With the new HO DCC Thomas & Percy models as top preorders and now top sellers at TrainWorld, I can confidently predict that an HO DCC sound module that applies to more Thomas engines would also do very well with sales. As mentioned, it would be a valuable product that caters to those who cherish DCC and the memorable sounds of the Thomas engines, which has only grown in the recent years.

This is certainly a model that everyone is excited about one way or another. I agree that using the Spencer chassis would be ideal, given the thinner side rods. I'm also interested to see how some of the finer details such as the two front headlamps will be handled. Much to look forward to in the months ahead!

I agree. I think the hand-drawn text works wonderfully for products such as the D. Fusit Gunpowder Wagon, given its uneven look on the prop from Season 4. However, for the flat wagon with diesel drums, a harder, more even font as shown in the original photoshopped pic would have been more accurate to show, as well as realistic.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the Amherst Train Show for the first time, and of course, one of the first goals was to head over to the Bachmann booth to converse with some familiar faces and check out the new 2026 catalog. With a fresh mind, here are my overall thoughts.

Beginning with the positives, it is good to see another announcement in Large Scale. The funfair vans offer new paint schemes that will continue to brighten garden railroads featuring the Thomas line, and they are memorable pieces from the show. The reintroduction of the milk tanker is nice as well. I reckon the paint scheme will match the HO version, with brown framing.

The other positive is the classic model era blue wagon announced in N scale. This is a favorite of mine, that has unfortunately been discontinued in HO. Mr. Jolly's Van is also a decent choice, but not one I expected at this time. And given the coal wagon with load and BR brake van have been the most popular requests for N scale rolling stock, I hope those will be announced next.

To be honest, I think the HO announcements were the weakest this time, not because of the fact that there is no newly tooled engine announced or new tooling in general, but because of the choices for recolors. I know many were anticipating the brake van from the canceled set, so I'm all for that. However, for the other two, I think a well wagon reintroduction, green china clay wagon, or Gordon's special coaches would have been more eclectic, and hence enticing amongst fans. That being stated, I'm sure there are fans who will purchase these.

The biggest disappointment is that Knapford Station is officially cancelled, due to the high RRP. To be blunt, I do find it somewhat strange that Rebecca, a controversial new computer generated character who is not a top seller received the green light as a product with expensive RRP, while arguably the most iconic station did not. Moreover, I know the engines and rolling stock generally sell better than the buildings, but the range has really felt empty with a lack of buildings in it. Even small, popular buildings such as an oil depot, coal hopper, or round water tower reintroduction, would fill that void, all of which would not be too expensive as well as work in resin or plastic.

All in all, not the most convincing announcement, but not bad either. As always, very grateful for the new announcements and optimistic for the road that lies ahead.

I definitely agree that a BR Brake Van should be a top rolling stock priority for N scale. While the 20 Ton Brake Van is unique, the BR one stems all the way back to Season 1. I, too, would love to see the Spiteful Brake Van tackled at this scale.

As we get closer to next weekend, I'm starting to think that the announcement may actually be Hiro along with some unique rolling stock (hopefully model era) or nonrail vehicle. Matt said it would  "appeal" to fans of most eras from the show, but not necessarily "appear". And Hiro would definitely be a surprise, given the current status of tariffs.

I could see Norman and Dennis as a possibility too, as DustyMarie53! mentioned. He reiterated that Norman is a unique basis for the market, much like Whiff or N Emily, which I fully agree with. Guess we'll find out in the coming days!

Hey everyone. I recently realized that I have not made a post on the forum since last September, and with the NMRA Announcements less than a month away, I just wanted to make a brief post on what I hope to see announced.

HO Scale
Whiff, Hiro, Harvey, or Diesel 10
Garbage Wagon with Load
Gordon's Special Coaches
Nonrail Van Variants (Sodor Mail, Sodor Bakery, Brass Band)
Iconic Sodor Characters Figure Pack (Alicia Botti, Lord Callan, etc.)
Sodor Brass Band Figure Pack

HO Narrow Gauge
Duncan or Smudger
4 Plank Wagon (https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Narrow_Gauge_Trucks_(T%26F))

N Scale
Edward
Tidmouth Milk Tanker
Coal Wagon with Load
Spiteful Brake Van

Large Scale
Origin James

As always, I'd love to read what you guys think. Thanks!

