BLI N-Scale Announcements

[PiperguyUMD]

Baldwin Challengers would have been nice... D&RGW and WM shared a lot of details.

[spookshow]

It appears that some of us are overlooking the fact that BLI has been utilizing Vietnam, not China to produce some, or all of their recent N-Scale products.

FYI, my new Challenger says "Made in China" on the label, so not all of BLI's production has been relocated to Viet Nam just yet.

-Mark

[pmpexpress]

FYI, my new Challenger says "Made in China" on the label, so not all of BLI's production has been relocated to Viet Nam just yet.

-Mark

Mark,

Which is why my post stated "... BLI has been utilizing Vietnam, not China to produce some, or all of their recent N-Scale products."

The fleet of "As Restored" Clinchfield CRR 900 F3A diesels that I acquired last year were manufactured in Vietnam.

Note: Vietnam is spelled as one word, not two separate words.

[spookshow]

Which is why my post stated "... BLI has been utilizing Vietnam, not China to produce some, or all of their recent N-Scale products."

Right, I was correcting the "or all" part of your statement.

-Mark

[learmoia]

Note: Vietnam is spelled as one word, not two separate words.

Not if your Forest Gump

[robert3985]

Note: Vietnam is spelled as one word, not two separate words.

Actually, both ways are "correct". There's a preferred way of spelling it for most of the English-speaking world (Vietnam) and the Vietnamese usually spell it "Viet Nam", as does the UN and several other international organizations.

Pronunciation is also different.  When I was in the USN during the Viet Nam war, we pronounced the "Nam" half with the ...am part sounding like "Jam". Most of the time, we'd just call it " 'Nam"

Also the spelling amongst the military was Viet-Nam.

So, you say "tomate-oh" and I say "tomahto"...it's just preferences, not right or wrong.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[jdcolombo]

You are of course correct. I’m a C&O modeler, so from my viewpoint unless a manufacturer has produced a C&O mallet, H-8 Allegheny, or a T-1 Texas, they’re just pretenders. Bachmann is one for three. I have hope for a T-1 from BLI. I will admit the Challenger in Clinchfield livery is very tempting.

Though I model the NKP, I'd be in for a C&O Allegheny and T-1.  Or two.  After all, the roads were siblings in the Van Sweringen era, and the NKP Berk was largely modeled after the C&O T-1 with two less drivers.  The Nickel Plate probably borrowed a T-1 for testing at some point . . . at least, that's a plausible story for seeing a couple flash across the main line from Ft. Wayne to Cleveland . . . 

John C.

[Mark5]

I'd be tempted by a Virginian AG Class "Blue Ridge" 

[reinhardtjh]

With one day left in May, BLI has send out the May Broadway Flyer - https://editor.ne16.com/vo/?FileID=e1859645-f409-4375-b672-86c38691ed05&m
I think I got the tracker info removed.

It starts out with saying there are two N Scale freight car announcements coming.  Doesn't say they are "new" so it could be new numbers or paint schemes on current products.

There were order deadline reminders -
    Reading T1 run #2  Order deadline June 25th 2026

Delivery Schedule listings:
    N ATSF 3751            June 2026
    N EMD SD70ACe            July 2026
    N USRA Light Mikado    September 2026
    N USRA Heavy Mikado    September 2026
    N USRA Light Pacific    September 2026
    N USRA Heavy Pacific    September 2026
    N EMD E7                    November 2026
    N EMD E8 / E9            November 2026
    N Reading T1            December 2026
    N 2-8-0 Consolidation    Winter 2026
    N Badlwin Sharknose    Winter 2026

And much more in HO.  They have a full schedule so let's hope they can do it.

Then they got to the Q & A part.

Q: “Do you have any plans to make any more N scale PRR steam engines like Q2, J1, or I1?” – conner_salvia_insta on Instagram

A: At the moment, our focus is on the PRR H-10 2-8-0 in N scale, following the success of our current 2-8-0 project. While we do not have plans to announce additional PRR steam locomotives such as the Q2, J1, or I1 right now, we know there is strong enthusiasm for Pennsylvania steam and always appreciate hearing what customers would like to see next!

Note the PRR H10 is not listed anywhere on the schedule yet.  The generic 2-8-0 is still vaguely listed as "Winter 2026".  I wouldn't be surprised to see it slip to 2027 since it's new tooling and they have the 4 heavy/light Pacific/Mikado also scheduled this Fall (September).  That's a LOT of work.  But it sounds like there has been enough interest (orders) for the 2-8-0 to make them think about the H10.  Fingers crossed.  I would like to see them do an I1 next.  It's time to send email to their suggestion box (as soon as I find it, I'll post it)

Q: “Is there a possibility for more Northerns in N scale in the future? Like the Milwaukee S3s, or CB&Q O5s?” – daniel_a_smeltzer on Instagram

A: At this time, we do not have Milwaukee Road S3s planned for N scale. As for the CB&Q O5s, our current thinking would be to first explore producing them in HO scale before considering an N scale version. We appreciate the suggestion, though—it’s always great hearing which prototypes customers are excited about!

[sandypsj]

In one of the letter responses they also noted that they're continuing work on N GP-35s, though with no firm announcement date yet.

[Mark5]

In one of the letter responses they also noted that they're continuing work on N GP-35s, though with no firm announcement date yet.

GP35s? I guess they put the GP30 on the back burner (which would make sense to me, given the Scale Trains GP30).

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=57669.msg812173#msg812173

[Dave V]

Bummer about the sharks. I have an A/B set on order. Meanwhile there are a ton of PRR sharks on eBay right now for blowout prices. I remember my old pair could pull stumps. I might just grab a pair anyway.

[mike_lawyer]

I am really hoping they do an I-1.  I would buy 5-6 of them.  The BLI M1 is a stellar model, and I am sure they would do the I1 justice.

I am glad to hear they are making an H10.  I suspect they will just modify the boiler and details from their generic 2-8-0.

[reinhardtjh]

Bummer about the sharks. I have an A/B set on order. Meanwhile there are a ton of PRR sharks on eBay right now for blowout prices. I remember my old pair could pull stumps. I might just grab a pair anyway.

I have a couple AB sets also, but I would go for a couple of the BLI ones when they come out.  The ER Sharks are nice and pull well but they sound like they already have a sound decoder in them when they don't!  They are real growlers.  Unfortunately, I don't think they growl like a Baldwin diesel.

I am glad to hear they are making an H10.  I suspect they will just modify the boiler and details from their generic 2-8-0.

Yes, apparently it's just the opposite of what they did in HO.  In HO the H10 came first, then they made a generic 2.8-0 using the H10 running gear.  In N, the generic is coming first, but they re-used the design work and it will have H10 running gear, so when the PRR H10 comes it will just need the H10 shell. 

[johnb]

I love how the Pennsy guys are begging for a H-10, while us SP guys are asking why we are getting a 2-8-0 in Daylight