So the old one is gone time to start a new one . This is for suggestions for new products in the Thomas line line up for any scale as long as Bachmann is making it
Here are of my hopes for 2026 and beyond. I'd like to see a large tank engine and a large diesel for HO .
Whiff Nia and Belle could fill this role.
Diesel 10 is our main option for large Diesels .
Nia and Whiff have been suggested and predicted before. Nia is a larger tank engine however and she is a main character.Belle I have not seen much for however she would be nice . If were to say one I'd pick Nia just as she is a main character and would often a large size then whiff.
I'd have Nia for 26 and Diesel 10 for 2027.
I'd also like to see the works unit coach in HO scale as we need more coaches.
As for repaints of existing wagons I'd love to see more products using the mail van tooling . Mainly a brown one or circus one .
I'd also like to see the return of the M wagon . As well as a pink 7 plank wagon or the blue express coaches .
The thread got taken down, since it started taking up too much space, full of outdated suggestions from years ago.
Anyway, the next HO Scale engine should be Whiff, Norman, Nia, Merlin, Hiro, or Diesel 10. At least Bachmann does have the wheels for Hiro, which can be sourced from Rebecca, just configured differently. Diesel 10 can be the first engine in the Thomas line to have a moveable attachment, though his claw would make him priced similar to Flying Scotsman. Only his rear bogie would be powered, like Daisy, to cut down on cost. Merlin can be made using Henry's chassis, and would be the first ready-to-run model of the King Arthur Class stealth engine. Whiff would be the first ready-to-run model of Aerolite, and Norman would be the first ready-to-run model of BR 11001. Suggestions for engine repaints include Green Salty and Fernando.
For HO Scale rolling stock, we still need the Chocolate Syrup and Toffee Tankers. The Works Unit Coach should be the next newly-tooled piece of HO Scale rolling stock, which can be made in green, orange and blue. We also need a red or green mining wagon with an ore load, so that we can have the ore load available outside the Deluxe Thomas set, which may get discontinued at some point. We can also get Gordon's Special Coaches. I'd like to see the orange wagon with coal load and dark gray van from the cancelled 80th Anniversary set.
The next Narrow Gauge engine will most likely be Luke, or a repaint of an existing tooling like Smudger and Proteus. Smudger would be made using Rheneas' tooling, while Proteus would be made using Sir Handel's tooling. Rolling stock can include repaints of existing toolings like tan and gray brake vans and box vans. A newly-tooled rolling stock can be a 4-Plank wagon.
The next N Scale engine will most likely either be Edward or Duck. We need Edward to complete the original Steam Team in N Scale. Duck should be the next tank engine for N Scale. The next big tender engine should be Spencer, who can recycle Gordon's chassis. If we get a diesel that's not a Class 08, Mavis can be made using Thomas' chassis. Class 08 repaints we can see N Scale getting in the near future include Sidney, 'Arry and Bert. The latter two are discontinued in HO Scale, while the former is coming soon to HO Scale. For N Scale rolling stock, we desperately need the BR 20-Ton brake van. Other welcome additions include the green Coal Wagon w/ Load, orange Cargo Car, Red Coaches, and Red Express Coaches. The three tankers should get discontinued, and Bachmann can invest in a brand new N Scale tanker tooling to better match the show. We can then get more tanker varieties like milk, tar, raspberry syrup and cream. When we get Spencer on the cards, the Special Coaches can be made for N Scale too. Unlike HO Scale, the N Scale Special Coaches can actually have a brake variant. They would most likely be made based on the model series.
I'm not surprised the older thread was deleted; it had a lot of replies and probably took up a lot of space.
My thoughts haven't changed much. For HO, Hiro is still very overdue, given how popular he is; I think he would outsell Bachmann's recent releases, especially Rebecca. If they go with a tank engine, Whiff seems to be the most likely choice, as he's an iconic character and the last model era engine introduced in that era that made it to CGI, (excluding Harvey or Diesel 10). I don't have a strong opinion on the next HO rolling stock, but I would still love to see Bachmann introduce DCC modules for HO.
For N scale, Edward is the clear next engine, though I wouldn't rule out Duck being next. Both are top requests, and I wouldn't be surprised if one is announced at NMRA this summer. N scale also needs more rolling stock, hopefully a coal wagon with load and a BR 20 ton brake van. Bachmann hasn't introduced a new N scale tanker since their original announcement, so I could easily see them discontinue the Farish repaints and introduce some new tankers with a much nicer and accurate tooling.
Personally I'd like to see Bachmann invest in the narrow gauge line the most after the recent success of their Sir Handel model. Aside from the gunpowder vans, the backlog is empty. A Duncan reintroduction makes sense, but they could also bring in Victor or another CGI exclusive engine. For new rolling stock, I think the 4-plank wagons should be next since they appear in both model and CGI and have many liveries to choose from, making the new tooling investment worthwhile.
Since the old thread has been deleted, I'll share my predictions. It hasn't changed as progress has been made from Bachmann's end.
I agree with Chaz that Hiro is long overdue given his popularity across different eras. He could surpass in terms of sales than Rebecca, which I still don't understand they did her over Hiro in summer '22. Whiff is a character I wouldn't mind should they choose to take on an easier project. One rolling stock Bachmann could consider adding would be the quarry hoppers.
