GM Train of Tomorrow-Shipping from Sunset Models 12-23-14

I think the ToT is a bargain.  I am really surprised it was not more.

What part of the "I'm kidding" and grinning smiley face eluded you? Good grief...

 

For the record (and I've stated this before), I consider 3rd Rail to be the perfect business model for today's O scale market--in part because Scott keeps his prices so reasonable for the superior quality he delivers.

 

Guys, adjust the skivvies...my post wasn't meant seriously, and anyone who can read at a third grade level should have enough working DNA to figure that out.

 

Jeff C

 

 

Well Jeff we were all just kidding too.

 

I never plan on selling my ToT, but I am curious what these sets might bring on the secondary market in 2 or 3 years.

 

The beauty of the ToT set is that even folks who run only X or Y Railroad on their layouts could still run the ToT.

 

I also believe that unless it is done by 3rd Rail, these sets will likely never be done again.

 

If there is only 70 sets made, they likely will rarely come up on the market for resale. 

 

Jim

Guys,

 

I do apologize if anyone took my post the wrong way--at times I do have an odd, quirky sense of humor, and I realize those of you who purchased the train have a large emotional investment in the model.

 

No harm was intended. 

 

Jeff C

Folks:

 

It's now Sunday Dec. 7th and the container ship with GMTOT has not docked at the Port of Oakland. Time is ticking...

 

 

I have this train on order and I am really excited about adding it to my collection as is everyone else.  This set is outside of my PRR stable of engines and what I usually purchase.  However,not being a real collector in the true sense,I wonder if this set will be one of the true collector sets of our time,on par with the Lionel PW stuff that is in so much demand?

Scott,how about a PRR N2?

 

Norm

"wonder if this set will be one of the true collector sets of our time,on par with the Lionel PW stuff that is in so much demand?"

 

Norm, only time will tell, but it is very unique in O-Gauge and I think it will become highly sort after in the secondary market. One of the reasons is this train will fit in well with any layout that can handle 21" passenger cars as GMTOT visited many cities served by a wide variety of railroads. So it will be right at home on your PRR layout.

 

Of course I'll never be able to operate the Train of Tomorrow on any of my meager displays. But I'm very excited for those who are anticipating delivery to their layouts and am counting the days when you'll be sharing pictures and videos of what appears to me, will be one of the most marvelous sets to ever enter our hobby.

For all of us who are "foamers" so far as anticipating the arrival of the T of T is concerned, to feed our addiction here is the latest map of where the container ship bringing your set from Santa's warehouse at the North Pole is at the moment:

 

 

 

The vessel is the Sea-land Charger and anyone on the Bay Bridge or peering across the bay from east San Fran might have a view of her.

 

I know nothing about the container port at Oakland save what I have just read (see below) but it looks to me that the ship has been lying at anchor outside the port for about 

two days, which is more time than it took to sail up from L.A.!

 

The Wiki history of the port includes this curious bit:

 

In the late 19th century, the Southern Pacific was granted exclusive rights to the port, a decision the city soon came to regret. In January 1906, a small work party in the employ of the Western Pacific Railroad, which had just begun construction, hastily threw a crossing over the SP line to connect the WP mainline with trackage built on an area of landfill. This act, protested by the SP and later held up in court, broke the railroad's grip on the port area. The courts ruled that all landfill since the date of the agreement did not belong to the SP. This ruling ended SP control and made the modern Port of Oakland possible. 