Hey all. As we approach the fall, I wanted to share my annual aspirations for the Bachmann Thomas line, and next year is no exception, given the 80th Anniversary.

Beginning with HO engines, I think that announcing a Gold Metallic Thomas would be a fun way to celebrate the 80th Anniversary. Many merch lines have released this paint scheme of Thomas during anniversaries. Thus, I could see Bachmann giving it a shot too.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Hiro_(T%26F)

As far as new toolings are concerned, I think that everyone agrees that Hiro would be an excellent choice. His exquisite design and legacy in the show since 2009, the very start of CGI, are two of many factors that support this. Let's not forget that the Japanese Thomas fans would eat this up too.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Harvey

If Hiro were to not be possible, due to pricing, I think that Harvey would be an amazing Plan B. While somewhat of a stretch due to his exquisite design, he is one of the final choices as far as classic engines who appeared in CGI.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Whiff_(T%26F)

If Harvey were to also not be possible, I think that Whiff would be a terrific Plan C. He is the last engine, appearing in both the model and CGI series who would not be terribly expensive or involve anything too crazy, minus the glasses. Furthermore, there is no ready to run model of his basis, making him all the more marketable.

Additionally, I know I mentioned this before, but I really believe it would be in Bachmann's best interest to NOT choose Nia next. Nia is a character who alienates many older Thomas fans, and to be considerate to everyone, I think that Hiro, Harvey, and Whiff would be much better options.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Breakdown_Train_(T%26F)?file=WorksUnitCoach.png
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Breakdown_Train_(T%26F)?file=WorksUnitCoachModel.png

Moving onto rolling stock, I would love to see a new tooling added to the line, most notably the iconic Works Unit Coach. What is great about this specific piece is that it appeared in the show from the very first season, and in three paint schemes (Olive Green, Orange, and Indigo).

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/James%27_Trucks
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/James%27_Trucks/Gallery

As far as repaints, James' New Trucks would be fun. Thomas' New Trucks is a childhood favorite of mine, and I could see Bachmann pulling off two of these, namely James' New Truck #1 & James' New Truck #2. Mattel would certainly approve these as well, given that Lionel announced them for their O line not too long ago.

Troublesome Truck #7 using the latest 12 Ton Van tooling would also be terrific. However, I would truthfully only be interested in this if they go with a model era face, such as the following:
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/The_Spotless_Record/Gallery?file=TheSpotlessRecord33.png
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/The_Spotless_Record/Gallery?file=TheSpotlessRecord36.png

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Emily_and_the_Special_Coaches
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Emily_and_the_Special_Coaches/Gallery?file=EmilyandtheSpecialCoaches69.png

Gordon's Special Coaches are pieces that I would love to see produced as well. I always liked the dark blue paint scheme of these coaches, and the episode in which these are featured is a fun one.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/LMS_20_Ton_Brake_Vans

With the 20 Ton Brake Van announced in N Scale, I could see it making its way to HO too. This piece was seen many times throughout the CGI series, and I could see it appealing to many model era fans too.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/The_Chinese_Dragon

This final one may be a long shot, but the Chinese Dragon would be an incredible piece to tackle, consisting of the existing long flat wagon tooling, and a colorful, festive load that would go wonderfully with the upcoming funfair vans. Definitely an eye catching piece for any consumer!

