Quote from: TrainFan97 on November 09, 2025, 02:25:55 PMWhat's holding Bachmann back from doing new scales they haven't done before, like S and Z Scales, is that it would take resources away from what they're already doing. Having to design new track for those scales is already an expense that doesn't even include engines or rolling stock.

The bigger issue is the license to produce models in those scales. Before Bachmann can even think about track resources, they need to secure a license from Mattel to produce Thomas models in another scale. Considering how much we're still waiting on from Bachmann with everything already on their plate, I can promise you the last thing on their mind right now is launching an entirely new Thomas range in a different scale.

Although I wasn't able to attend the event at Trainland, I saw pictures and caught some of the stream earlier and it looked like a lot of fun!

Naturally, I'm most excited for Sir Handel, and I'm thrilled he'll be arriving early next year. The gunpowder vans turned out great too; I might have to grab one (or maybe two) of the D. Fusit ones.

Right behind Sir Handel, I'm especially looking forward to the DCC and sound Thomas and Percy models. These have been nearly five years in the making, but I'm so glad they're finally set to release by the end of the year. I've wanted DCC versions of Thomas and Percy for a long time, and I can't wait to run them at train shows when the time comes.  It's always a pain to run only analog on our modular setup (especially when I want to have multiple engines moving at once to make it feel alive), so I'm glad this will be resolved by our next show in January!

It's great to see the tankers finished and the 80th anniversary vans making it out in time for the end of the year. Hopefully, these releases open the door to more new HO and OO9 rolling stock announcements in the next catalog.  Possibly even a chance for Duncan to be reconsidered too, (though I'm not holding my breath just yet).

I'm a little bummed the N scale Gordon's express coaches didn't make it this time, but hopefully we'll see those soon, along with updates on other previously announced N scale products. I'm doubtful we'll get a new N scale engine announcement in 2026 with so much still in development, but maybe things will change by the NMRA. Fingers crossed for Edward or Duck!  I'm sure we will at least get some more N scale rolling stock if nothing else.

Bumping this thread to share that the Gordon faces are complete! I just need to finish Emily before worrying about Diesel and Henry once they're released.



A quick group photo just for fun.



A shame that Gordon still has to wait for his coaches; the angry expression might stay on him for a while until Bachmann's coaches arrive...


Thank you JonoDomino!

Quote from: GordonPacific04 on October 05, 2025, 04:51:18 PM

Quote from: Kemptown Branch on October 05, 2025, 03:20:20 PMHey, does anyone know if the figures from the Railway Personnel packs can fit inside of the Narrow Gauge Engines' cabs? Thanks!

Unfortunately not, I've tried. All the HO Thomas figures are slightly overscaled.

Sadly, that is the case. I've had the figure packs for a while and have been meaning to get a review up, but life has unfortunately been a little hectic on my end, and I haven't had the time to get around to it. Hopefully, I'll be able to sometime this month.

Quote from: Zorran202 on September 06, 2025, 05:06:09 PMI certainly hope that after Edward, they can make at least Oliver (to go with Toad, since you know, at least in the TV/CGI series, it makes sense) or Duck (to make the consistent numbers from 8 onwards).

I think they'll most likely do Duck after Edward, since Duck has always been more popular and iconic than Oliver, especially in the CGI series. After Duck, I think Oliver is a pretty safe bet, given Toad's inclusion in the range and Oliver's track record as another one of Bachmann's popular sellers in HO. Either way, those three engines seem to be the most popular requests in N scale, and I can see all of them happening eventually.

A huge thank you to everyone for their insight and feedback on Bachmann adding a BR brake van to the N scale range in place of the now-canceled LMS brake van. I appreciate all of the responses, and I'm especially happy to see so many people engage with that post! I hope Bachmann takes all of this into consideration moving forward, especially since there's a clear consensus on why a BR brake van should be the next N scale announcement.

After the announcement that the N scale LMS brake van was canceled due to the cost of using the Farish tooling, I think now is the right time to revisit the idea of introducing the BR brake van instead.



