s and continueing with SR&RL equipment. As long as the economy holds, these narrow gauge avenues will eventually lead to  Mason Bogies I hope.
  Wade

  Well, I would buy one thats built more to DSP&P specs such as the San Jaun but in Peach Bottom paint. The specs are close enough. I wouldn't expect any more accuracy (in a plastic model) than in the Forneys and that suites me fine. It seems like a great avenue for Bachmann. They could use the same basic frame and make 2-4-4s, 0-6-4s, 0-6-6s and 2-6-6s. If you don't have Aurthur Wallace's book "Mason steam Locomotives" you got to get one. The examples of these engines were used nation wide and then some.         
  For Dusten, Forneys and Mason Bogies appear the same but Mason Bogies I think began production earlier and I know the drivers of Mason Bogies articulated (like a Mallet). I don't think Forneys articulated, but I don't know for sure. Can anyone verify one way or anouther?
  Wade

Quote from: Orsonroy on March 28, 2007, 11:12:12 AM

Quote from: wade on March 27, 2007, 04:44:37 PM
Scott, Thanks for the information. I thougth Bowser had produced an H-5 . I could be mistaken. Does anyone know?
Wade

Gene's right: Bowser has only done the USRA light and the L-1 (they've got the Cary USRA heavy boiler, so I suppose you can count that too).

But NO ONE's done an H-5 besides Overland. I know; I'm modeling the NYC (P&E) and NKP in the 1940s, and need a few. What's below represents a HUGE chunk of my hobby budget over the past decade!


These things are rare and expensive. From what I've heard, only 225 were ever made in the early 1980s, and they're lusted over by most HO scale NYC and NKP modelers. It took me five years to find my three!

I'd absolutely love it if someone came out with the H-5 in plastic, almost as much as I'd enjoy seeing the Harriman Mikes. I'd rather they were NOT released by Proto though; their models are too expensive, don't pull well, and aren't released often. Bachmann would be perfect: I'd be willing to sacrifice some fine detailing for a solid, reliable, affordable, and AVAILABLE engine!

Thanks for more great information.Brass only-225 of them. Come on Bachmann, help us out! NKP and NYC are both rather popular! I shouldn't be greedy. Thanks again Bachmann for the 2-8-0s, the 2-6-6-2s, the loggers and especially the Ma&Pa engines.
  I found some additional information on the NKP H-5s. Nickel Plate Magazine, produced by the Nickel Plate Road Historic and Technical Society, Spring 2006. Being a member usually I read them pretty quick but this one got buried in the workshop. Its disapointing to read how close to being saved the 524(965) was but still got scrapped.
  Wade

Scott, Thanks for the information. I thougth Bowser had produced an H-5 . I could be mistaken. Does anyone know?
Wade

Quote from: old fardt on March 24, 2007, 05:37:46 PM
On30 has a very small part of the train hobby and manufacturers have to figure what will sell so that they can make some money. SR&RL is a fine line to model but not everyone cares for that line. If I was investing $$ , I sure would not consider making every line and railroad equipment as some would be losers. Most On30 manufactures look at D&RGW and the logging items but the rest is a crap shoot..
Now what would you invest your  $$ in and sell ? I just might be interested !
Cheers,

Good point. Bach Man, could you tell us how well the Forneys sold?
My guess is they sold very well. My reasoning is there seems to be some correlation between the exposure of the railroad to the public and what models sell (seems obvious). The Western narrow gauges have many museums and the like therefore many people model them. Model manufacturers have helped to grow "the western narrow gauge scene" by filling the demand which in turn creates more demand simply by being available (more exposure). Eastern narrow gauge modeling has been slower to grow seemingly due to its lack of exposure (most were abandoned or standard gauged leaving less for us to see today). However, the few remaining are closer to much more population than the Western narrow gauges. Here is the hungry market, I think. The more produced, the more it will grow too.
  Then again I am biased. I think the Western scene is fascinating (in particular the DSP&P) but I am from the East.
Earlier in this thread I mentioned the Peach Bottom Mason-Bogie. It was an 0-6-6, very similar to Western, Pacific Coast and Midwest Masons. I would invest in an On30 plastic model of this type so that hopefully it could be produced at a price as to allow kitbashers to also have fun. I think SR&RL, EBT and ET&WNC  power and rolling stock could also go far.
   Thanks for your attention Bachmann and members, Sorry for the long-windedness.
      Wade     

