ScaleTrains Upcoming Announcement

[peteski]

Is it just me, or did the truck castings appear particularly "soft"? I certainly hope production molding is sharper than what I saw in the pictures.

Like Bachmann's Spectrum N scale DDX40 "flat" truck sideframes?

[Nato]

       90% of all freight hauled across the Wasatch from Ogden in 1954,was hauled by then Standard Turbines according to consist lists/books that also give the engine number. No. 57 represents the way they all were delivered to the railroad, tenders made from mostly F E F 1 tenders were added later. Scale trains is offering a separate cylindrical tender. The grills/vents on the side of 57 model the way they all looked on on delivery, and the other models show the variations that were applied to specific locomotives. I too would like to see the unique propane tender and a model of the double ended demonstrator locomotive. Robert 3985 AKA Bob Gilmore has told me he wishes he could afford one of each as there were 25? running across the railroad during the time era he is modeling. I have reserved three. Remember the     pre-order deadline is Monday August 17. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[CBQ Fan]

I preordered mine last night. I ordered #57. I have never preordered directly from a manufacturer before but wanted to show my support due to the backlash. I also appreciate their discounted price from MSRP.

[MystrJBL]

I am hoping that now they have the mech. They'll do a U50... In SP. But I would much rather they bring out an AC4400 in SP or shrink their tunnel motors and SD45s.

[Wolf N Works]

I am hoping that now they have the mech. They'll do a U50... In SP. But I would much rather they bring out an AC4400 in SP or shrink their tunnel motors and SD45s.

2nd this

[Englewood]

I am hoping that now they have the mech. They'll do a U50... In SP. But I would much rather they bring out an AC4400 in SP or shrink their tunnel motors and SD45s.

Third this.

[C855B]

... U50...

Nuh uh. C855. And C855B.   

A decently-modeled U50 would be super-cool. Over the course of 47 (!!!) years I have accumulated a small fleet of Con-Cor "Hueys" and they are too-slowly cycling through the workbench queue for things like decoders, correctly-sized wheels, handrails, True Scale couplers. I even tried modifying one shell for view-through radiator bays, but too much of the frame protrudes to make that practical (and it's a lot of tedious work). Aside from the dummy trucks derailing for no sound reason, I can't fault them as runners - they creep like the early Katos they are, and the earliest versions with the lead-alloy frames will pull stumps - 50 cars up 2%? No sweat.

As to SP's U50s, you are, of course, aware they had a very limited operating range on the system, yes? L.A. to Indio, maybe rarely as far as Yuma, and after West Colton was built it was L.A. to WC drag service, period. Not something you saw running freely out in the wild. Crews hated 'em because of the radiator fan noise right behind their heads and the very discomforting swing of the cab on curves where your reflexes made you feel you were off the rails. 

Here's a pic you'll enjoy: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2109459

[davefoxx]

As to SP's U50s . . . Crews hated 'em because of the radiator fan noise right behind their heads and the very discomforting swing of the cab on curves where your reflexes made you feel you were off the rails. 

Man, I'd love to see the cab ride video of that!

DFF

[basementcalling]

Man, I'd love to see the cab ride video of that!

DFF

Not unless it was stabilized.

[robert3985]

Scale Trains must have been listening to me.  I've advocated for producing the UP Standard Turbine for several years, because for UP modelers who like the transition era, it is a perfect fit, running on the UP mainlines chiefly between Ogden and Green River from January 1952 (#51) to June 1964 (#58, #59), a nice, long 12.5 year service life.

I am not going to get into any obvious conjecture about Scale Trains marketing philosophy or whether this model will be a "success" or not because all of that will be determined by future sales, and I have not been given the gift of prophecy to look into the future.

I will, on the other side of the coin, congratulate Scale Trains in their decision to invest their capital into producing a "Rivet Counter" model of the Union Pacific Standard Turbine which has never been produced in N-scale before, rather than just produce another engine that's been made by other manufacturers previously.  Takes balls, and evidently, Scale Trains has large hairy ones!

For me, this is simply a gift...exactly what I was hoping for, because these engines are a perfect fit into my 1947 through 1956 era, road and location. 

Standard Turbines operated simultaneously and on the same tracks with Big Boys, Challengers, TTT's, MacArthurs, Consolidations, FEF's and other U.P. steam power as well as F's, Geeps, Alco F's and P's, and other 1st and 2nd gen diesel motive power.  It was a common sight to see these, without tenders when they were first run, pulling over-tonnage mile-long freights up Weber & Echo Canyons with a dirty, black 3700 Class Challenger pushing on the rear 70 miles from Ogden/Riverdale to Wahsatch, with a Big Boy pulled over-tonnage freight following assisted with a TTT pushing on the rear.

After the coal-fired Big Boy was re-assigned to the Cheyenne/Green River run because of the Ogden/Green River run being fully converted to oil in March of 1954, over-tonnage freight extras were all pulled by Standard and Veranda Turbines, with a 3700 Class Challenger pushing on the rear.  This was the order of the day until 1958 when the GTEL 8500hp Three-Unit Super Turbines were introduced for the Ogden/Riverdale to Green River run and didn't need helpers.  The oil-fired 3700 Challengers were retired a year later in 1959.

Since my cut-off date is December 31st 1956 for my time era, the previous Scale Trains GTEL Super Turbines didn't get purchased by me since they didn't run in my location and road until 1958...and I had sold my several Overland brass Super Turbines 13 years previously because of my self-imposed rule, although I was sorely tempted to get a Scale Trains version since their model is MUCH superior to the Overland brass model.

It seemed to me that the next logical engine for Scale Trains to produce would be first, the Standard Turbine, and then the Veranda...which I hope they do in the next couple of years, since Verandas were the same internally as the Standard Turbines, but with a much different body, and ran simultaneously with the Standard Turbines.

Anyway, I'm really excited and happy about Scale Trains choice, and I'll be investing in one of each of the models initially, and more when additional numbers become available in later runs.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[robert3985]

Looks like another great model from Scale Trains!
I’m not a collector and these are a bit too new and unique for my layout, but if these guys ever come out with the dual-cab #50, Thomas Hotchkiss photo below, I am in!
Otto K

@Cajonpassfan Otto, I think this would be pretty easy to kitbash.  Problem is you'd need two models to do the one #50 if you couldn't get a second body shell (and detail parts) from Scale Trains.

Maybe if you wrote to them and told them what you wanted to do you could work a deal for an additional shell and parts to accompany one complete model???

I think it'd be worth it for you to enquire!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[ProvUnitV]

I want them all, but with this success, I will become poor. I buy so much stuff online that I can't stop. I feel so crazy in these moments.
If I see a discount or an offer, nothing can stop me. I need to read more online shopping guides. Sometimes they help me to hold myself in check.
But anyway I want to buy one locomotive. I like the GE ET44AC. It would look great in my woody-style room.
Well, I'll work and save until I buy one for myself. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep peacefully, haha.

[peteski]

Scale Trains has very little spare parts for the Standard Turbine.  I had some damaged parts on mine, and one the replacement ladder they sent me was also cracked. When I asked them for undamaged part I received the following reply:

We did not receive repair parts with these models. The two ladders you have represent all that is available at this time. I do have an upright railing that I can take from the cadaver model your ladders came from. At this point in time, there will be no repair parts until the next time these turbines are run or if we happen to "junk" another one for some reason.