Santa Fe Fans - Looks Like 3rd Rail Dropped the Santa Fe Prairie - What would be a desireable next choice?

hello guys and gals......

 

How about a 4115 class Santa Fe Berkshire ? There was never one made in 3 rail "O" scale.

 

Tiffany

I hope something good to satisfy Santa Fe fans!

WITZ 41 - I was targeting a Santa Fe wish list because there are some meets coming up which Scott picks up ideas.  I'm sorry it wasn't clear.  Scott has dropped the last two Santa Fe engines for lack of interest.  I was hoping to get one that would generate enough interest.

 

That UP 4-8-2 is a fine looking engine!

 

Tiffany - a 4115 was part of the 4101 Class Berkshires - That is another one on my list.  That would be fine with me.

 

Well I had a Hudson ordered but NOT the Prairie as it was just a bit too early for me. Not that I'm all about era... I'm looking through my SF library now. Pacific, Hudson, Northern, Texas, Mountain... they have been done... or tried to anyways. I would go for a Mikado

Got it Marker! edited post.  Go Santa Fe!

2-10-2's ???

I still want the Hudson. Would also love the 4000 Mikado. I wish Weaver would do the big Hudson if Scott cannot get enough takers.

3rd Rail already did Santa Fe 2-10-2's.

+1. I still want the Super Hudson as well

       
       
I know but I don't have one wishful thinking on my part

Hello marker............

 

I would buy one of those if they would put one of those ball bearing "quiet drives" in it that uses the toothed belt drive system.  I serviced my Sunset 3rd S.F. 5011 and this engine uses one of those quiet drive system and so far it has hold up well as far as wear and tear is concern.  I use Red and Tacky #2 and it did a very outstanding job keeping the wear low (gear tooth wear) after putting more than 20 hours of running time on it.  I noticed Sunset 3rd rail changes gearboxes from locomotive to locomotive.

If they put this drive in the Berk, count me in.

 

Tiffany 

Group, I just went to the website and it still shows it.  It also allows me to click on it to get to the reserve page where it's still listed as well.   

 

Nick

 

Something that would help the project would probably be if there were different versions in the same class.  Many times a buyer will buy more than one engine if there are differences and that would help chances of getting it produced.

 

As mentioned, I'd like a freight engine but would probably buy anything Santa Fe ordered after about 1917.  I need some 2 rail steam.  The only good thing about their not being a Santa Fe steam engine in the near future is it frees me to buy a Burlington Mike.  Scott said the project is going well.

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The 3800 Class 2-10-2 was only offered in one version.  This is off the top of my head, but I know some had Elesco high mounted feed water heaters, and I think there were two tenders that weren't offered, a coal tender and the more modern tender (don't have the size memorized but I think its 15000 gals.) like 3751 has.

 

I would think that either the 3200 Class Mikado or the 4000 Class Mikado have more than one version, but I haven't researched it.

 

I only recently cam across this.  The Santa Fe Berk purchased from B&M as modified.  You can barely tell it's the same engine.  It's the only one so modified.

 

 

Here's the version 3rd Rail produced in the most common form.

 

 

Group, I just went to the website and it still shows it.  It also allows me to click on it to get to the reserve page where it's still listed as well.   

 If you click the "To Reserve" Button on the left of the home page, you go to the  under where it says Quick Index, you can't click the Prairie and it isn't shown below.

 

I don't know why the difference, but I did talk to Scott this week and if there aren't a flood of orders, it ain't going to happen.

I guess I just clicked on the photo that was still on the home page and it took me right to the reserve page.  It surprises me that enough people didn't place a reservation as I had seen several people begging for one to be produced in the past. 

Nick,

 

Scott has stated many, many times over the past 5 or 10 years that the "small " steam locomotives just don't seem to attract attention. The exception of course has been the N&W 4-8-0 "M Class". Production costs are not that much different for a "small" 2-6-2,  as compared to a larger 2-8-2, or 4-6-2, or 2-8-4, or 2-10-2, thus most modelers simply don't seem to be willing to pay the price for a nice 2-6-2. Difficult to predict why.

Another disappointment...

 

I emailed my preference for the 1800 class Prairie....not to be, apparently.

 

Now, even the 1050 class is history.

 

Another reservation down the drain.

 

The continuing market passion for the gargantuan in this scale, for typical curves and space limitations of home layouts, etc., etc., etc.,.....????

 

An enigma to me. 

 

Ah, well,....meanwhile, back at the ranch.

 

KD

I was holding off on reserving a 2-6-2 as it was not clear what prototype 3rd rail was doing.

