Been thinking about this for a while now.Are any new companys coming along to make o gauge trains?I for one hope so it would mean more choices in the market.Well guys lets hear your opions.
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Have you ever been to a large train show? Or better yet, to York's semi-annual meets?
There are an awful lot of trains out there right now for sale and probably hundreds of times as many 'not for sale'. No one truly knows how many are 'out there' in all but the number is staggering.
Take a look at this economy and especially the shenanigans going on in Washington and it would be highly unlikely that a new company of any size would step into the O gauge market nowadays. The big guys are probably struggling and know the ropes better than a newcomer.
Small one or two man (or woman) operations might have good success with a specialized product or service as many are doing now but my guess would be a No to your original question. Too bad too...
A line I have used in another recent post:
Ain't gonna happen...no way, no how, no time.
My feeling is there are already too many choices in the existing market, given all the changes that have taken place in the economy and the hobby itself in recent years. That's simply a realistic view of what's going on, even though we all may wish it wasn't true.
Originally Posted by c.sam:
Have you ever been to a large train show? Or better yet, to York's semi-annual meets?
There are an awful lot of trains out there right now for sale and probably hundreds of times as many 'not for sale'. No one truly knows how many are 'out there' in all but the number is staggering.
Take a look at this economy and especially the shenanigans going on in Washington and it would be highly unlikely that a new company of any size would step into the O gauge market nowadays. The big guys are probably struggling and know the ropes better than a newcomer.
Small one or two man (or woman) operations might have good success with a specialized product or service as many are doing now but my guess would be a No to your original question. Too bad too...
I wish I could say your wrong about wdc but your not.Any way it would be another company come on the feild.They might have been able to make trains that put out black smoke.Or put out trains in lester used railroads.Such as a seaboard air line rr or the dixie line.
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
A line I have used in another recent post:
Ain't gonna happen...no way, no how, no time.
My feeling is there are already too many choices in the existing market, given all the changes that have taken place in the economy and the hobby itself in recent years. That's simply a realistic view of what's going on, even though we all may wish it wasn't true.
Sorry Allan, but here's a scoop for you. We are bringing back Dorfan. We, meaning John Hoover, me and Andries Grabowsky. And, it's going to be made in the USA.
That's remarkable news Allen - Let's hope things go well!
Dunno if "bringing back Dorfan" is a reality, but that wouldn't thrill me, depending on
what they are making...something historical reproduced, or new products? First
Williams was a breath of fresh air, and then, K-Line (both makers gone) and then
MTH, with fresh and new, who has now morphed into electronics and the European market. I'd sure like to see that breath of fresh air again.
Originally Posted by Dave Allen:
Sorry Allan, but here's a scoop for you. We are bringing back Dorfan. We, meaning John Hoover, me and Andries Grabowsky. And, it's going to be made in the USA.
Well, you should know I certainly wish you folks well with your new venture. Tinplate is a limited market to begin with--a small niche within a small niche--but it does have a devoted following. I guess time will tell how well an incarnation of Dorfan might do, but the world and the hobby always has room for more entrepreneurs.
Be sure to keep me posted as the products materialize. I can certainly help out with "Smoke Signals" listings in the magazine and even product reviews once production models become available. And, of course, you might want to consider ads in the magazine.
We'll provide support however we can.
The last "really new" entrants into mainstream model railroad manufacturing were probably Exact Rail and Rapido Trains. Both manufactures of high quality HO and N.
Exact Rail recently went direct only and Rapido builds to reservations.
There probably isn't enough 2 rail Scale O folks out there to be a viable market and I don't think they'd want the hassle of making their stuff three rail compatible.
Rusty
