NTS update 7/15/2010 (Walthers's lets the cat of the bag)

[wes_sutton]

Tender drive for the 4-6-0 anyone?

Bachmann through their Farish range in the UK have release three different 4-6-0s and a 2-6-0 in the last 12 months all with tender drives.

[wm3798]

The Bachmann GP 7 really has my curiosity piqued.  The photos of the test shot look pretty promising.  I'm wondering how choppable the nose is, though, with all that hardware under the hood.  Bachmann electronics are notoriously chunky... The H-16-44 has vacuum tubes and cloth insulated wires...

The 70 tonner looks pretty amazing, a great follow up to the 44T.  I'll need to get something to shunt cars in the new coal mine.

The 4-6-0 engine looks very nice, but if it comes with the mega tender to conceal a motor, I don't see that one being a big hit.

Matt's Hiawatha looks like it's living up to the advance press.  He's got a major hit on his hands with that one.  I don't need one, but it'll be cool to see one running the N trak circuit next year.

Lee

[SkipGear]

The 4-6-0 engine looks very nice, but if it comes with the mega tender to conceal a motor, I don't see that one being a big hit.
Lee

I don't think it is tender drive. There is no sign of a drive shaft going between the two. That is just a standard USRA tender on the back.

Then only loco I can see that the 4-6-0 looks like is the Ma & Pa loco's and a Texas and Pacific D8. So far everything else I have found either has larger drivers, smaller drivers or, offset 3rd driver. I did find a Lackawana 4-6-0 Camel that I bet shows up out of certain steam "Skunk Works" soon enough.

I did find this one to suit my needs.....

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo1352s.jpg

or maybe this....

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo245sa.jpg

Wonder how much room there is for larger drivers? Blind center driver for extra flange room maybe?

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo2003s.jpg

Most of the B&O 4-6-0's were passenger loco's with 70" and larger drivers.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The GP7 tooling looks pretty crisp. They have finally "added" the door material instead of cutting lines into the body. The handrails look clean, small and well defined. Seeing as the Atlas engines are older tooling (over 15 years old now), this may be just as good.

The 70T looks good, a bit improved over the 44T. The street car looks great! I'll have to find a way to add that to my collection.

The 4-6-0 is Bachmann's standard line? I wonder if they are going to kill off the older steam once and for all after adding suitable replacements.

Speaking of which, Bachmann has produced their first new freight car tooling in over 30 years. First the log cars, then the 50' flats and now the grain car. I bet they will be winding down their old tooling after introducing a few new cars. This grain car was a good choice. No one did it before in n and they are fairly common. It looks like they even have roller bearing trucks. I wonder if TrainCat will do a upgrade kit for it with new end rails, roofwalk and details.

Well, unless someone has a mega announcement, it looks like Bachmann stole the show for N scale.... and who would have ever thought that?

[asarge]

Model Railroad Hobbyist asked Walthers about their commitment to N scale

And the answer is...............................

with Michael Stevens, head of marketing for proprietary products (Walthers, LifeLike, Trainline, Proto, etc...) I was talking to Zach Thompson, who was the Group Product manager for LifeLike/Proto products. I was able to ask him one of the questions that the N Scaler's on the AtlasRR forums regarding Walther's support in continuing the N Scale lines that Life Like had just started prior to being bought out: "What can we expect in N Scale out of Walthers/LifeLike in the future, and if you are not planning on supporting it, are you open to selling the existing tooling?" His answer was that they indeed intended to support it, although he admitted that they had been trying to figure out it's proper place in the scheme of things (I'm paraphrasing heavily here). He did allow me to state that there will be two new N Scale locomotives released prior to the end of the year (please don't ask me what they are, I did promise not to say), and that the most reliable way to ensure more N Scale products from Walthers/LifeLike was to buy the current ones and demonstrate a market. I asked what it would take to convince Walthers/LifeLike to start creating "Name Trains" in N Scale the same as the ones in HO and again his response was simply to buy their current passenger car products. Some gentle lobbying included with those purchases couldn't hurt either.... but it boils down to tomorrows releases will be based on what sells today.

[SkipGear]

Hope they don't base their market research on the sales of the NE caboose.....

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Anyone know what prototypes the Bachmann HO boxcars are? I am guessing we will see those in a year or two the way things have been going.

I would love to see this:
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=200607011623087074.jpg

[ljudice]

This is it?  What about Exactrail, Intermountain, that other company - Atlas??? Yeah, Atlas.  Oh right, they do their big announcements at the N-scale Show. Wait that was last month? Or is it the Chicago Hobby Show? Springfield???