There's not much I can comment about Narrow Gauge as the gunpowder wagons should be in the packaging phase by this point. If Bachmann were to make any additions to the range, Luke may seen as the most likely character to be announced over the summer. I can't think of any unique rolling stock to add to HOn30.
For N-scale, the consensus is that the potential next engine should be Edward or Duck. Edward's announcement will be met positively by fans and complete the original steam team. If not Edward, then Duck is another highly requested character that will be welcomed by likeminded fans. As all previously announced engines could have their painted samples ready before the NMRA, both are possible. I agree that the rolling stock selection feels lacking and that the variety of new toolings are needed drastically. Mail trucks, coal loaded wagons, and the 20 ton brake vans would be great additions to the lineup. Percy shouldn't have to wait this long do his favorite job of pulling the mail train.
Oh! New Thread? Cool.
So I'd personally like to see more of a lean towards more model era stuff going forward. I'm not expecting things like Stepney to be announced anytime soon (despite being thrilled if that were to happen), but instances of bringing in engines that appeared in BOTH the Model and CGI Eras, so engines like Diesel 10, Whiff and Harvey, different variations of existing rolling stock like a mail car with the 'Sodor Mail' emblem alongside the current CGI emblem being used. We're already getting this in G Scale with the Tidmouth Milk Tanker. I'm also interested in seeing characters that utilise existing toolings, such as Splatter and Dodge, Smudger, Proteus, etc.
I'd hope to see stuff like this in the future, but whether it happens remains to be seen. I see no harm in looking into options that aren't solely CGI based.
I'm back. Had a few personal life issues so I stepped away for a while. However I'm back modelling and I have thoughts.
For HO my ideas haven't really faulted. I'd still love Stephen, given that Scotsman was announced I'm gonna guess the next newly tooled Loco However will likely be a tank engine. Something cheaper and easier to make. Possibly Nia or Whiff. Maybe engines like Charlie will crop up again in discussions since the New Show is coming out. Lastly some new Figure packs
For Narrow gauge again my opinion hasn't really faulted. I still want Duncan (preferably based on series 4 if I could choose, I'd definitely prefer that too some horrid hybrid between Douglas and his model on screen) I'd still be happy for Luke, Millie or Victor too. We need something new announced since we nearly have everything that has been announced released now. Rolling stock, definitely the 4 plank wagon, Brown Brake-van and maybe some flat wagons with loads or something. Could have one with the Bike the thin controller rides, or a bell.
Now to N scale which I have alot to say about. For the engine, I think its established now Duck or Edward are pretty safe bets, maybe an outside chance of Rosie with the new show featuring her alot in the marketing plus they can reuse the tooling for Lavinder Rosie so it's probably less expensive to make. I have the most to say about the rolling stock future predictions. I think its extremely safe to bet on a bunch of recolours for the 7 plank wagon, 12 ton van and tankers (hopefully newly tooled). I can definitely see the fun fair vans being added, I hope the coal wagon with load is also added. Always been a favorite of mine. I also think its extremely safe to bet the red express coaches will be added too (which those look incredible btw) The red coaches and museum coaches seem like safe bets as well. However I've been thinking alot about how Bachmann seem to utilise newly tooled items in the range. Whenever something is released thats newly tooled we usually get 3 or 4 variations of said item. 3 tankers, 3 vans so on. So I feel like unless its a character or Bachmann can make good use of the tooling by reusing it I worry about the chances of some items. I think my main safest bet for new tooling (after the Brake-van and red/museum brake coach) is probably the Mail Car, theres been 4 variations of it in the HO range, Sodor Mail, red Mail Car, Green Mail car and the lobster van. Theres other possibilities for it awswell, they could reuse it for Topham Circus or make Brown variations or even take the lobster logo off the lobster van and just release it as a cream mail car or something. The cattle wagons may stand a chance along with the salt vans however I'm less sure given the Salt van only has the cream and sodor salt variations (along with TT5) same for the cattle wagon really.
I'd love to suggest more but I know Bachmann of 2026 is different from Bachmann 2009 where they would make a new tooling to release one item then not touch it again for years. Unfortunately I feel like if Bachmann are limited with the amount they can reuse wagon tooling they might not do it, particularly in today's world of Tarrifs, price changes and other financial factors to think about. I hope Bachmann can expand the N scale range more. I don't want it to become too reliant on existing tooling like large scale
I don't know if Bachmann Trains will make Duke the Lost Engine in HOn30/OO9 scale since Kato trains has made Duke using their tooling for the Ffestiniog Small England Class. (Except that model was only available in Japan I do believe) I think that Bachmann Trains should make a HOn30/OO9 scale model of Duke from scratch.
So for the next HO Scale engine, the general consensus is that the next engine should be Hiro or Whiff. Hiro should be the next big tender engine for HO Scale after Flying Scotsman, but if we have to get another smaller engine first, Whiff would be a great choice, as he appeared in both model and CGI. Whiff would also raise demand to bring Scruff to HO Scale as well, so as to complete the Waste Dump duo. A wagon with a new trash bag load should be made specifically for an engine like Whiff. Hiro would 95% be a new tooling, but at least Bachmann can recycle Rebecca's wheels for him, but would be configured differently. He's one of the most popular characters to originate from the CGI series, plus a potential repaint would include Hiro in his patchwork livery.