A Green and Yellow Maine Central S4 or S2 DCC with Sound
... some of the "grasshopper"-type of production locomotives (0-4-0, vertical boiler, outside frame) like the Tom Thumb or the Atlantic. I really enjoy the early years of railroading in America, but all you can get are the "one-off" locomotives like the DeWitt Clinton, Rocket, Best Friend of Charleston, Prussia, etc. How about some "mass-produced" early ones? And the type of cars that would run with them. (A visit to the B&O Museum may be in order, Mr. Bachmann...)
Maybe for a first run, the workings could be cast plastic or resin, and later (or better quality) runs might have moving piston "arms" and such.
And available in DC as well as DCC, for those of us whom it doesn't make economical sense to switch our line of products from one to the other.
A retooled and mechanically upgraded BQ23-7 would be nice.
Beyond that niche model, it gets difficult to find new territory that hasn't / isn't / might soon be flooded by other companies. Early steam locomotives (1820s - 1850s) is one area, as someone else mentioned. Another is large industrial locomotives from GE, Baldwin, and Lima (to name three) such as the one below. These are 100+ tonners and would look right switching at steel mills, major coal breakers, and big industry. The one below is a 132-ton GE unit that was part of an order built for the US automaker Ford.
(https://lakeshorerailway.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wag-1700.jpg)
Reissue the Russian Decapod with the mechanism issues resolved. And no molded on piping.
Since we're dreaming big...
The B&O S-1a, 2-10-2 would be a big wish fulfillment. The Rivarossi model is older than I am!
A Spectrum version would be just right. I have a brassie, but it's so rare, and expensive, that I don't dare run it.
Please, oh please....
Regards,
Jonathan
A small 4-2-4T or 2-2-4T in DC would also be nice...
Something like the steam engines that would have been used on the EL in New York City.
Quote from: jonathan on May 30, 2018, 12:15:52 PM
Since we're dreaming big...
The B&O S-1a, 2-10-2 would be a big wish fulfillment. The Rivarossi model is older than I am!
A Spectrum version would be just right. I have a brassie, but it's so rare, and expensive, that I don't dare run it.
Please, oh please....
Regards,
Jonathan
At the risk of going with monsters again, an alternate would be an ACCURATE B&O EL-series 2-8-8-0--not a Norfolk & Western Y-6b with a removed trailing truck and a Vanderbilt tank!
Going a little more moderate in size, what about a B&O Q-4 (2-8-2)? I'm thinking that one could be based on the USRA 2-8-2 mechanism.
How bout a O5A 4-8-4 for the Cb&Q?
There is a brass 4-8-4 for the Q ......... if you have the bux.
More small steam engines please. "Everyone" is making Big Boys, articulateds, Dixies, MacArthurs and so on. You are the only one left standing making smaller engines which were more common in real life, and look better on the average model railroad .
Mr Bach Man , I know you are in the east. Once upon a time there was a gigantic railroad out west and down south called the Southern Pacific, which has TONS of followers and modelers. The SP Mogul has been a popular model since time began. Ever since I've beem seriously into this (early 60's), there's almost always been an SP mogul available . Not right now though.
You've already got the molds for the Vanderbilt tender. Half the work is already done. Go for it. And it's a pretty generic engine too. Put a square tank behind it and you have something close to a half dozen other roads.
I'm good for five if you do it.
Spectrum Steam is what I wish they'd make.
Cheers
Roger T.
They are not going to do that Roger as much as you and I might want it. The scale Model railroad market is on decline. The toy train market is static but in better shape. Get used to the molded on piping and detail cutback. Despite all that, the 2-8-2 runs perfectly, the headlights are the best ever, and the starvation diet Sound Value motor performance cv's need no resetting- a big improvement over before.
I for one would vote for the B&O 2-10-2. I'm trying to mate a Rivarossi superstructure to an IHC mech, and it's slow going. I also agree that the Harriman stable has been woefully under-represented. Re: The B&O Q-4b, the light Mike mech with a Delta trailing truck is "close enough". The boiler is sort of half-way between a light and heavy USRA, and the Vandy tender would be a nice new addition. OTOH, the light Mike is offered in B&O, which is a class Q-3. I would actually like to see something like the heavy Ma and Pa 2-8-0's. They would fit in almost anywhere.