That looks great! Bachmann here is an excellent idea for the next run of steam engines! Camel Backs are very un-represented. If the Mantuas were re-detailed they would be nice but your 2-8-0 is much more typical of the era.
Wade

Opps-I ment Peach Bottom Mason-Bogie.
Wade

Great engine sound! I run Alcos for a living and its dead on, right down to the dying cow horn. We just retired our last 244 powered engine this past Summer. I listened to the F-M clip too. Does any one know if it's sound is accurate? Opposed piston engines are curious. I've never seen one run.
Wade

My vote is for more SR&RL equipment. I would also be interested in any of the Ma&Pa narrow gauge predesessor's equipmeent, in particular the Peach Bottom Forney.
P.S.- Could someone tell me where the spell check is?
Wade

Quote from: Alex V. on March 14, 2007, 11:12:21 PM
Bump. 

Whats "Bump" ?

Quote from: Orsonroy on March 11, 2007, 04:29:05 PM

Quote from: wade on March 11, 2007, 04:09:43 PM
Well how about properly detailed to the transition era USRA mikes. They often look completely different than the stock 1918 originals. NKP H-5s and H-6s were technically USRAs but the pictures from the 40s and 50s make them look like a different animal .

H-5 Mikes were anything BUT USRA engines! They were built starting in 1914 by the NYC out of NYC-designed large Consolidations. The NKP's 35 examples were some of the later (1917) engines built from the ground up. None of the NYC's Mikes, with the exception of the H-6 and H-9 series, looked anything like USRA engines.

As an example:

H-5 Mike to the left, H-6 to the right.

Unfortunately, we'll never see a road-specific later-period Mike, unless it's something like a Pennsu L-1 or an NYC H-10. USRA engines went through a LOT of changs over the years, changes that were too numerous and varied to make them cost-effective to do in plastic. That's why you have to "roll your own", like I do:

I thought H-5s appeared to have different dimensions than H-6s but I couldn't find It in writing. They would seem to be ideal canidates for the the next mass produced  mikes as they were a NYC design. And I have to disagree with you about not seeing a mass produced late period mike. The Ma & Pa 4-4-0s and 4-6-0 are extremely specific and yet they seem to have sold well. You have done an excellent job of detailing. At some time in the future I would like to get into that but many other things need done first. The 4-4-2 idea Brian mentioned would be cool in W&LE but they were gone before the transition era - I would buy one anyway.
Wade

Well how about properly detailed to the transition era USRA mikes. They often look completely different than the stock 1918 originals. NKP H-5s and H-6s were technically USRAs but the pictures from the 40s and 50s make them look like a different animal . Or how about a B&O Q-4b. While they were only slightly larger than USRAs ,they were distinct in appearence and Bachmann already makes a vandy tender to match! Brad mentioned 4-4-2. That would be cool. Or how about a dutch (fat boilered, WM or RDG styled) 2-8-0 or 2-10-0.
Wade

Hello Bach Man;
I was wondering if you have any more details about the Ma&Pa doodlebug and trailer. My understanding is it will be produced as #62 and will have a trailer [coach]. What kind of coach? The Ma&Pa usually used RPOs as trailers and all of their coaches were open vestibule 56'4" at the vestibules, 50' body length Jackson and Sharps. Also ,what number will the Ma&Pa bobber caboose be? Thanks to all of Bachmann for the Ma&Pa and SR&RL products, my two biggest interests. Of coarse now I am working in two scales but at least I can use the same gauge! I'm just lucky I now have the room for two layouts.  Wade

Yep, here we are. No more spam I suppose. Its February, I wonder when the new products will be announced. All I remember is "wait 'till February". OOOh the anticipation. By the way, what are all those buttons up there anyway?  Wade