WBB RS3

Announced last sprig York IIRC.....not my pick for the next all new loco so I'll pass,

With a MSRP of $430, when compared to a MTH RS3 with PS2 (2011 vol.1) or with PS3 (2012 vol.2) with a MSRP of $300 (cttrains has them for $264), I'll pass too.

 

I have an older MTH RS3 with Locosound that runs fine in conventional via transformer or thru DCS, I can't imagine the WBB unit running any better, although the sound may be a bit better.

 

If dealers can offer it for less than $215 (half MSRP) that may work, but it'll be awful hard to beat one that's command control ready for a few dollars more.

What would have been nice for WBB to spend new tooling money on would have been a redesigned 44 tonner instead of the old "Limo" version we are use to seeing. I would have pulled the trigger on that for sure!!

Why? When one from Weaver complete with TMCC, Cruise and Railsounds has a suggested retail of $409 and a street price of about $359. I have one from Weaver and one from MTH (upgraded to TMCC); WBB will have to go some distance to beat either.

jackson

It seems the market is saturated with RS-3s, GP35s, etc.  How about, for example, a Baldwin AS-16, or even a Lima switcher?  Something different!

I wonder if this is the old K-Line tooling?  I have some of their RS-3's and they were really nice scale models with separate grab irons and movable radiator slats.  The Weaver RS-3 (which I also have) is a good model although the grabs are cast onto the shell.  I don't own any of the MTH with their "squished" crew cab.

Even a RSD-15 or something else.....not another RS-3

I would agree back in the pre Bachmann Days but more and more folks are posting how their Williams engines are failing, usually with mechanical issues. With pre owned command versions available now at half the projected list price I think it will be a tough sell for Bachmann.

 

Pete

 

From what I've read not long after the Sanda Kan "fire sale" of K-Line assets shortly after they tanked, it will indeed be the former K-Line model.

Since there were only four prototype railroads that had AS-416s, and that out of that four the only popular road would be the pre-1982 (and pre-Thoroughbred logo) Norfolk Southern Railway, I'd say the chance of an AS-416 being mass-produced is unlikely.

 

The ALCO RSC-2 would probably stand a better chance due to more roads having had them on their roster, particularly Union Pacific.

If I was going to buy the new RS-3 by WBB I would wait until Trainworld has a sale on it. Bachmann's price is way too high!! Almost twice what I would pay at Trainworld.com

 

Lee Fritz

There were six actually, including foreign.

 

Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses and  Office des Chemins de Fer Algériens had them as well.

 

So even with just four domestic roads it's still a better chance than the Baldwin AS-416 as one out of those four that had the AS-416 is a foreign road, and aside from the pre-1982 NS, the rest are relatively obscure domestic roads not popular in mainstream model railroading.

 

 

Another RS3 - why? I certainly will not be buying one (no command, anyway).

I don't understand the choice (of course, there are those who - incorrectly - buy into the idea that recent Williams stuff is superior and "runs better"; actually, it often runs not as well, so maybe it's to get the True Believers).

 

I impulse-bought a WBB NYC GP30 a few months ago; got a good price from Mario's.

I seldom impulse-buy and usually regret it - and I regret buying this loco. It runs 

fairly well, but it's no L or M brand, for sure. The sound just sits there. And why I

thought that this conventional muzzle-loader would be happy among my TMCC (and

some DCS/PS2) locos I'll never know; I must have been under the influence of alien

technology.

 

There's a RR swap meet in the area this Saturday, and I will try to unload it. Cheap.

 

Why is because WBB aquired the original K-Line RS-3 tooling (along with some other K-Line product (including but not limited to the scale Mikado, the E-Z Street line and operating box car and coal dump cars just to name a few)  during the Sanda Kan fire sale as previously stated. 

 

Much cheaper and less risky from a marketing standpoint to release a product where the tooling already exists than to start from scratch.

 

As for command, well Williams (prior to Bachmann) had their business reasons not to jump on board Lionel's TMCC licensing offer, production, support, & retail price increases in addition to concerns about product reliability being the primary concerns.  Not that it matters now; Lionel has closed that licensing door long ago and there's no indication it'll ever be revisited.  And some people simply don't want command-equipped engines, even if the price difference from the competition isn't that substantial.

 

And as Bob above has stated, the K-Line RS-3 tooling also has the advantage of having better detailing than the Weaver and MTH versions.

 

 

 

I think you're taking the "not to change a thing" reference a bit out of context.  That was mostly in reference to their overall product line in keeping them basic with no fancy or complicated electronics, I don't think keeping the pricing flat or wholesale lowballing was part of that equation.

 

I would argue that price increases would be inevitable and much harder to control than to build and sell locomotives with simple and conventional underpinnings.

 

 

But, how about an RSD12-a somewhat shorter version of the RSD15? 

 

Weaver models offered the Rsd12.

 

One bad item with the MTH-Railking Rs3 is the Flat nose. Want a prototypical Rs3, the K-line as well as the Weaver models RS3 has your best proportions.

 

 

This is obviously the original K-Line model of the RS-3 diesel locomotive, much like most of the "new" rolling stock from Williams by Bachmann. It saves them time and money.

 

Which railroad names are most likely to be applied to this RS-3?

 

CN

Canadian Pacific

CP Rail

New York Central

Boston & Maine

Chicago & North Western

Milwaukee Road  C,M,St.P&P

Rock Island

SOUTHERN

Delaware & Hudson

ERIE

Great Northern

Louisville & Nashville

Missouri Pacific

Nickel Plate

New Haven

Reading

Seaboard Air Line

 

 

Which railroads that did have RS-3s will not be applied by Bachmann anytime soon?

 

There are so many railroads to cover that somebody will be overlooked

 

Penn Central after a long wait.

 

SSW Cotton Belt for the Southern Pacific operators, someday.

 

Northern Pacific and S,P&S are possible, but the Eastern roads might win out.

 

Interstate would be worth making since it part of the NS Heritage series

 

Delaware, Lackawanna & Western eventually since there is a Train Master in the same scheme.

 

 

Andrew

Ummm, yeah, I think I already mentioned that earlier.  

I think John K said it with the thoughts of them doing a RSC-2 or RSC-3, at least that would give another choice simply by swapping out trucks.  From what I've read the RS2 and RSC2, and the RS3 and RSC3 bodies, were basically the same.

 

Has anyone done a 3-axle road switcher yet?

Although I would love to pick up an RS3 in Missouri Pacific's blue and gray scheme, I don't think it will be one of them.

The BL2 in Mopac is one of my favorites!

 

Would it not be amazing if they made Texas & Pacific's single RS3, #1100? It had two paint schemes in it's short stay on the T&P.

 

Dan   

Both  Weaver and Atlas made 6 axle road switchers (RSD4's).

jackson

K-line RS engines are very well done but WBB without TMCC won't get my money.

 

Gunny

Andrew

 

you should add LIRR to your list . It was an excellent seller for K Line when they issued it about 10years back