I've brought this up before, but it feels more relevant than ever given that high tooling costs ultimately ended the LMS project. While some fans may have looked forward to the LMS version, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of Thomas fans have always preferred the BR brake van; and still do. This post lays out why Bachmann should focus on the BR design rather than the LMS one. The BR brake van has already proven successful in both HO and Large Scale, and there's no doubt it would do just as well in N scale.  So let's look at why:

1. Greater historical and brand significance



The BR brake van has a far stronger presence in Thomas & Friends. Since Season 1, it has consistently appeared in both the model and CGI eras, making it the most recognizable and iconic brake van design associated with the brand. By contrast, the LMS van only appeared in CGI and was introduced in show much later than the BR one, limiting its long-term appeal. Choosing the BR van would clearly resonate more with fans and collectors.


2. More livery and reuse potential
The BR tooling offers Bachmann much greater flexibility. Between the model and CGI series, the BR brake van has appeared in brown, gray, purple, blue and green liveries (though the latter two never appeared on screen). The spiteful brake van remains popular in both HO and Large Scale, and Bachmann has already repurposed the tooling as a track-cleaning wagons and even a Christmas brake van in HO. This proves its versatility and wide appeal.  The LMS brake van, on the other hand, has very limited reuse potential. Beyond its standard brown scheme, there's only Bradford and red and green liveries that were only used used only briefly the Nitrogen era. That's a much smaller pool compared to the wide variety the BR design offers.

3. Cost efficiency

Now, let's say Bachmann is still restricted to reusing Farish toolings, the BR 20-ton brake van by Farish is actually cheaper than the LMS option (BR is £29.95 while LMS is £32.95 on Bachmann UK's webstore). That makes BR brake van not only the more iconic and versatile choice, but also the more cost-effective one if they revisit Farish toolings. Any modifications needed like removing some of the separately fitted details would still likely cost less than sticking with the LMS brake van tooling.

Conclusion

Releasing the LMS brake van was always going to be a niche move with limited appeal, and now we know it's also the more expensive route. By contrast, the BR brake van is a lot more iconic, versatile, and cost-effective—the obvious choice for N scale. In my brutally, honest opinion, there is absolutely no reason for Bachmann to revisit the LMS brake van when there is so much more going for the BR version. It's already worked in HO and Large Scale, and it will work in N scale as well—if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

It's frustrating that the N scale range has gone this long without a generic brake van, with only Toad available. Toad is a niche character, especially since Duck and Oliver haven't been announced and likely won't be for at least a few years. Fans deserve the more common and recognizable brake van design to complete their goods trains, because as the Spiteful Brake Van himself once said:


it's "essential."

I strongly believe the BR brake van should be Bachmann's top priority for the next piece of rolling stock in N scale, or at the very least the next choice of brake van included in the range. Hopefully, this post helps influence that decision.

What do you think?

The funny thing is, Bachmann didn't even bother adding the number 12 to their N scale Emily model, despite it being introduced long after Emily received her number at the end of the CGI series. I don't know if that's a detail they plan to include in a future revision of the Emily models, or if they'll just skip it altogether since the appeal would be limited; it only appeared in the second half of the final season of the show. 

Granted, I know it carried over into the rest of the merchandise since then and even into All Engines Go, but I'd still argue that doesn't necessarily widen its appeal much, especially since All Engines Go is already becoming less relevant now that it's over and Mattel seems to be shifting merchandise back toward the CGI seasons this year.

I'm surprised Diesel hasn't been added to the Bachmann Europe line yet. They seem to announce new engines bi-yearly, so in 2026 they'll likely announce more. I could see Diesel and Emily being next, as Emily is another engine I'm surprised hasn't been included yet.

Quote from: Awesometrain77 on August 12, 2025, 11:45:04 PMI hope we see Paxton and Diesel but that's hopeful thinking at this point they are super behind with n scale .
Henry we would be lucky see by 2027 .
Rather than Edward for 2026 what about Sidney . To have a new character but also not getting to ahead by having yet another class 08 .

