Quote from: TrainFan97 on January 17, 2026, 07:14:12 PMSo the 2026 catalog will be up next Friday the 23rd, as it's typically up on Fridays.

Already less than a week before we see what exciting new products will be announced, once the PDF file is available.

As I mentioned in my last post, it's going to be posted Saturday the 24th, not Friday.  Bachmann's mentioned this in their recent livestreams and Yard Master also confirmed it in another thread this morning:

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,40182.msg289147.html#msg289147

Quote from: Yard Master on January 20, 2026, 09:11:56 AMHi Jim,

The digital version of the catalog will be posted to our website this Saturday, January 24th. Print copies will be available for purchase in February.

Won't be too much longer either way.

I've recently joined an N scale club, and I'm able to run some of my Thomas models there once I get decoders installed. I've been toying with the idea of adding some non-rail characters to my collection, at least as placeholders in case Bachmann ever announces them later down the road. Right now, I'm leaning toward Bluebird for Bertie and an ERTL miniature for Trevor. I'm a little stumped on what might work for Terence or Harold. Does anyone have any recommendations in terms of merch or any alternative for those two?

Quote from: TrainFan97 on January 16, 2026, 10:08:30 PMLooks like it will be two more weeks before the catalog drops.

*One week

It'll be up during the Amherst show next weekend on the 24th.

Quote from: harrison05 on January 12, 2026, 08:10:05 PMN Scale (I could see them doing Duck, Oliver or maybe even Daisy before Edward but I think he's is next.)
Edward

I could -sort of- see them introduce Duck in N scale before Edward, since Duck has been promoted more heavily lately in marketing and merchandise, is apparently getting a new diecast tied to the 2026 show, and is another one of Bachmann's top HO sellers. Bachmann also hasn't released a new N scale tank engine tooling in some time, with recent molds focused on tender engines and Diesel/Paxton, plus the Thomas and James repaints. So starting with a smaller, potentially cheaper tank engine would make sense from a production standpoint.

That said, Edward still feels like the most practical and natural choice overall, and despite the fandom often being split on different opinions/views, I haven't seen a single suggestion that doesn't place Edward as the next logical choice in N scale.  I'd be very surprised if the next engine announcement in N scale isn't him or Duck.

Very nice review, Kempton! I like how you mentioned some of the other specific details, like the handrails being different on both sides. I'll admit I didn't catch that in my earlier review; Good eye! I loved the running session, and it's great seeing where we are with the narrow gauge line currently. Great job!

Well, the model I've been eagerly anticipating for years has finally arrived, and here are my thoughts on Bachmann's Sir Handel.



Ten years ago today, Skarloey was released. I still remember the excitement when he was first announced in early 2015. It came out of nowhere and immediately felt like the start of a bright future for narrow gauge modeling. Now, a decade later, we welcome the fifth member of the lineup. Each release, excluding Rusty, has shown clear improvement as the range continues to grow. Skarloey felt like the beginning of something special, giving way for engines such as Rheneas and Peter Sam to follow. Sir Handel, however, doesn't just follow. He exceeds every expectation.



This is, without question, the best model to come from the range so far. It surpasses nearly everything Bachmann has produced across scales. I hardly know where to begin. We are at an all-time high here, and it is genuinely impressive how well Bachmann executed Sir Handel.



Right away, the proportions stand out beautifully. They capture his real-world basis more accurately than the CGI render, for reasons we found out earlier this year with Bachmann's Sir Haydn announcement! No matter how you look at it though, the Bachmann Sir Handel model represents the character incredibly well.



The detailing is superb, from the rivets to the separately fitted whistle and brake pipes at both ends. Even though those pipes were not present in the CGI version, their inclusion enhances the model in a very positive way. If any engine deserved that extra attention, it was Sir Handel.


The cab design is strong as well. It does not share the same amount of blockage as Peter Sam, nor does it have closed off windows like Skarloey/Talyllyn.  Yet Bachmann still managed to add traction to the trailing wheels (or "steamroller wheels"), allowing it to increase traction and improves overall running performance.


The livery is beautiful. The shade of blue is spot-on, and the painted details such as the handrails and nameplate elevate the model visually.


The face is excellent too, perfectly capturing his CGI appearance. For those who prefer the classic model-era expression, replacing the face should be a simple and accessible modification.


As for performance, Sir Handel is appropriately smooth. His "steamroller" wheels provide excellent traction through curves and steeper grades, and he handles any sort of consist with with ease.  This was something Bachmann did with their Peter Sam model, and I'm glad they continued this with Sir Handel.


He performs just as well in reverse and over switches, which speaks to the quality of the wheels and motor. This is an engine that will not derail easily, even if he would prefer to not work with trucks...


The word "perfect" is not one I use lightly, whether for models or anything outside of the hobby. The Bachmann Sir Handel though, in my very honest opinion is just that: perfect. That should emphasize just how exceptional this release truly is. There is not a single flaw I can point to. It may be the best model Bachmann has created, not only in narrow gauge but across every scale in the Thomas ranges. It is remarkable to realize that ten years have passed since Skarloey, and now we have a nearly full and well-rounded fleet to enjoy.


I hope Duncan returns in production someday. But even if he does not, I have complete confidence that future additions will continue to meet this standard of excellence. Thank you, Bachmann, for delivering something this special. Sir Handel was worth every moment of the wait, and I look forward to whatever comes next.

A review on the figure packs are coming soon, I promise!

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.