Speculation thread. What is the next diesel and steam loco we are likely to see?

[Specter3]

So rules are don't just list your wishlist, give a model, and why you think it would be successful if someone built it. If you can list roadnames and number rostered that would be interesting as well. I will go ahead and start with a steam loco. I think Bachmann will use the mechanism from the K4 and put together a heavy pacific. A Santa Fe 3400 class would be logical. I am unsure about the diesel side. All my 1975 Southern Railway needs can be met with what is available with some hood modifications.

[jpwisc]

Okay, I'll play. I think if Kato modified their 4-8-4 platform into a MILW Northern (I'm thinking the MILW 261 here) it would compliment their lineup of modern steam runners. Especially with their new MILW passenger car sets. It could be a fantastic seller.

[tehachapifan]

Another Alco switcher from Atlas sure seems like a slam dunk to me since a (sound-ready) chassis already exists.

[Missaberoad]

Oh boy, Down the Rabbit hole we go Alice...  This should be a fun thread to read...

My thoughts in no particular order... I've tried my best to avoid some more esoteric choices...

Alco HH600

Early alco switcher with a successful HO model.

Alco RS27

Little oddball owned by enough railroads it might be successful, at least as many schemes as the SD24 or C420.

Alco RSD15

Alligators, mostly for the cool factor. ATSF fans would eat them up.

Alco C424/C425

The Lifelike Canada model is dead, they take premium prices on EBay. A later phase like the Atlas HO model would be nice.

Baldwin RS12

Prolific little switcher, sells well in HO.

Baldwin AS616

Consistently see lots of requests for this locomotive.

Baldwin DT66-2000

Big transfer units, will sell due to cool factor.

EMD MP15AC

Must have for MILW and SP fans.

EMD GP50

Depending on how successful the FVM GP60 and Atlas GP39-2 are, a replacement for the old Kato model would be the missing link in 4 axle EMDs

EMD GP40LW

CN 70's cool that's made its way to just about every corner of the States

EMD SD18

Pair this with a retooled series of SD7/9's, the C&O version is especially cool with its ALCO trucks.

Fairbanks Morse H-10-44 / H-12-44

Owned by more then 30 railroads, the HO model is pretty successful.

GE U33c / U36c

always hear requests for these big GE's

GE U50

Big UP power... 'nuff said  something equal to the quality of the Athearn HO model would be jaw dropping. @scaletrains seems up your alley...

MLW M630 / M636

Owned en mass by the big three Canadian Railroads, enough of these made it to the second hand market to give a few runs worth of paint schemes.

Rebuilt EMD Paducah GP10

Prolific on the second hand market, these IC rebuilds scream cool.

Rebuilt EMD CF7

Variations make this a tough choice but Athearn/RPP pulled it off in HO and nearly every layout set since the 1980's can justify one.

Rebuilt EMD GP20-eco

With over 1500 built this is fast becoming the modern equivalent on CP of a GP9 or GP38 this one is a bit of a stretch being a 1 road unit.



As far as steam goes I have to agree with @jpwisc that a Milw 4-8-4 would be a no brainer, Kato could package it with a friends of 261 excursion train...

Other possibilities

- USRA light Mikado
- USRA light Pacific
- Russian Decapod
- CP 4-6-4 (Either Royal Hudson or H1B empress)
- CN 4-8-4 (bullet nosed Betty)
- DMIR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone

[C855B]

A TP56. Or maybe a TP70.

[u18b]

I'm with Mike!  Haha

AnywY.... In Orlando Atlas had some gorgeous U36Bs painted in HO.

Paul said that was one of the most requested locos.

So I hope they do that one. 
And the U30B early and late phase

Hey I can dream.

[C855B]

...GE U50

Big UP power... 'nuff said  something equal to the quality of the Athearn HO model would be jaw dropping. @scaletrains seems up your alley...

Funny you should say that. It was casually mentioned at the UP Historical Society convention that ScaleTrains.com has been sniffing about regarding doing the DD35. Of course, HO first, but their SD40-2 aside, they've been good so far about trickling down their HO work into N. Can't tell if it would be a good seller - is modeling UP in the '60s and '70s a thing for others than just me? I could use a half-dozen, for sure, it's iconic for my road and era. If it were to come to pass (in HO), I do hope the carbon black car thing hasn't scared them off N.

[Rossford Yard]

Not sure I need any new locos, so not a wish list.

I think Alcos and UBoats would sell well, but also think Gensets and some version of chop nose GP9 are the biggest gaps.  Seems like someone would fill them.

Or, more thought provoking, technically is it body shells lacking, or paint schemes and road numbers, both of which IM has increased for the popular SD40-2, but which could spread further for other mfgs.  Thought about it when I saw the Walthers do their SW1200 in EJE green and IHB, plus Atlas continuing their habit of off beat roads, including the IHB on the next GP38-2. With paint scheme would come greater proto fidelity, no doubt.

[jdcolombo]

Playing by the rules of the original post:

Diesel: FM H10-44 and H12-44.  Why it would be successful: iconic transition-era switchers used by nearly all Class I's at the time.  Big enough (size of VO1000) not to need special chassis or metal shell like S-2 (though that would be a bonus for weight and pulling power).  Used not only in yards, but for transfer runs and some local switch jobs.  Easy to justify having a couple on almost any transition-era layout, or even later.

Steam: NYC Hudson 4-6-4.  Another iconic design, could be offered in streamlined and not versions.  Wheel arrangement used by many Class I's including some spectacular CN units.  Second choice: 2-10-4.  Big Steam,which seems more popular than small steam,  used by a number of roads both east and west.

John C.

[cjm413]

Phase 1a GP40-2, a/k/a Atlas GP38-2 with new long hood.

[conrail1973]

I would really like for the manufacturers to take a look at the rebuilds that were mentioned earlier in this thread.  It is interesting to see how many Class 1's and short lines purchased those units.

Another model that I would like to see is the SW1001.  I didn't realize how many industrial railroads utilized this model, but you do have LI/NYA and RDG/CR/CSX/NS as roads that utilized the SW1001 for their freight needs.

Thanks,
Adam

[wazzou]

More 4 axle GE Uboats like mid-late U28B and U30B.

[GhengisKong]

Either a U33B/U36B or EMD E7.

As for steam, it will probably be the Hudson.

[mmagliaro]

So rules are don't just list your wishlist, give a model, and why you think it would be successful if someone built it. If you can list roadnames and number rostered that would be interesting as well. I will go ahead and start with a steam loco. I think Bachmann will use the mechanism from the K4 and put together a heavy pacific. A Santa Fe 3400 class would be logical. I am unsure about the diesel side. All my 1975 Southern Railway needs can be met with what is available with some hood modifications.

The 3400 class had 74" drivers, not 80".  The Bachmann K4 drivers (looking back through Railwire threads where they were measured) are 72.6" on the tread and 80.6" across the flanges.  As usual, model steam drivers always have to be a little undersized to keep the driver spacing and wheelbase close to prototype while allowing for oversized flanges.  That means ideally you'd want drivers that are 74" across the flanges.  The difference between 74 and 80 is .037".   That's not huge, but I do think it would show and just wouldn't look right.  Think about how thick a .040" piece of styrene is. 

The earlier 1200 class 4-6-2's did have 80" drivers.  So there is hope for a Santa Fe engine.  And according to
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&wheel=4-6-2&railroad=atsf, the last of the 1200's made it up to 1950.

[ljudice]

Kato:    T4 Gevos


Because two are not enough....