I'd rather not see Bachmann introduce another engine repaint in N scale next year after announcing the LBSC Thomas and Origin James this year. I think once Bachmann makes progress on some of the previously announced engines, (hopefully before too long), they can finally introduce Edward in N scale in 2026. After Edward and Duck, I would personally be fine with Bachmann taking a breather and introducing another engine repaint in N scale, such as Sidney.

Quote from: DustyMarie53! on August 04, 2025, 12:05:11 PMThe only thing I disagree with is the normal brakevan. I'm just unsure Bachmann would lead with another faceless one out of the gate after the LMS one, especially considering neither the HO or G ones are on the market. Makes more sense to me from a business perspective that they would lead with Spiteful. But a normal BR one would be welcome, and I think voicing that interest now is definitely the right call. One in which I support.

Bingo. Just encouraging the demand for it and showing the potential, which is why I recommended the purple livery; to give it more contrast compared to previous offerings in HO and large scale.

Quote from: DustyMarie53! on August 04, 2025, 12:05:11 PMI want to add one more potential character I think would happen either alongside Cranky or soon after. Bertie makes sense to me to happen to test how non-rail vehicles do in the line. I know you mention Cranky filling that role, but Cranky is kind of a different beast entirely. So it makes sense to me they'd either do both together or one soon after the other to get a wider test. Bertie serving as a test for smaller vehicles, while Cranky serves more as a test for additional accessories and buildings.

Funny thing is, I was originally going to go with Bertie (and Harold). Cranky made more sense the more I thought about Bachmann possibly wanting to replicate additional accessories, especially if they plan to reuse the upcoming five-bay roundhouse for Tidmouth Sheds. The reintroduction of the HO Tidmouth Sheds and the recent announcement of Knapford's reintroduction also influenced my decision to go that route. I also wasn't sure if they'd release just one vehicle like Bertie on his own in N scale, or introduce him in a pack with others like Harold and Terence. So admittedly, I wasn't sure how they'd approach it; not that a multi-character pack would be a dealbreaker or anything.


But for the record, I would wholeheartedly welcome Bertie. I'd love to have him and other vehicles in N scale too. Introducing one of them alongside Cranky would make for a great announcement. I'd be all for it.

Quote from: Zorran202 on August 03, 2025, 12:08:57 PMI was about to say, wasn't the green cattle van the official #3 since the HO scale one was the 3rd Troublesome Truck made in the range? But yeah, I would love to see them release more troublesome trucks for the N scale range, to see whether or not the trucks made in HO can be replicated, if not made better ala Toad style.

Speaking of Toad, I'm surprised Oliver hasn't been thought of, since they're the duo that goes together, unless if it's just getting the other main characters out of the way first...., but that's just me...!

Also regarding the tankers (if they get to them), wouldn't they also have the advantage in this scale due to how flat the front and back of the barrels are? I'd say it'd be easier to apply the faces onto them 🤔

They did use a cattle wagon for Troublesome Truck #3, but I don't think there's any "official" rule that the next one in N scale needs to be a cattle wagon. If anything, I'd encourage them to go a different route to provide more contrast with the HO version. I even remember large-scale collectors wanting a Truck #3, and Bachmann used their box van tooling for that; same logic could apply here. More Troublesome Trucks are always welcome, as many modelers say: "You can't have too many."

As for Oliver, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. I was going to bring him up, but you're right; it likely comes down to fans wanting Bachmann to finish the main cast before moving on to side characters. Even with Toad already in the range, Duck continues to get far more requests, probably because he's a more iconic and popular character than Oliver. That said, I wouldn't rule Oliver out for a future release after Duck.

Regarding the tankers, as I mentioned before, the main issue is that the faces would need to be smaller since the Farish tankers are much smaller than other N scale rolling stock.  As JacobSK pointed out, these haven't sold well, and it's not hard to see why. I think adding a Troublesome Tanker in N would be a great idea, regardless of which tooling they use. But, if they want it to sell well, it's worth the investment to develop a newer, more accurate tanker tooling in N and introduce it alongside other variants like milk and tar.