Santa fe had some nice 2-10-0s That I think it has the same wheelbase is the same as the Russian, but it is American. A non usra 0-6-0 & 0-8-0
Quote from: RAM on June 01, 2018, 11:03:42 PM
Santa fe had some nice 2-10-0s That I think it has the same wheelbase is the same as the Russian, but it is American. A non usra 0-6-0 & 0-8-0
A couple of thoughts to consider--
One is that it helps if a model can use something already existing as the base to reduce tooling costs. That's addressed here, and also with the B&O Q-4.
The other, which applies to both something already existing and especially to a totally new model (non-USRA switchers in this case) is how well it may sell. That would be based on a prototype either being widely used (USRA engines, stock industrial locomotives, including a Shay), or a popular prototype road (PRR, ATSF). Glamorous history (Hudsons on the 20th Century, the Andrews raid, Warbonnets on the Super) would also be a factor.
There may also be the enthusiasm of fans of certain roads. I believe a lot of B&O fans, for instance, may have acquired multiple EM-1s, despite their size; Bachmann made the type relatively affordable, and you would normally see multiple examples on a division where they were assigned.
And that brings up the non-USRA switchers. What would be your prototypes? Would they be something widely used? Might you be considering a stock engine, or perhaps something from an earlier period that would look like a widely used design, such as the Omaha 0-6-0 that was sold in brass for a number of years?
I wish Bachmann would make the #6 Crossovers with jumpers, and clear instructions, to make it easy to convert for use on DC or DCC layouts.
If they'd do that, I'd give up harping for a accurate FL-9.
Len
My personal wish, something I've asked for on this forum for years, are updated models of the F9 and the U36B. The tooling already exists, and the drives for these locomotives would be the ones used under the f7 and B23-7 respectively.
A Suburban Propane 55' Tank Car. I know Bachmann only makes a 40' but this would be a good place to start making 55' tanks.
Len I sent you an off line messsge. Someone has answered your prayers about the FL 9. Now, if only Saint Casey would hear mine wanting an MP 1010 class 2-8-0.
MDC/Roundhouse once made a metal kit for a Southern Pacific 0-6-0 that is really pretty generic. If Bachmann were to approach such a project, I would suggest that the model be done in two versions - One with slide valves and inside (Stephenson) valve gear, and one with piston valves and Walscheartes valve gear. I suspect a lot of the USRA 0-6-0 parts might be adaptable to this.
I had two of those Roundhouse 0-6-0s back in the model railroad Jurassic. They were great engines for their day. A walschaerts valve gear kit was available separately but you had to drill the "zamac" cast zinc alloy components which were harder than any diamond and more impenetrable than Fort Knox.
There has been a similar brass SP 0-6-0 lately but it is for a different market. This engine could easily be converted to a logging 2-6-2.... another much needed model.
I wish they would make one of the newer TGVs with 2 power units and not just one functional unit and a dummy, if they could make them go in the right direction
Hopping in with a suggestion, although to tell the truth I'd prefer it in N scale...
Printed cars based on customer image uploads.
We've seen it, or approximate methods (like this (http://www.lionel.com/categories/personalization), this (http://www.lionelstore.com/Fathers-Day-Personalized-Boxcar), or this (http://hobbymasters.com/customized-model-trains)), so why not Bachmann?
If it happened while I was away and I missed it, my apologies!
Personally, I'd love to see a Baldwin superheated piston valve logging mikado, either 70-ton or preferably 90-ton weight class. This is a model that's only ever been done in brass, four models of the 70-ton mikado, and two of those were early and late versions of the same prototype engine.
Second would be a nice generic Baldwin logging/shortline prairie.
Lastly would be an outside frame 0-6-2T in On30, there were a large number of those built in 30" gauge.
Those are my thoughts.
Jeff Moore
Elko, NV
I too could really tolerate a couple of logging style 2-6-2s and 2-8-2s on my railroad. Those engines were in-demand Deep South shortline power for several generations . The trailing trucks were for extended long distance reverse running, not support of heavier fireboxes.
Maybe a couple of Forneys...
The forneys would be great too. After they left New York they went to all kinds of shortline and industrial operations. They might be a little small for HO though. On30 appears to be the domain for that sort of modeling and you better believe I've often thought of s second layout in 0n30.