Even though Lionel and MTH have already done these,  Put me down for a Northern.

It has long been the mantra amoung importers that small steam locomotives don't sell in O Scale.  Hmmm.......Glacier Park seemed to do pretty well with the CNW and NP 4-6-0's, Sunset 3rd Rail's Canadian Pacific 4-6-0's seemed to have sold. I would think small locomotives would be a natural for O Scalers who are space limited.

You are correct, Mark. However, Scott seems to have learned that at the prices Sunset/3rd Rail has to charge for their "smaller" steam locomotive models, the 3-Rail side of his market just don't seem to desire spending "that much money" for a highly detailed "small" model. Thus, Sunset/3rd Rail just doesn't receive enough "reservations/orders" in order to proceed with those projects.

 

Also, trying to compare the 2-Rail market to the 3-Rail market is like apples and oranges, anyway.

Ahh, yes. I am a 2 -railer and do not know the 3 rail market. But the "small engine, no interest" theme seems to play out in 2 rail, too. But I, for one, love small O Scale locomotives.......Glacier Park CNW 4-6-0, Overland Omaha Depot UP 0-6-0 #4442 (chrome cylinder covers, gray boiler), Precision Scale SP 4-4-0 are some of my personal favorites in my collection!

      A goodly number of years ago I purchased a Max Grey CP 4-4-0 from Hill's Hobbies, and mentioned to Mike Hill, "See, there is a market for small engines in O Scale". Mike replied, "Yes. A small market!!"

Well hecky darrn.  I was waiting for permission from "she who must be obeyed".

 

For those who think the 2-6-2's only ran on branch lines, there are photos in "Iron Horses of the Santa Fe Trail" of them on the Denver-Pueblo Joint Line.  Good locos for the way freight.

 

ChipR 

My hopes and again I stress this as my hopes, would be that Scott could take advantage of his new design software and look to build more models in smaller quantities like we have seen lately for the larger wheel arrangements. 

 

I for one am willing to spend more to actually get a model I want and it sounds like several of you are willing to as well.  What is the reservation minimum needed to actually proceed with a project?  I personally think it would be valuable to know where a project is at as it may push someone to actually make that commitment versus sitting on the sidelines and hope to get that same model once those that actually reserved them get theirs.  I can say I will jump on every reservation for any SP or B&O model that comes up, as well as any future DM&IR models (hint, hint Scott).  However, I can say I have also picked up every SF and CB&Q model to date and my only concern is what might happen if they start coming in back to back quicker than I can pay for them.  I know I have no right to complain if a model doesn't meet the reservation requirements if I never make a reservation.  Yet, I can say that if the numbers were getting close and I could help the rest of you get one built and it was one I would truly want anyway I would surely make that jump and get on the list, even if it meant I would be eating ramen noodles for the next 3 months.  It's just that never ending issue of what would appease the masses as we all have our "must have" models and our "nice to have" models and they seem to overlap less and less as the most popular of engines are made.

 

I think the future might be something along the lines of a master list that goes out to his dealers and customer base.  The list would include several models that we have all inquired about at one time or another with multiple roads and wheel arrangements in each.  We mark the list with what we want and return it and those that receive the most interest are naturally the ones you start with.  They could even be weighted to really get better data were you list your must haves as a 5 and the nice to haves as a 1 and anything else in between.  We actually use this same process for other things within my company.  This is not the same as a reservation list as that is made up of only a handful of models at a time and I can say I often just pick some because that is all that is available, or potentially available.  What if the list was much larger and would come out quarterly so you can adjust as needed depending if something gets built?  What if it had 6 SF models and 6 SP models and dozens of others at a time versus 1 to really gauge interest amongst ALL customers.

 

By the way, I'm just stating this as another option as I want to continue seeing Scott produce his fine models as much as anyone else here.  Let's face it, we all know that there are a select few who gets Scott's ear and help determine the handful of engines that will hit the reservation list, but we may find that there are plenty of other voices that aren't being heard that could amount to larger volumes of a particular model if built.  I have seen on several occasions where people start a post to try and get something built here.  However, I would imagine most people that collect these models don't even contribute to this forum.  What we get here is a few people that do show interest and plenty of people that feel they need to respond saying they don't want something.  Guess what folks, no one cares if you don't want something.  It's only about those that do and will show interest and commitment. 

 

Okay, I'll shut up now.  I was just thinking out loud.

 

Nick

 

Gentlepeople,

 

Something good just happened, I submitted a reservation for a 2-6-2 and it was accepted!  