 

 

Here is why:

 

LONG BEACH, California U.S. West Coast contract negotiations could go one of two ways when the International Longshore and Warehouse Union convenes a caucus in San Francisco in the week beginning Dec. 15.
If the ILWU leadership believes there is enough substance in what has been negotiated by then, it would seek authorization to sign a tentative contract that would then have to be approved in a vote by the rank and file in the ensuing weeks. Conversely, if the unions leaders are not comfortable with what they have to present to the caucus, they would decide to return to the negotiating table with the Pacific Maritime Association.
That latter option could be devastating. With the Christmas holidays at hand, no significant progress in negotiations could be expected for the rest of the month. Extending the contract negotiations into 2015 would be extremely costly for shipping lines, terminal operators and especially the importers and exporters who depend upon the U.S.West Coast gateways.
Cargo interests represented  by dozens of trade organizations have been clamoring for a quick resolution to the contract negotiations before the talks even began back in May. More recently, those groups have been calling for federal mediation to expedite an agreement. Since the government will usually call in a mediator only if the PMA and ILWU request one, the prospect of prolonged negotiations could force the hand of employers.
For example, the Agriculture Transportation Coalition hosted a meeting of Washington farmers and business leaders in Seattle to call for resolution of a contract and to highlight the economic impact ILWU slowdowns at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma are having on the states businesses and workers.
Our 100-plus hourly workers are seeing up to a 40-percent reduction in hours from earlier this year, said Blaine Calaway, vice president of sales, China, at Calaway Trading. Calculating overtime, that means it could be upwards of a $150 loss a week per person, he said.
Longshoremen up and down the West Coast, however, are not suffering due to the ILWU work slowdowns the PMA says have been underway at all of the major gateways since late October.
Man-hours paid to longshoremen in November were 26 percent higher than during November 2013, according to numbers posted on the PMA website for Los Angeles-Long Beach, which handles about 70 percent of the container volume that moves through the West Coast. However, total container volume year-to-date through the nations busiest port complex was up only 4 percent compared to last year, according to the PMA.
That means longshoremen have been receiving large paychecks while many employees at the hundreds of importing and exporting companies that ship through the West Coast have been hurting. According to the PMA annual report for 2013, the average annual earnings for a full-time Class A longshoreman who worked at least 2,000 hours last year were $137,253. The average earnings for an ILWU marine clerk who worked at least 2,000 hours were $154,842, while the average earnings for full-time ILWU foremen in 2013 were $213,120. The average earnings could be higher this year due to the extra hours being worked.
The ILWU has its calendar and its slowdowns all of which have created worsening economic conditions for people who make a living off cargo moving through the West Coast ports.  In recent weeks, the ILWU has not demonstrated any urgency in reaching a fair and balanced agreement any time soon," the PMA said.
Trade organizations representing importers, exporters and other businesses that make their livings through port activities say the ILWU has no sense of urgency to reach a contract settlement because longshoremen are profiting from the port congestion that they are in part responsible for. When a new contract is reached, if past is precedent, the wage increase in the new contract will be paid retroactively from the July 1 expiration of the old contract.
Shipping lines are incurring millions of dollars of losses due to port congestion and ILWU work slowdowns because their vessels are being thrown off schedule and are forced to wait at anchor for berths. A Port of Tacoma spokeswoman said international containerships are experiencing delays of 12-15 days upon reaching port.
The Marine Exchange of Southern California reported Wednesday morning that five containerships were waiting at anchor outside the ports. That was up from three container vessels at anchor on Tuesday.
The question that cargo interests are anxious to have answered is what outstanding issues remain after seven months of contract negotiations? The one point that the PMA and ILWU seem to have agreed upon is not to discuss the contents of the contract talks outside of the negotiations, so that question can not be answered at this time. The PMA and ILWU in late August issued a joint press release stating that a tentative agreement had been reached on medical benefits. That was assumed to be one of the most controversial contract issues entering into the negotiations.
Terminal operators can not continue indefinitely to pay 26 percent more in labor costs each week than they did in 2013 for handling only a 4 percent increase in cargo. Shippers of perishable agricultural products are suffering even more. AgTC members in the Pacific Northwest report that the port slowdowns have left produce rotting and crippled their ability to fulfill contracts. They also told stories of having to lay off employees while reducing the hours of others right as the holiday season approaches, AgTC stated in a press release Wednesday.
These individuals are worried about how to keep food on the table and buy Christmas presents, Calaway said.
The ILWU caucus is set to begin on Dec. 15 and could last up to a week, if necessary. Once a tentative agreement is reached, it could take several weeks to complete the voting process at the local ports.
 