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Trevor_(T%26F)

Moving onto non rail characters, Trevor is the main character I'd love to see, completing all the non rail characters from the first three seasons of the show.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Buffers_(T%26F)
What's more, a designated Thomas Buffer would be nice as a new accessory, considering its small size and need for any train layout.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Allicia_Botti
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mayor_of_Sodor_(T%26F)
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Sodor_Brass_Band

And as far as figure packs are concerned, a pack dedicated to exclusive characters from the show such as Alicia Botti and the Mayor of Sodor would continue to bring any Sodor collection and layout to life beyond the trains. The same can be stated for The Brass Band.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Duke_(T%26F)
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Victor
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Narrow_Gauge_Trucks_(T%26F)

For narrow gauge, I am not sure where the line will go next. As a model series fan, I would love to see Duke added to the line, and he would be perfect for the 80th Anniversary. Yet, realistically, Victor will most likely be next. As for narrow gauge rolling stock, I love the suggestions Mulfred100 brought up above. Narrow Gauge Troublesome Trucks and the 4 Plank Wagon would be awesome, plus I concur that the flatbeds with loads would be intriguing as well.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Edward_(T%26F)

The N scale line is growing rapidly, and I think it is clear that Edward will be announced next, wrapping up the original seven engines introduced in Season 1. With regards to rolling stock, open wagon variants would be awesome, especially the Coal Wagon with Load. I could see the new China Clay Wagon in HO getting introduced as a red variant as well.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Bill_and_Ben_(T%26F)

Large Scale fans usually get the short end of the stick. Thus, it would be nice to see something announced for the 80th. For new toolings, I would love to see Edward or Bill & Ben, and for a repaint, LBSC Thomas would be satisfying. As far as rolling stock, I could see the Funfair Vans and Christmas Wreath Van getting added to the line.

Altogether, while this is quite a long list of product suggestions, I have zero doubt that there is much to anticipate for the 80th Anniversary and look forward to seeing what materializes for the future.

With the summer announcements revealed, I did want to touch upon next year's potential HO engine announcement sooner rather than later. While I understand that there are a handful of Nia fans, I think that it would be in Bachmann's best interest to go for a character who all fans, young and old admire, especially since next year is the 80th Anniversary. Hiro, Harvey, or Diesel 10 are the three that come to mind, as all have appeared in CGI, have interesting designs, and are most importantly well liked amongst all fans.

It is always a pleasure to read your suggestion posts, Chaz, and the model era pics were a nice touch. Altogether, I completely agree with all the engine, rolling stock, and non rail suggestions.

Henry is no-doubt who I am also hoping to see announced next in N scale for all the same reasons stated above. I think that him alongside some open wagon recolors (the coal wagon with load, blue wagon, and red wagon), and the iconic brake van would be very nice to see for the next product announcement specifically. Edward, Duck, and Oliver are definitely logical additions too. As far as non-rail characters are concerned, I concur that Bertie would be a good start, followed by Harold or Terence.

It's hard to believe that the N scale line was already announced five years ago. I recall having mixed feelings about how well the line would do, with HO in the main driver's seat. However, I was very happy to be proven wrong, as the line has continuously sold well. Furthermore, with Gordon almost released, the the best days still seem to be ahead.

Hey everyone. Apologies for not posting sooner, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the 2024 catalog and current status of the Bachmann Thomas line altogether.

Firstly, I concur with everyone who stated that it is completely understandable as to why there were not many new additions for the 2024 catalog, especially given last summer's massive NMRA product announcements, let alone several new toolings.

For the new additions, I am glad to see the Large Scale Thomas set back in the line, as I have seen many requests for this, and since large scale was the one scale that did not get any new announcement last summer. The slate wagon variants look very nice too. I am particularly fond of the tan one, reminding me of the tan weathering of the slate wagons from Season 5:
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/5/55/Snow33.png/revision/latest?cb=20180112195630

It is also great to see the final images of HO Beau and N Gordon in the catalog, and I look forward to seeing them arrive at retailers in the near future.

All in all, there is so much to look forward to, with over 10 new toolings under development now, including engines, rolling stock, and non rail accessories. The future is bright, and with the 80th anniversary around the corner, I can only imagine that Bachmann has even more exciting announcements planned for the summer and 2025.

Happy New Year everyone! Given that we are about a month away from seeing the 2024 catalog, here's a list of the products that I am hoping to see announced for 2024 or 2025.


