Menards Beta 4.0 FP9 in Santa Fe Blue Bonnet

I like the blue paint scheme but I’m gonna pass.

Steve

Ordered one...let's see how it does

SOLD OUT!

Sold out, alas! JohnA

Ordered set for shipment to my store. Looks like a deal.

Hielsie

I like the blue and silver paint scheme.

That has to be a record!

I've lost interest. Couldn't buy the earlier ones because they were sold out before I even knew about them.  Happened to catch the email for the new 4.0 AA as it arrived and immediately clicked the shop button and.....already sold out in fewer minutes than fingers on one hand. I'm done. Out.  Not even going to open the next email. (No I'm not mad. Just done with this process).   --JohnM

TOO late, ALL "SOLD OUT"!!    Darn, was going to order one!

Received email at 2:51p.m.

Oh well - one of these days, when they're ready, I'll get one.  Hopefully in Reading or WM colors.  This is just like the times before though, Shortly before I heard about it they were already gone.  Certainly shows the interest is still there.

I ordered one! My grandkids love the F3 I got last year it’s a Beta 3 and runs great!!

Roger

Hmm...what to do?

I think I'll, er, pass.

I got the e-mail (but didn't become aware of it) at 1:21 PM CDT, finally read it at 3:00 PM and then immediately found it was sold out.  The color scheme is nice, and I was actually tempted to order this time. Ah well...there's always versions 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, etc., to look forward to.   

I just got the email. All sold out! D**n!

Anyone with a red warbonnet willing to sell theirs at a reasonable price, im interested!

***Update*** I received multiple offers. Thanks to all who have reached out to me.

Someone already posted this bluebonnet set for $525.00 on that auction site!

Update 1:04am. That bluebonnet set on da bay HAS BEEN SOLD!

how does one go about getting on the Menards e-mail notification list?

Got an email and was walking the dog.  Took too long.  When I came back, sold out.   I am glad that Menards is out there producing engines and hopefully the prompt sell outs will assure them that there is still a lot of interest in o gauge..

wow, did this one go fast.

Marty

So, still no conventional capabilities, I surmise?  Not a big deal for me as I'm pretty much 100% command, but for the silent majority who are conventional only, seems like a potential limitation, no?  No way to easily operate these nice locos on the same loop/track as your conventional locos.  Same limitation with LionChief, but all of Lionel's others locos are some version of command control and thus operate using fixed voltage on the track.  Ditto for MTH's PS3.

Sold out! A sure sign I didn't need this anyway (expecially another test dummy).

Looks like Menard's is still using that goofy chrome finish on the pilots and trucks.

Wow! That sell out was fast. Can someone post a review?

I saw one for sale at York (don't recall which version).  Looked nice, but the asking price was $300 - roughly double the initial price.  Not going to buy into the hype - I don't view these as being collectable. 

The new version appears to be fairly priced, if it works.  The lack of conventional operation is a deal-breaker for me.  I look at this as something I might use on my club's layout - not the end of the world if something bad happens to it.

Considering the apparent demand (or frenzy) for the engine, I'll bet that Menards will eventually get the bugs out and make them in sufficient quantity.  Kind of surprised they didn't get it done for this holiday season.  At that point, my guess is that the price point will be around $200 for the AA pair, so there's not a lot of value in being on the bleeding edge.

Same number on both units?

Just read my personal email. Darn!!!

Looks great Mark !!! I like the addition of the non powered unit. Priced right. I’m setting up my email client to alert me the next time I get this kind of message.

Ken

Got the e-mail.  Exciting!  Pulled off the road.  Tried to go to the website but was in a bad cell zone.  No dice.  Sold out before I could get a signal.  I'll look forward to reading the feedback from fellow forum members.  I like the AA set idea.  Having a matching dummy is a great addition.  I have a previous Beta.  I would love to see a Rock Island or other Midwest road name.

I like the new Hobby Shop that matches the strip mall.  Menards continues to contribute to the hobby!  Very cool.

Mike

@Craignor posted:

Same number on both units?

The description on Menard’s website does state: “Powered and unpowered units match perfectly.”

prrhorseshoecurve, i emailed you about one i'll sell. shipped for 220. Thanks, Dave

Wish they would do another rail road than Santa-Fe.

I just returned from Menards 30 minutes ago!  I was looking at the train display and thinking to myself these guys should be announcing another locomotive for sale fairly soon as the Christmas Season is nearly upon us.

Lo and behold I get home and see an email for a blue version Santa Fe, I took a chance and hit the purchase button and sure enough it was SOLD OUT!   If I had stayed at home instead of visiting the store - I would have seen the email in time.    But alas it wasn't meant to be.

Hopefully there will be one offered for Christmas and if not a very special release of some kind.

Maybe, Menards will make a few additional Blue and Silver Santa Fe units. Hopefully, they make more F units in other road names. There are so many beautiful paint schemes they could make.

@prrhorseshoecurve - Are you going to take @DaveNichols up on his offer?

@Dave Nichols posted:

prrhorseshoecurve, i emailed you about one i'll sell. shipped for 220. Thanks, Dave

Thanks for the offer but another offer came in earlier than yours. I replied to your email as well.

@Dave Nichols posted:

prrhorseshoecurve, i emailed you about one i'll sell. shipped for 220. Thanks, Dave

Hi Dave - if there is still one available, I’d love to take it off your hands. Thanks! Kevin

Man that’s disappointing. I got an email about Halloween sales from them this morning which I opened but nothing else…. Is there another mailing list I need to sign up for? Really would have loved to pick on of these up.

I guess there’s always next year lol

@Allegheny posted:

I just returned from Menards 30 minutes ago!  I was looking at the train display and thinking to myself these guys should be announcing another locomotive for sale fairly soon as the Christmas Season is nearly upon us.

Lo and behold I get home and see an email for a blue version Santa Fe, I took a chance and hit the purchase button and sure enough it was SOLD OUT!   If I had stayed at home instead of visiting the store - I would have seen the email in time.    But alas it wasn't meant to be.

Hopefully there will be one offered for Christmas and if not a very special release of some kind.

I was there, there this morning and they had none in their display, and this time I did not receive an e mail

Just out of curiousity, what was the Menards list price?

Jack - go to GG1's link in the OP for all the features as well as the price.

Just gonna say that if Menards doesn't get off the fence and just make the darn things in a regular production run, they are going to tick off more folks then they are pleasing.  How many darn beta tests do you need to make to get a final production version.  Come on Menards, you can do better than this.  If even the beta test versions are selling out in a few min, then wouldn't you think its past time to make a proper production run of these????   Just sayin!   AD