 

 

Very informative update on this issue, Scott.

The longshoremen that stole Christmas, for a lot of folks.  Guess its hard to get by on the salary of a brain surgeon!

 

Stack

That's true! It was in the original draft of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Suess:

 

“…Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Who’s feast!

He took the Who-Pudding! He took the roast beast!

Then he grabbed a red sack. And without any sorrow.

He took their E7 and their Train of Tommorrow…”

 

It's a holiday Classic!

 

Emile

Emile, I hope this helps.

 

Dang, why did no one mentioned Longshoremen at career day!

Been thinking about a second act career, at 150k plus a full pension sounds like I should brush up on my maritime knowledge.

Still hoping to see the ToT before the tree comes down, I have my doubts Santa will be able to wrestle these from the container.

UPDATE as of 14:09 PST, 9 December: Sea-land Charger is now moored at the Port of Oakland. Whether this means it's being unloaded or will be shortly I do not know but this is more promising than it being out in the middle of the bay. Believe!

"UPDATE as of 14:09 PST, 9 December: Sea-land Charger is now moored at the Port of Oakland. Whether this means it's being unloaded or will be shortly I do not know but this is more promising than it being out in the middle of the bay. Believe!"

 

I also took a look at the ship's status this afternoon and it looks like it has docked. If Scott is following this thread, perhaps he can give us an update.

 

And yes,

 

 !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

my oldest daughter is a neurosurgeon and she makes BANK but she pays ungodly student loans!!  if I would have been paid the union  wage for a longshoreman she could have went to school on ME!!   But that's cause I'm frugal; read Cheap, Knowing how to live on nothing is a skill my parents taught me. Thank god for my parents knowledge and the depression or I would be in debt also! And I sure couldn't afford to play with O scale at all.

Actually, the salary quoted is only 1/3 of what the average brain surgeon makes,  The median salary for a brain surgeon in the U.S. is about $400,000 per year. 

 

Looking forward to receiving my ToT, but it comes when it comes.  I'm just happy its on its way!

 

Jim

 

 

I'll be happy not to read about longshoremen or brain surgeons ever again after some of them (I don't care which) unload Sea-land Charger and get those trains set moving.

 

It's more educational tracking this ship than reading Lionel's shipping schedule. It must be about to be unloaded because its next port of call is Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands where it's meant to be in a mere 4 days!

 

UPDATE at 21:25 PST Monday: It appears that Sea-Land Charger has in fact been unloaded and has left the Port of Oakland as it is again at sea and headed north along the California coast.

Hey All.

 

Just got an email from Scott looking for info on Keith. I sent Keith a message through his profile, but if any of you have a direct link to him, please let him know that Scott is trying to get him the TOT ASAP!

 

Here's the email I sent Keith.

 

Hi Keith,

Heath Barker from the forum here. Scott M. wants to know if you ordered the TOT through a dealer. As you may be aware, we are trying to get you the first one. Could you please provide this information?

Thanks,

Heath

 

Any help would be appreciated fellas.

Looks like the ship has left the port/dock and is sailing away.

 

Stu

Ok fellas,

 

Proof that good things happen to good people at the right time...

 

Scott M. has been notified via email, and it appears we also should keep Keith in our thoughts and prayers this holiday season.

 

From Keith:

 

What a great effort. I feel like I'm reading a script to a new Christmas movie. Keith certainly deserves #1

 

Happy yuletide.

 

rat

Okay Emile, now how did the happy ending to "The Longshoremen that don't make as much as brain surgeons do, but were gonna steal Christmas anyways" go?

 

Kieth, hope you have a fast recovery, and God bless!