Please remember, these will make a great way freight loco whilst your monstrous mainline machines maneuver majestically.

 

ChipR

I asked for a 2-6-2 and reserved one.  If it is not produced because not enough others were interested, so be it, but I am all done with large steam locomotives.  The 2900-Class 4-8-4 and the 3700-Class 4-8-2 are enough for me.

 

Yep same here.   I've purchased every SF Steam engine 3rd Rail has made.     At this point, I simply don't have any more space on the layout for another big engine.   A 2-6-2 would be fantastic (and yes I reserved one)  I'd also love to see a SF Steam Yard switcher.   Was rather hoping Atlas was going to make more small steamers, but that doesn't seem to be happening at all.   I did purchase an Atlas unlettered 0-6-0 with the distant hopes of kit bashing it into something ATSF.   It may just end up as a fantasy lettered ATSF 0-6-0....

 

I was lucky enough to find 2 older 2-8-0's that I upgraded to PS/2.  The 2-8-0's are fantastic little runners and pulling 4-5 cars around the layout makes the layout look and feel huge.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes and no.....  Buying engines by the inch also resonates within the 2-rail market too, albeit perhaps to a lesser extent. 

 

Right now, the last thing I need is another engine and I'll probably try to sell 2-3 off later this year.  But, were a realistically priced unpainted D16 to appear, I'd probably pry open the wallet and brave the flock of moths therein,

My layout is set in 1952, so a 2-6-2 would have been a good fit.  But there are other, more modern looking everyday freight engines that might interest those who are not fans of the 1910-looking Santa Fe engines.  Maybe it's time for a 2-8-2 and a waycar to match.

+1 on that Tom

I'm sure this was a well researched engine tender combo.

 

 

I ordered one Prairie, but would order two if there was a couple of interesting variations.

 

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I asked for a 2-6-2 and reserved one.  If it is not produced because not enough others were interested, so be it, but I am all done with large steam locomotives.  The 2900-Class 4-8-4 and the 3700-Class 4-8-2 are enough for me.

No Prairie, my first choice would be a Mikado.  Is that small enough?  Since the days of 3rd Rail's Forum, many Santa Fe modelers have asked for a Mikado.  I haven't researched it but I would hope that there would be a Class that would have some variations like the Burlington Mike version with two different feed water heaters.

 

BTW-I had a perfect train planned for the Prairie 1800, 1010 or whatever.  It was going to be a nice local with stock cars and a drover's caboose.  I was working on working on a siding to allow stock cars to be picked up and delivered.  I do have a Prairie, but Scott's would be a much better reliable build.

 

Do you think that some interest could be generated on the other 3 rail board if a presentation was made.  Perhaps the "Death Valley Scotty" / "Death Valley Days" story of 1010 could generate some interest.  I don't know, but I'm worried that there won't be another Santa Fe steam engine that gets off the drawing boards.

 

You look at the Burlington Mikado and modelers jumped all over it with requests for more than the two versions offered.

 

Lastly, did the indecision about which version would be offered keep modelers from ordering until the decision was made?  There seems to be a some division among Santa Fe steam enthusiast regarding Prairies.  Early or the more modern 1800 Class.  To me the early versions are uglier, but that is not always bad especially with steam engines.

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2-10-2's ???

 

Laidoffsick-I almost had you one.  I picked up a 2 rail version.  I just checked the number this morning. It's a new number for me.  Next one I get will free one of my 3 rail engines for sale.  

As I mentioned earlier, i sent in my reservation for the ATSF 2-6-2 AFTER this topic was first posted.  Today I received an email from Shani Perry at Sunset 3rd Rail saying they had my reservation.  So, PLEASE send in your reservations so we can get this great loco.

 

ChipR

That's good news ChipR.  

Well, as of October 2015's York Meet, it's official...

 

Santa Fe 2-6-2 Prairie by 3rd Rail......R.I.P.  Scott's removed all references to the project, removed it from the order list.  Insufficient demand....only received about 1/3 of the reservations required to make it a 'go' project.

 

(sigh)

 

KD

O hecki darn!

 

To me, the perfect loco for O Scale (THE King of Scales).  Small layout, compared to an HO layout, in the same space requires smaller loco.  Smaller loco allows smaller train.  etc, etc, etc.

 

ChipR

 

I think Scott Should consider the USRA 2-10-2 both heavy and light versions. Made for many rr's around the country and near both coasts. 

FP45

Disappointing, but I didn't reserve a 2-6-2 as the version / era was never pinned down, and I certainly can't blame others for also not reserving one.