Potential Bachmann EBT 2-8-2 project

I have been pestering the guys at York for probably the last 5 years about the EBT.  I pointed out that they have hopper cars decorated in the early EBT scheme and should follow through with some locos.

They had one man, apparently the big boss, who was overruling the rest of the EBT lovers on staff.  Maybe he has seen the light!

Tony

I'd be more interested in seeing a 8-18C 4-4-0, but any new narrow gauge loco is welcome.

Jeff C

Bill's Train Shop had an On3 offering of one of the EBT Mikado's (#12) several years ago.  It was a white metal, etched brass and resin kit.   On3 is not On30, so keep that in mind, On30 works with HO track I think??
There was also an offering of the only standard gauge EBT locomotive but it was in S scale. EBT #6 0-6-0 

Bill Wade, Bill's Train Shop, had some health concerns recently, contact BTS for any information on these models.
I have been please with any BTS kit that I have.  Most noted for this thread is the Orbisonia EBT station in O scale.

There are other East Broad Top buildings listed on the BTS website.  Three stations in O scale.  Click on the underlined phrases to link.

Hi Mike,

I am aware of the nice BTS products. As I understand the loco kits are out of production right now. I would prefer On3 myself, but getting a big company like Bachmann behind a project like this in affordable RTR plastic is really what is needed IMHO. On30 seems to have broader appeal so I'm ok with that since I can lay On30 track even easier thanks to www.custmtrax.com

PS. How did you like building the station kit? That one is on my list.

As much as I admire the EBT 2-8-2's, a more useful loco would be a Baldwin 2-8-0 (C-19, maybe, so as not to compete with the Accucraft C-16 at $600-$700). And also a 4-4-0.

Bachmann did a fine job with the Tweetsie 4-6-0 and I'm sure that a C-19 would be a surefire winner.

MikeCT said:

I am aware of the nice BTS products. As I understand the loco kits are out of production right now.

They are available on special order, per the current BTS price list:

O Scale
#16105 E.B.T. #12 On3 2-8-2 Kit Special Order
#16205 E.B.T. #12 On3 2-8-2 Semi-Kit Special Order

BTS also offered the kit in On30 but due to underwhelming demand they dropped it. Could be possible with a fair amount of work, to make one up in On30.

There is a reason that On30 has achieved such a wide popularity. Like it or not it is far more wide spread. The average On30 customer isn't going to pay for a BTS kit that they still have to assemble. Even if it was available. While I may consider a BTS kit myself, I would prefer to see a manufacturer like Bachmann produce one RTR. That would be better for most On30 modelers I imagine.

The reason I chose the EBT 2-8-2 is that it is arguably one of the most standard gauge looking engines out there. It could draw in more standard gauge modelers that aren't interested in the tiny critters and such. It looks like a "regular" steam engine. I have to admit that I fall into that camp. I have very little interest in many narrow gauge engines currently on the market. I stick with 2-6-0s, 4-6-0s, 2-8-0s, etc...

Also, EBT has been neglected for a long time. Perhaps this effort could also spread awareness about the current issues with the prototype?

Anyways, I like it and that's why I took the initiative to contact them. There are several others in the Facebook On30 group that have joined in so I guess I'm not alone. If it doesn't get done, then no big deal. It's worth a shot though.

I like the EBT but would not a D&RGW K27 or K36 sell better which is what Bachmann is looking for??

What I have wanted from Bachmann every since they got into On30, was for them

to make the darned things in On3, also, which doesn't seem like much of a stretch, and a no-brainer...given I am not the only person on the planet who would THEN buy

Bachmann.  (having to change axles and wheels sounds like a pain and way down

my to-do list)  They have a two-truck Heisler and 2-4-4-2 I would snatch up in 3 rail,

too.....but...On30????...no.  And, as said before, Atlas should be making On3 track

for them.  Wonder if the electronics systems are the obstacles?  In HO (On30), isn't

everything generic in electronics, without getting into Ford vs. Chevrolet?

The EBT Mikes are fairly large engines as are the D&RGW K27 and K36.    They may not work well on the sharper curves on that Bachman favors.   

I agree with all the points above.   Why ON30 which is oddball when they have a really nice product that would sell well as ON3.    There were no common carrier 30 inch gauge lines in the USA that I am aware of.    There were 36 inch (3ft gauge) in most states.    The Pennsylvania RR which is noted for large and standard, owned two narrow gauge (3 ft) lins that I am aware.   The Washington Waynesburg in western PA and the Ohio River & Western that ran from near Wheeling to Zanesville in Ohio.   

And finally I like the EBT mike the best.   It would sorely temp me.  

Another thought on EBT mikes.    There were major differences among them and they can be loosely groupred into 3 groups.   #12 the first one is the very noticeably smaller than the others and has slide valves.   #14 and #15 are the medium sized ones and have pistons valves.   #16, #17, and #18 I think are the largest and larger than 14 and 15.  they also have piston valves.   There are probably individual differences among the similar ones too.   But which would Bachman make.   #12 since it is the smallest might be made to run on the smallest radius.    On the other hand, the bigger ones invite multiple purchases, since there was more than one of each group.   It is quite a marketing puzzle.

The problem with Bachmann in On30 is that they don't make rolling stock to support the locomotives they make.

For example, they make the ET&WNC ten-wheeler in both the 1930s green-gold and the wartime black with gold stripes. But nothing other than that in that road name. And good luck finding accurate ET&WNC decals in O scale, even after all this time. Sadder still, the Bachmann 'high gon' is a halfway decent shorty version of the gons the Tweetsie had, but you have to remove the top two horinzontal boards from the sides to make that work better.

The passenger cars aren't the same, but a green coach with white ET lettering would be decent enough. But nope, Bachmann makes no cars for the RR name they make many locomotives for.

My point is if Bachmann makes engines in a specific roadname, they should make some cars to go with them!

p51, you got that right!

However, Deerfield River Laser (http://www.deerfieldriverlaser.com/) makes car sides for Tweetsie passenger cars, wherein you destroy several Bachmann passenger cars to get enough roofs and floors to finish a couple of cars. Unfortunately, DRL does not have kits for the ex-BRB&L cars, although maybe somehow a LaBelle kit could be made to work.

Yeah, I have the Deerfield kit for ET&WNC hack # 505, just haven't gotten around the building the thing just yet: http://www.deerfieldriverlaser.com/DRL-O-116.html Still debating on if I want to build the hack using a Bachmann undercarriage or not...

I was hoping that Bachmann might make a Tweetsie caboose but there never did (In G scale, they made #205 but that hack is way too early for the era I want to model anyway).

To sum it up in a single sentence: if Bachmann (or anyone else) produces a plastic RTR EBT locomotive in On30, I'll buy it.

I'm in an unusual position, in that the locomotive I most badly want (ET&WNC ten-wheeler) has already come out. So, as the old folks say, I have no dog in this hunt...

I must admit a WP&Y loco would be great. I have zero need for one, but I've ridden the White Pass personally, so it'd be neat to see one.

A EBT one would be great as well, both have a 'modern' look seriously lacking from On30 at this time.

That said, wouldn't D&GRW engines sell orders of magnitude more than either of the above? Sure, Rio Grande is modeled to death for NG, but numbers don't lie...