Another GG1

[atsf3751]

Do we need a third manufacturer making a GG1?

Kato has a great running, beautiful engine. Easily converts to DCC but adding sound is a bit more work.

Bachmann also makes a great running, beautiful engine and it comes with sound. All you need to do with this engine is replace their absurd coupler and make a simple correction to the truck mechanics so it will actually stay coupled to a train. Plus the pantographs are live so you can run it from the overhead. I have not done that so don't know how well that works.

Now BLI is coming out with one.

[wcfn100]

Did we even need the first one?

Jason

[learmoia]

Do we need a third manufacturer making a GG1?
Now BLI is coming out with one.

With all the locomotives in BLI's catalog that are needed in N.. WHY waste money and energy on a GG1.. Then revert to the self fulfilling proficy.. N scale doesn't sell well so why make it..

~Ian

[dougnelson]

1. Some manufacturers, namely Bachmann and BLI, do what they do without regard for what anyone else produces.  We think logically of what would be good for "our" market.  They have their own calculations that defy logic to us, but somehow make perfect business sense to them.  One of life's great mysteries.

2. These are GG1s 2, 3, and 4 if you count the Arnold/Trix GG1.

[Dave V]

The trouble with all these GG1s is that if you want to do Pennsy electrified ops (and really, how many of us are there in N scale outside the Railwire?) we're still missing stuff.  Contemporary to the GG1 fleet would have been (in various eras) the P5a and P5a modified (no way I can think of to make one in N, and no brass), the FF2s (you can foob a Kato EF15 but you won't be close on anything but the wheel arrangement), the E44 (Shapeways), and some oddball experimental electrics...none of which are available.  So they exist in a sort of vacuum.

The other killer is catenary.  Even if you go with @Lemosteam's Shapeways PRR-style catenary poles, you don't get that parabolic wire droop unless you rigidly wire it up, and then you're a better man than me if you can re-rail a GG1 under rigid cat without destroying something.

New Kato GG1s still flood the secondary market and many a hobby shop has one or two gathering dust in a case.  I was grateful for the Kato model but bewildered by Bachmann and BLI.  Feels like that market's pretty well taken care of by Kato.  Even if BLI wants to claim to differ from Kato because of sound, Bachmann beat them to it.

[thomasjmdavis]

There are about 90 for auction or sale on the big auction site right mow. 

But look at the bright side- with BLI you will probably get a talking stock car as a bonus with every GG1 you buy...

If they were seeing me as a potential customer, they would be bringing some ATSF steam or the E1 to N scale.  BUT, I'm not the one investing in tooling and PR, so they can make what they want.  If I think ATSF steam will sell, I do always have the option to put my own life savings on the line to prove I'm right.

Tom D

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Of all the possible sound equipped engines to model... an electric?

I really wish they would do their C30-7 in N. The HO model isn't brilliant by any means, but I would like one with the correct width hood.

I am really looking forward to the AC6K though. CSX used to assign them to the Boston line in the early 2000's.

[Chris333]

Bachmann just did a HO sound value trolley. Has a little LED on the pole to look like sparks, but the windows are painted white with figure outlines painted on. Tooling looks worse than an old N scale model and can be had for just $225 

[Missaberoad]

GG1's everywhere and not a Little Joe in sight... 

Lets me save my money at least 

[eja]

Why worry ... if it is BLI, it will probably 20 years before you can touch one.

[learmoia]

P5a and P5a modified, FF2,  E44, Little Joe

ANY of those would sell better than another GG1..

Or a Hudson, Niagara, T1 (Reading), S3, I-4, Class A, Y6b, AC6...

Throw a fekin dart at a wall of their HO releases and it would sell better than another GG1...

[learmoia]

Bachmann just did a HO sound value trolley. Has a little LED on the pole to look like sparks, but the windows are painted white with figure outlines painted on. Tooling looks worse than an old N scale model and can be had for just $225 

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

[u18b]

1. Some manufacturers, namely Bachmann and BLI, do what they do without regard for what anyone else produces.  We think logically of what would be good for "our" market.  They have their own calculations that defy logic to us, but somehow make perfect business sense to them.  One of life's great mysteries.

2. These are GG1s 2, 3, and 4 if you count the Arnold/Trix GG1.

I guess, technically, there are/will be 5!

Arnold
Kato
Bachmann
BLI
and Key brass.


And we still don't have a U30B.

[atsf3751]

BLI has had a Santa Fe RSD-15 and a 3800 class 2-10-2 in their HO catalog, both of which I would love to have in N Scale. And they show a Santa Fe 2-8-2 also. I think these would sell better than an also-ran GG1.

[peteski]

We have discussed the BLI GG1 announcement few months ago in the Products Discussion section ( https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40214.0 ). I was already puzzled when Bachmann came out with theirs (after Kato's model was already out for years) and now with BLI I am at a loss for words.  Not like there were lots of these out there used by lots of railroads. I don't get it.

I also agree about the sound in an electric loco not being a very good choice. The Bachmann GG1 doesn't make any traction motor noises (just the bells and whistles, um horn).