 

Stack

Those of us who took the position to just " BELIEVE" have placed their faith in the right place. Looks like positive things are happening.

 

It would be a real treat if Keith can have his ToT by Christmas morning. He has had some heath issues this year and I am sure this is what the doctor ordered. He is such a nice and talented guy.

 

Thanks to Emile, Nawlins, and Hancock52 for your willingness to help. Sa nta appreciates all of you. 

Just got the call from Chase that GGD was processing the charge for the Train of Tomorrow, one step closer to seeing it arrive at my front door.

 

Breaking the 3 month drought on new goodies for me....YAY!

 

Best,

Jason

 

Jason, I know you have been a very good boy this year. Santa has taken due notice. I am informed he is working closely with Scott as we speak to get your GMToT to you directly. This is what Christmas presents are made of.

 

Since the ship carrying these gems has left port, I would say that things are looking up. And remember, there are twelve days of Christmas.

With apologies to Dr. Suess and English teachers everywhere: Here is the unpublished ending to the first draft of "How the Grinch stole Christmas" by Dr. Suess:

 

...Then a plan was put forth by the Guys in the Thread

to send the first Train to Keith who was home sick in bed.

So the group went to work, indeed, quite resolute.

til the plan got derailed by a Contract dispute.

 

As the Forum grew doubtful of any chance to receive,

The “Train of Tommorrow”, before Christmas Eve.

A way to save Christmas, they could not conceive

Until Passenger Train Collector told them all to “BELIEVE”

 

So they Believed for three hours, till their Believers were sore.

Then they all thought of something They hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," They thought, "doesn't land on our shore."

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

 

And what happened then? Well...in Oakland they say,

That the Longshoremen’s Contract grew three sizes that day!

Soon the OGR Forum heard the news with great glee,

That the ship was unloaded and was back out to sea.

 

And a call could be heard all over the land.

You contact Keith! and I’ll call Scott Mann!

So Scott took the reigns and without any fail

Got to work with the folks at Sunset/Third Rail.

 

Days later, on Christmas, at the annual feast,

The “Train of Tomorrow” was delivered to Keith.

“You guys are the most!” he said, “To say the least!”

And a Guy called The Big Crab Cake got to carve the Roast Beast!

 

Emile

 

I like a happy ending. I hope that the T of T sets in their shipping cartons are at Scott's.

Way to go BigCrabCake.  I must tip my chapeau to you sir.

Our freight forwarder told us today by email that our container would be released on 12.17. At that time, they schedule a truck and trailer to carry the container.  Sometimes same day, sometimes 3 days later. Another bottleneck.

 

Kieth, hang in there buddy!

 

On my way to China via Korea at this time.

 

RDCs and Timken / NP A1 to be completed and loaded in another container 12.29.

 

These guys are fast. So I have to watch them carefully.

 

And yes, I will be back on the 21st for the holidays...

 

Again, thank you all for your wonderful support, making these projects possible and accurate. I couldn't do it without you.

 

Regards,

 

Scott Mann - 38,000 feet over Japan.

The seven day wait is actually a barrier to thwart human traffickers all though no one in the industry will admit it.

Safe travels Scott - I hope you have (or had) a view of Mt. Fuji.

Remember, there are twelve days of Christmas, so I am confident that most will receive theirs by then.

 

I still have a vivid picture in my mind just how good this set looks using the one I saw at York as a reference point.

 

 

Those train sets may be safest left in the shipping container for now, as that huge Pacific storm is reeking havoc in California as we speak.  I recv'd an email alert from UPS this morning that a small package is being delayed, and delivery (expected for 12/18) will very likely be re-scheduled. I was hoping the package would get out of CA before the weather got dicey, but no such luck.    

 

More importantly, I wish everyone on the West Coast all the best during this very significant storm.  It's looking to be one for the record books.  Stay safe out there!

 

David

Emile, ha ha ha, you got talent!  You are a class act and good sport!

 

Stack