I suspect there is plenty of news, probably not earthshattering, but interesting. The problem is that most of the reports are from HO scalers or the demographics of attendees on Friday (NMRA only) tends towards the folks who call their kids to use the google when they need information.

Also the hobby is so fragmented that my #1 hope (SOU wafflesides) is probably of zero interest to anyone excited over a 10-wheeler.  

The people who let us down are the "model railroad journalists" - and I use that description VERY loosely.  Also the BIG manufacturers (the small guys I understand) for not updating their stupid websites. BLMA and Bachmann could do it. Why not the rest????  

Thank heaven for John Sing and folks like that - but they have specific interests too and can't be expected to run around documenting the show.

Sorry for ranting, but don't we go through this every year???

Maybe more info today.

[tom mann]

Lou, maybe you need another hour of sleep! ;D

[JoeD]

In defense of those of us working the show, this place is huge and getting around is difficult.  Right in front of our booth is about 10 miles of N scale modular track work and still have not had a chance to check it all out.(Modutrak layout is stunning btw)  Hopefully I can get more info on the Laser and detail stuff today and post it.  All I had time for yesterday was some quality time with Matt Young at WOT (very nice 70' baggage) and PWRS and their Grain Cars and a quick swing by Bachmann to fondle the 70 tonner.  I see a lot of new building kits out there.  I set up a page on my web site and will do a photo dump tonight.  Is there something in particular you are looking for?

Joe
MTL

This is it?  What about Exactrail, Intermountain, that other company - Atlas??? Yeah, Atlas.  Oh right, they do their big announcements at the N-scale Show. Wait that was last month? Or is it the Chicago Hobby Show? Springfield???

I suspect there is plenty of news, probably not earthshattering, but interesting. The problem is that most of the reports are from HO scalers or the demographics of attendees on Friday (NMRA only) tends towards the folks who call their kids to use the google when they need information.

Also the hobby is so fragmented that my #1 hope (SOU wafflesides) is probably of zero interest to anyone excited over a 10-wheeler.  

The people who let us down are the "model railroad journalists" - and I use that description VERY loosely.  Also the BIG manufacturers (the small guys I understand) for not updating their stupid websites. BLMA and Bachmann could do it. Why not the rest????  

Thank heaven for John Sing and folks like that - but they have specific interests too and can't be expected to run around documenting the show.

Sorry for ranting, but don't we go through this every year???

Maybe more info today.

[FrankCampagna]

Sorry for ranting, but don't we go through this every year??

Probably. Sorry, but the old adage says: "If you want something done right, do it your self." Next year, check out the convention yourself, and see how easy it is. Been to a few of these, and they are big, with a lot going on at once. It's not like the "reporters" are working for a large news agency, with people everywhere. They're fans, there to have a good time, also.

Frank

[ljudice]

Frank - last one I went to was in San Jose 10 years ago...  I put a report on the old Atlas Forum while waiting at the airport to fly off to Helsinki.  I was excited about getting the word out and if I see anything posted elsewhere I will put it up here...

Lou

[ljudice]

Shipsure - I should have included you guys in the list of people who DO get the word out...

I used to attend tradeshows (CTIA, Supercomm) as an exhibitor for many years - and in all honesty spent more time with the press, bloggers, etc... than on the floor...  Actually, we sought out the press - not the other way around.

Let's use Exactrail as an example. Their website/facebook pages proudly boast they are at the show. And I think they even have a posting saying "keep an eye out - maybe we'll let you know what we're up to at the show". And then nothing.

How stupid is that?  Most of their customers are NOT at the show.

Honestly, I apologize for getting into this - this has been an annoying week demo-ing my old barn and sadly losing several of our rescue kittens - so I regret being in bad mood, hoping to hear something interesting from the show! 

[SkipGear]

Could it be that the manufactures are not blabing in an effort to give people a reason to actually go to the show?

They are probably holding the announcements to the end of the final day, or when somebody else leaks it onto the forums. I think we are all spoiled by the instant content from the internet. Remember when the only way to get new announcements was through print adds or from word of mouth from someone that actually went to the show.

Is it really going to matter if you find out about it today or tomrrow or next week when the lead time in the months and pre-orders will be due for the next month or so?

BTW - FVM just sent out e-mails for their show related announcements. Some interesting cooperation between them and Athearn and Atlas on some special box cars.

[lock4244]

Also the hobby is so fragmented that my #1 hope (SOU wafflesides) is probably of zero interest to anyone excited over a 10-wheeler.

I'd be in for a few. Shipper in Ajax, ON., receives alot of inbound product in NS and a surprising number SOU cars. Saw a few yesterday morning on my way into work. There is likely a SOU boxcar, including waffles, in Ajax 365 days a year.