HO Scale

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/%27Arry_and_Bert

Arry & Bert Reintroduction
In the past several months, the reintroduction of Arry & Bert has been a very popular request amongst fans, both through social media platforms and in-person conversations. Like Salty and other discontinued products, these go for outrageous prices on eBay these days, and would thus be welcome returnees to the line. However, the one change I would make is to alter the facial expression of at least one of the two diesels, just to differentiate them more.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Hiro_(T%26F)

Hiro
As stated last year, I think that everyone can agree that Hiro would be an excellent candidate for the future. His exquisite design and legacy in the show since 2009, the very start of CGI, are two of many factors that support this. Let's not forget that the Japanese Thomas fans would eat this up too.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Whiff_(T%26F)

Whiff
As the final engine appearing in both the model and CGI series that does not feature gimmicks that could potentially breach the NMRA Standards, Whiff would be an awesome candidate for all Thomas fans. While also the only engine to wear glasses, what's most interesting is that there is currently no ready to run model of his basis. Thus, I could see UK modelers purchasing Whiff for conversions.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/e/e9/TheWorld%27sStrongestEngine27.png/revision/latest?cb=20230812004343
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/d/d2/ToadStandsBy19.png/revision/latest?cb=20230312172051
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/c/cd/TheSpotlessRecord22.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20091107193357

Troublesome Truck #7
As stated in the 12 Ton Vans Thread, with the 12 Ton Van from large scale entering the HO line this year, a seventh troublesome truck with this tooling would be very nice to see. However, for this product to really capture the attention of all fans, I would highly encourage going with a model era face. I have pasted the specific faces I would love to see above, but any model era face would ultimately be appreciated.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Ice_Cream_Vans_(T%26F)

Ice Cream Van Reintroduction
Also as stated in the 12 Ton Van Thread, this would be a very welcome reintroduction, especially considering that the large scale 12 Ton Van tooling is more accurate than the tooling that was used for the initial HO Ice Cream Wagon release.

https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Tar_Tankers_(T%26F)

Tar Tanker Reintroduction
This is another popular request that I have seen, and with it appearing in the CGI series, as well as the model series, I am sure that all fans would greatly appreciate it.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/3/31/GreenWorksUnitCoachCGI.png/revision/latest?cb=20170527080530
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/f/f1/LoveMeTender78.png/revision/latest?cb=20210509202815
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/8/88/WorksUnitCoachCGIBlue.png/revision/latest?cb=20171006094504

Works Unit Coach
As far as new toolings are concerned, I think that the works unit coach would be the best option, given that it is an iconic piece that dates all the way back to Season 1. More importantly, several paint schemes have appeared in the CGI era (Olive Green, Orange, Indigo), all of which I'd love to see Bachmann produce.

HO Figure Packs
Without a doubt, I am still most excited about the upcoming HO Figure Packs, and it would be fantastic to see a few more additions to this line. I would specifically love to see a pack of memorable Sodor characters such as Alicia Botti and the Duke & Duchess, as well as a pack of the Sodor Brass Band.


HO Narrow Gauge

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/ttte/images/a/ad/BlueMountainMystery124.png/revision/latest?cb=20180918195226
https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Slate_Trucks_(T%26F)

High Side Slate Wagons
While the slate wagons that are currently in the line are perfectly accurate to real-life slate wagons, it would be nice to see some larger ones that appeared in both the model and CGI series. Considering that they appeared in light gray, dark gray, and brown paint schemes in the CGI series (as shown in the pasted image above), I could see Bachmann announcing them in three paint schemes too.


N Scale

Henry
With the highly anticipated announcement of N Scale Gordon, which is currently the top Thomas preorder on TrainWorld, it definitely makes sense to announce Henry next.

Coal Wagon with Load
Red Open Wagon
Blue Open Wagon
Brake Van

For rolling stock, I think that there are currently more than enough coaches on the way. However, the line could certainly use some new freight cars, most notably some new open wagon variants as well as the brake van.


Large Scale

Edward or LBSC Thomas

The large scale line is still a mystery to me. However, looking through social media, the most popular large scale request still seems to be Edward, and I cannot deny that this would be a very eye-catching model for all Thomas fans. However, I am sure that fans would also be very happy with an LBSC Thomas, if it is preferred to produce a new engine without a new tooling at this scale.

