Folks,
I am back at the factory in China finishing up the finer touches on the GGD SF El Capitan Sets and working on a host of new projects.
Early April we received our long awaited container with the Timken 4-Aces, RDC Cars and GGD Aluminum Finish Sets. We thank those of you that waited almost 3 months for us to get these in due to the port delays. Things are now back to normal regarding the Ports.
We currently have some 2R and 3R Timken 4-Aces (GREEN) left, a couple of the NP A-1s in various configurations (Oil or Coal), and a few RDCs remaining in the warehouse. We are currently contacting our Standby Orders for the RDCs. I was just informed that we have 2 or 3 sets of UP Finish Sets that are not being picked up by the dealer we were holding them for. So they are available too.
Regarding the RDCs, if you think you have missed out, think again. We have 150 more at the factory, not decorated yet in 2R or 3R, RDC-1 (Passenger) or RDC-2 (Combine), waiting for follow on orders from our customers. If you want to have one of these later this summer or fall, please go to our web site and reserve one. We will make it for you. http://www.3rdrail.com/reservation.htm.
If you have a 3R RDC and wish to get a 2R set of pilots with Kadee couplers, we are selling these $50 / set with S&H. Contact us at: info@3rdrail.com
When I come to the factory, I get first hand knowledge of what is happening, when and why. We are always adjusting the schedules based on orders, parts delivery and length of production. Here is the current schedule.
1. The SF El Capitan cars are almost done. They will be finished April 28th and promptly loaded on a container. We should have them for shipping out in late May. We have many stand by orders, so we are considering a short 2nd run to fill those orders. If you are interested in obtaining a 2nd run set, please email me. We think this is the finest aluminum set we have ever made. Each car has many brass castings inserted into the body. The windows are all poly carbonate, and very transparent. See our web site for pictures: http://www.goldengatedepot.com/reservation.html
2. The CP P-2 Mikados are in production and will be finished in May arriving in June. We hope that the Canadian Dollar will recover some by this time. Lets wait and see. We will hold customer orders for a few months if they wish, waiting for a better exchange rate. We should have a sample to show you in a week.
3. The Erie S3/S4 Berkshire: This project was to be produced in the Philippines over a year ago, but the builder there (A Korean Builder) does not have the resources to finish the model. We are shipping all the finished components to our main factory here in China to complete this model. I can't tell you how disappointed I am in these guys. It's another reason you should never consider importing model trains. You just never know what's going to happen. The quality of this model is superb, but the stability and logistics of doing business here leaves something to be desired. We should have this model completed in the Fall of this year. We will be emailing customers with reservations about it.
4. The Powhatan Arrow Sets, B&O Cincinnatian Sets, and Budd Slumber Coaches are entering production in June. But the builder is ordering the parts next week, so we need to close out the reservations and produce only to our reservations up to April 20th. Please get your reservations in now or we will only be able to offer you a standby reservation for these.
5. The F7 Diesels are entering production now. The shells are getting their detail treatment and decoration, the chassis with our horizontal motor power system are being assembled and tested. We expect these to be finished in June for a July Delivery. Pictures will be presented when samples are finished. Thank you all for your continued support for our diesel projects. The SD7 and SD9 is in design right now and we will be announcing a new diesel project shortly.
6. The GGD Modernized HW Coaches are to be finished in 10 days. I am traveling to this other factory to inspect them. We will advise the arrival date after my inspection is complete and a container has been reserved.
7. The D&RGW L-131 project design is in full swing. The SP S-12 and CB&Q O-1 designs are beginning. The Harriman Plastic car project design is almost complete so we have a full production schedule for 2015.
We hope you all have a wonderful Spring and Summer. I will not be going to York next week as I need to be here for inspections, but Bob Heil and Company will be there to greet you and answer any questions you may have.
Best Regards,
Scott Mann - Qingdao China
I was fortunate enough to have cleared the stand-by list (very quickly) for an eight-car set, but I am currently on stand-by for two extra cars. Hearing this, I am considering two more add-on cars as well for a 12-car set. 
Might go old school and pick up the phone. 
