Manufacturers presented on this schedule:
3:00 PM Bachmann
3:30 PM Weaver
4:00 PM MTH
4:30 PM Lionel
Bachmann probably had the most "real" news. They are upgrading to a new digital sound system called True Blast Plus that will include the sounds of the prime mover as well as horn and bell. They will stay with analog (conventional) control for now because they say that's what 9 out of 10 of their customers want but they did not rule out some kind of digital command control in the future. Their next new locomotive will be an Alco RS-3 (MSRP: $429.95) in Pennsy, Rock Island, Seaboard Air Line, and Canadian National. It will have the new digital sound system. They are bringing out four cars for Easy Streets (MSRP $69.95): a maroon and cream sedan, a "Seamist" green sedan, a black and white police car with the "gum machine" rotating light on top, and a yellow taxi with a checkerboard stripe. While not any specific brand of car, they look like late 50s vintage to me (they are all the same basic 4-door body style). In rolling stock they are coming out with a 55-ton 2-bay USRA outside braced hopper with removable coal load (MSRP: $64.95) in B&O, Pennsy, Western Maryland, and Erie; and a single dome tank car (MSRP: $59.95) for Quaker State, C. E. Simonin's Sons, Inc., Sparton Oils, and Owenwood.
Bachmann also announced a new track line called E-Z track. It is rails on a molded plastic base that includes the road bed, similar to Lionel's FasTrack. The tie spacing looks similar to Lionel's and AtlasO's roadbed track systems. The rails look like standard 027 profile tubular rails with pins but the track bed also has electrical connectors so the pins are more to ensure alignment than to ensure electrical connectivity. The connecting mechanism looks very much like the one on Bachmann's HO line of E-Z Track. Initially it will be available in 10"straight, MSRP $24.95 for a card of four or in bulk at $139.95 for 24 pieces, 36" diameter curve pieces (12 to a circle) at the same pricing as the straights, a 10" straight terminal track for $12.95, and a straight transition track piece that connects with standard O track for $10.95. They also showed their 4-6-0 ten-wheeler decorated for PRR and heading up their Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Set. (Side note: when they asked if anybody in the room modeled in HO, not a single hand went up.)
My own comments: Not sure the hobby really needs another RS-3 but maybe the people who want a conventional control locomotive with the durability of Williams by Bachmann asked for it. Seems to me there is a void to be filled in Baldwin diesel road switchers. I was surprised that we are getting yet another track system. It had previously looked like Bachmann was going to use AtlasO's roadbed track system. The Pennsy ten-wheeler is a handsome paint scheme, looks like it could make a nice piece of motive power for a Christmas layout with its subdued red and green that is not as gaudy as most pieces made specifically for the holiday theme.
Weaver is bringing back the Osgood-Bradley passenger cars and this time single cars will be available in addition to multi-car sets. They are also bringing back the WWII-era troop cars. Interesting factoid from the Weaver presenter: troop trains were first used in 1846 for the Mexican-American War. They also showed their Lehigh Valley Black Diamond streamlined steam locomotive in brass and indicated that nearly all the Milwaukee Road rib-side boxcars were now available or in production. As usual, Weaver items are available in both 2-rail and 3-rail.
I'm sorry I got called away during the MTH presentation but from the rolling stock that Mike presented, it seemed to focus on Standard Gauge tinplate and O scale subway sets. Maybe somebody else can chime in with the news from MTH.
The Lionel presentation began with J. Don Reece, who presented the Museum with a Legacy Bethlehem Steel Shay steam locomotive. Then he called up Jerry Calabrese who talked about the move to Charlotte, North Carolina (where the NASCAR model company Lionel acquired was already located). Then he talked about how things have changed during the time he has been at Lionel and how glad he was that everybody was talking about trains and products and improving the hobby. This was a big change from 2004 when he started with Lionel and the hobby was in turmoil with litigation. Right about then, Mike Wolf came through the room taking the MTH models back to his car and Jerry joked that he knew that Mike had timed it to come out right at that time while Jerry was talking. Matt Ashba and J. Don took back the stage to talk about products. There was too much for me to catch, but here's what I remember: Lots of new American Flyer including a C&O GP-7 set with multiple action cars. Also an S-scale Polar Express with a brand-new Berkshire locomotive. On the O gauge side, there will be a "modern" Polar Express with an FT diesel and 027 plastic streamlined passenger cars. There will also be a gold-plated scale Polar Express Berkshire, a very limited edition. There will be a Neil Young Series of train sets including a Pennsy passenger set with 15" aluminum cars including a flat-tail observation car and a freight set with a roadname I don't remember. (CRS is hitting me hard.) CORRECTION: I see from the catalog it is the Neil Young Signature series and it consists of two passenger trains, the Pennsy one and "The Texas Special." The "Made in USA" line will be expanded with three-car sets (boxcar, flatcar, and tank car) honoring each of the armed forces including a separate set for the National Guard. As I recall, they did include the Coast Guard. There was quite a bit of discussion about their rail chief sets and the new control system. I felt the main point was that they could not provide the command control capabilities at an acceptable economical price point if they tried to do something along the lines of "Legacy Lite." But the Rail Chief sets are compatible with all existing O gauge command control systems in that the trains just need to be put on track that has a constant 18 volts. There are no conflicts between the different control systems. Finally, they showed a new line of Christmas ornaments that are packaged by time period sets so the customer can choose between say, pre-war and post-war eras.
I'm sure I omitted a lot and I'm sure much more will come from the fairgrounds and especially the OGR Forum meeting in the grandstand on Friday but maybe this will provide a little bit of the flavor of what is coming.
