As what many have said here, Stepney is a prediction I hold that Bachmann will announce this year. Sir Handel or Duncan would be the other engines I predict to be announced.

Rolling stock I believe to be announced will be the Chinese Dragon, and the breakdown train. Two are classic model era rolling stocks that are popular, and have been made in countless other brands.

Bachmann should release the last two remaining standard gauge Awdry characters, Stepney and BoCo. It would complete all the main engines from seasons 1-4. With about half of the Skarloey Railway engines released, Sir Handel, Duncan, and Duke make sense to create and release in the near future. That would complete the entire Skarloey railway cast of season 4. Seeing how 2020 is the 75th anniversary of the Railway Series, a LBSC and black James would make an excellent combo to release as well.

Some rolling stock I would like to see created or brought back includes the discontinued Red express coaches, the Breakdown train, the gunpowder truck, and the green Skarloey railway coaches.

Introducing Stepney instead of Ryan would be more favorable among bachmann and train fans. Older, model series characters are more sought after. I can say without hesitation that Stepney would sell more than Ryan. Many other terrific points and arguments towards releasing Stepney have been said countless times already. It makes the most sense to create Stepney as the next standard gauge engine.