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I know it's a bizarre (and likely too expensive) idea, but seeing a lot of topics brought up by many forum members of swapping or changing out tenders on certain steam engines either to add flavor to their roster or better match a certain prototype. I think it would be a relatively good idea in some cases, and of course built to order, to have some engines and tenders available for separate sale. I'm happy Lionel did this at least once with their Polar Express Berkshire, but maybe a couple more would be nice for me, especially with one of my future projects where I DO plan on getting it kick started soon.

 

Any agreements?

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Well, I'd love it, but I do feel that too few of those in the 3RO world tend to do what I

would call "model railroading" in the build (or modify)-your-own to make it worthwhile.

It has been done - K-line had a Vanderbilt available, and the expensive Lionel PT is out there - but I wish that it were done more. 

 

Maybe occasionally, L and M?

It would be nice, but I think it would be more prudent for 2 forum members to do so in a trade.

 

The one issue I see is the need to swap electronics so each person would keep their preferred sound files.  Not a biggie, one side would have to take it upon themselves to transfer the electronics between tenders and then send it back to the other person.

Originally Posted by Lee Willis:

I would love it, as you can pick up from my posts, but I doubt it would make much sense to any manufacturer.  

Lee,

I doubt that any of the manufacturers would do so. To you and I it does make sense. To them it would not make sense as it would cost a lot of cents. And as you and I are aware.  A few cents here and there does ad up to many thousands over time.

You probably won't because for every one of you who thinks it's a good idea, there are probably TEN or TWENTY who would say, "What good is a locomotive without a tender?" and probably FIFTY who call it a "coal car" and a THOUSAND who wouldn't know the difference between the correct prototypical tender or a bar of soap.

 

Who do you think the train manufacturers are going to market to?

Last edited by Matt Kirsch
Originally Posted by Norton:

Williams used to offer all of their Post War Repro tenders for separate sale as did HO brass importers. There is a market out there. Lionel and other manufacturers could include them in their pre order lineup if they were concerned with getting stuck with them.

 

Pete

Like you say Williams before Bachmann used to sell the tenders by themselves but not any more. You can only buy the engine & tender from WBB now.

For the first year that Bachmann took over Williams they had the tenders for sale but stopped it as soon as the supply was gone.

 

Lee Fritz

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