Speaking of, thanks Jacob for the in-depth feedback on my N scale post! I think Toby's Museum Coaches would also be a fun addition in N scale. Late 2027 might be a good time for those or the red express coaches—ideally after Bachmann expands the freight stock in the range. Either way, I'm glad to see ideas and feedback for the N scale line still going strong.

Quote from: Mulfred100 on August 01, 2025, 04:26:35 AMGreat suggestions Chaz. I can definitely see those happening, in 26-27. Maybe with another van recolour or museum coaches or the Red Express coaches added in aswell to utilise existing tooling in the case of the 12 ton Van and Express coaches and eventual tooling with the museum coaches. I also wonder how Bachmann may tackle adding more troublesome trucks to the N scale line. Weather they'll go on order of HO or maybe branch out. Tooling is there for Tt6 and 7, so will Bachmann wait to introduce tooling for 3-5 or will they maybe make a tanker or 12 ton van troublesome truck first. I'd definitely love to see Cranky in N scale. I definitely can see him being a good first non rail introduction before characters like Bertie or Harold.

Given the reception to the reintroduction of the red express coaches, I feel a bit silly for not including them in my earlier post. I'm sure those will be a big hit with fans, alongside the red branch line coaches. But more than anything, I'd really love to see Bachmann expand their freight stock. Particularly with a BR 20-ton brake van and the coal wagon with load.

As for an N scale Troublesome Truck #3, one of my biggest issues with Bachmann using the Farish tankers is that they're too small compared to the other stock in the range. I could definitely see them using the box van tooling and labeling it something like "Box Van: Troublesome Truck #3," possibly even reusing the same illustration as HO Troublesome Truck #7 in the catalog. Or maybe giving it a model-era face for bonus points and more of a contrast to the HO model and in a different color:



Either way, would love to hear further thoughts on my earlier N scale post.

Quote from: JLK2707 on July 31, 2025, 05:30:06 AMWould you ever modify the Bachmann N Scale Henry to the old shape of his?

Probably not, but I imagine that some fans will probably get on that as a custom project if they decide to buy a second Henry.  At the moment the only thing I would change on Henry is the face, otherwise I plan to keep Henry as is.

I always try to make at least one new post after every announcement period, specifically for the N scale range. This is because after each announcement, something new usually checks off that list. You could argue this post is a bit redundant since I'm basically preaching to the choir here and there were no new N announcements this summer. However, I think there's value in approaching this topic now; especially since progress is being made on previously announced projects and Bachmann released two engines along with more rolling stock at the end of last year.

This time, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of a broad wishlist, I'm sharing what I feel is a realistic lineup of products that could be announced between now and the next two years. My goal is to break everything into smaller, practical steps that that fit within a realistic timeline while giving Bachmann a manageable workload for the N scale range.

I'm intentionally avoiding things like starter sets (e.g., Gordon set or Christmas set), since those could be announced anytime without heavily impacting the production schedule. I'm also leaving out smaller non-rail characters like Bertie and Harold for now, as I don't think N scale is ready for that level of ambition yet.  However, I will touch on scenery pieces, especially since the five-bay roundhouse gives us a strong indication of what might be coming.  I'm also leaving out HO, narrow gauge and large scale, for obvious reasons. Anyway, here we go:

2026 Catalog:

• Edward – New engine tooling
• Red Coach – Repaint with modifications
• Red Brake Coach – Repaint with modifications
• BR 20 Ton Brake Van – New tooling

Edward seems like the one announcement that would've truly made the 80th anniversary year special. While the Thomas and James recolors were fine, they don't generate the same level of excitement Edward would have; especially since he was the very first character in the franchise. That said, given everything going on recently, it's understandable why he wasn't announced this year. I think N scale Edward should be the only new engine tooling for 2026 given by the recent HO announcement of the Flying Scotsman this summer.