Box Van- Funfair Red
Box Van- Funfair Blue
Box Van- Christmas Wreath

All in all, with the summer announcements consisting of much more than initially expected, let alone a newly-tooled engine announcement in every scale, minus large scale, I expect the catalog announcements to be relatively light. Nevertheless, I still have zero doubt that the future of the Bachmann Thomas line altogether is bright.

Thanks for taking the time to start this thread, Toad139. The 12 Ton Van tooling from the large scale line entering HO was certainly one of the highlights from this summer's new product announcement, and definitely deserves its own thread. With that, I wanted to take the opportunity to mention some additional product suggestions with this tooling for the future.

One right off the bat is a reintroduction of the Ice Cream Wagon. Just for some context, the original release of the HO Ice Cream Wagon used a single vent tooling. However, the tooling as a whole was inaccurate to what was seen on screen, given its detailing and rather flat roof, verses the rounder roof as seen on the large scale van tooling and prop from the show. Hence, I would love to see a rerelease of this piece of rolling stock, using the more accurate 12 Ton Van tooling that will be used for the upcoming van releases from this past summer.





Another variant of this van I would love to see, which others have already mentioned is another troublesome truck, namely Troublesome Truck #7. Troublesome Vans were often featured during the television series and the new 12 Ton Van would be the perfect tooling to accomplish a Bachmann model. That being stated, for it to be very well received from fans, I highly encourage going with a model era face. As others have stated, the CGI Troublesome Truck faces truthfully aren't as interesting, and I know several fans, including myself, were somewhat disappointed with the outcome of Troublesome Truck #6 for this reason. These are the faces I would highly recommend:




Furthermore, as Chaz mentioned, let's remember that Mattel recently produced a trackmaster pack that included a tanker with model era face, which is baffling, considering one would expect them to use a CGI face for that. Thus, I have zero doubt that a model era face could be a possibility for a Bachmann troublesome truck as well. The most important thing will be to not resort to the first image that pops up on the wiki, as that first image is not technically the most well received from fans.




Lastly, I would not mind seeing additional simple paint schemes of this van. As a matter of fact, I was surprised to see a simple gray variant get announced. Hence, why not announce a red oxide variant to go with it? Simple, yet effective

Altogether, I am very excited about the new 12 Ton Van tooling finally entering the HO line after years of hope, and I look forward to hearing additional thoughts on this new tooling.

With regards to the N scale line, I concur that nonrail characters such as Bertie, Terence, Cranky, and possibly even Sir Topham Hatt's Car would be wonderful additions. As a big fan of the resin buildings, it would be nice to see at least a few of those enter the N line too, especially Maithwaite Station and the Brendam Warehouse. The same goes for N scale Human Figure Packs, if the ones in HO do well.



While on the subject, I had to paste this image, featuring an old N scale Sodor layout by Tomix. I believe this layout was approximately 4 feet by 8 feet, and looking at the amount of scenery, elevation, and iconic locations, it is incredible as to how much you can accomplish in that amount of space for N scale. Part of me wishes to see someone recreate this layout, or one similar, while also showcasing the Bachmann N Thomas line of products on it. Maybe in the future .

As always, I enjoyed reading your thoughts on new product suggestions for the next few years, Chaz. All the N Scale suggestions along with Troublesome Truck #7 in HO are products that I would be particularly interested in, especially if the latter is a 12 Ton Van with a model era face, but that is a specific post for another time.

Quote from: N Scale Sudrian on October 02, 2023, 02:40:41 PMThat said, I wouldn't mind the African or Chinese equivalent of the van being chosen. They look perfectly fine and there's no reason that those wagons couldn't exist on Sodor anyway regardless of where they showed up in the show. It's a very diverse and accepting island, and any arguments to the contrary would be blatantly ignoring the entirety the series' nearly-80-year history, ha ha.

N Scale Sudrian, I respect your thoughts on this subject and understand that you did not mean to offend anyone. Yet, please review how you word your points before posting, as this was executed the wrong way.

That stated, with the N Scale line growing, I hope to have the opportunity to see a layout or sets in N Scale from you in the future on the forum. It is amazing to see how much has already been produced at that scale, and it is great to see several members show the attention that the N line certainly needs and deserves.