The red coaches are a near certainty. They're simple enough for Bachmann to do and could easily be announced at any time and have proven to be very popular sellers in multiple scales and markets.

As for the BR 20 Ton Brake Van, I'm still a bit indifferent to the earlier LMS brake van choice. However, introducing the BR 20 Ton version (in purple as seen in CGI) would be a smart move and could mark the first new rolling stock tooling in N since Gordon's coaches back in 2023. Plus there are more repaint options for Bachmann to look into with this tooling, unlike the LMS one.

2026 NMRA:

• Tidmouth Milk Tanker – Repaint
• Tar Tanker - repaint
• Cranky the Crane - New tooling

For NMRA 2026, I predict a relatively quiet period for N scale, aside from one major highlight. The milk and tar tankers feel long overdue, (especially the milk tanker), and should be easy repaints for Bachmann.  I still firmly believe they should invest in a new tanker tooling that's actually accurate to the show and not the Farish tooling, but I digress.  Bonus points if they use the model era decals and introduce CGI ones at a later date or vice-versa.

Cranky, on the other hand, would be a very exciting announcement. Even though he requires a new mold, I think he should be the first major scenery piece and first non-rail character for N scale. Despite his size, Cranky could act as a great test for smaller non-rail characters in the future like Bertie or Harold.  He also represents Brendam Docks, one of the most iconic locations in the brand. Plus, Cranky was one of the first accessories in HO back in 2002, so his inclusion here would feel natural and even nostalgic for long time collectors.

2027 Catalog:

• Coal Wagon w/ Load – Repaint with new coal load
• Mining Wagon w/ Load – Repaint with new coal load
• Spiteful Brake Van – Repaint of BR 20 Ton Brake Van with new face

The coal and mining wagons should finally debut here, introducing new loads and offering variety like previous wagon announcements. Adding contrasting designs (painted vs. unpainted metal bars, decals, etc.) would also create visual diversity Similarly to how the plain red and Sodor Scrap Co. wagons were introduced together earlier this year. These loads could even be reused later for an ore load if Bachmann wants to produce a Thomas and Troublesome Truck set in N.  They even still produce the plasticville coaling station in N too for whatever that's worth.

Finally, the Spiteful Brake Van. This is another reason Bachmann should've introduced the BR 20 Ton Van earlier. Releasing Spiteful while the tooling is active makes perfect sense—similar to how Henrietta and Hannah were handled earlier in N, I could see these two being released together at the same time despite their announcements being at different times.

2027 NMRA:

• Duck - new engine tooling
• Mail Car – New rolling stock tooling
• Tidmouth Sheds – Repaint of five-bay roundhouse

For NMRA 2027, Duck feels like a perfect choice as the next new engine tooling. Like Edward, he's practically a given considering his popularity; especially in recent marketing and merchandise tied to the brand's 80th anniversary. Duck's small size and simple design make him a nice contrast to Edward as well.

The Mail Car would be a great rolling stock addition after the brake van, offering more variety and repaint potential down the line. Again, like the milk tanker, bonus points if they use the model era decal and introduce CGI one at a later date or vice-versa.

Lastly, Tidmouth Sheds feels like the obvious scenery piece, given the introduction of the generic five-bay roundhouse in N scale. Releasing the non-Thomas version first, then the Thomas-branded Tidmouth later, seems like the logical approach.

Final Thoughts:

This was definitely a long post, and some might say I went overboard planning two years of announcements instead of just one. But realistically, this lineup includes only five new toolings spread over two years, which seems manageable for Bachmann. Rolling stock offers multiple repaint opportunities, and the engine requests, Edward and Duck, have proven to be popular in multiple markets making them feel warranted to be the next two engine choices in N scale.

I've also recently been inspired to do another N scale post after looking into joining a club about an hour away from me. Working on new faces for my N Gordon and Emily has definitely been helping. And yes, I'll be adding model-era faces to Henry and Diesel when they're released. I'll do the same with Edward and Duck if they get announced. I'll share progress on the faces in another thread. Either way, let me know what you think!