Seems like SF Warbonnet scheme on every diesel available. I don't own one because I see them all the time. Enough already.
Manufactures catalog what they know will sell. NYC Hudson's, NKP Berkshires,Big Boys and pretty much anything Pennsylvania in steam. They are betting that the buyers will go for the latest features such as whistle steam. Even if they own a version of the engine already. The major players will always buy these engines. You can usually sell off your previous purchase to those that missed it the first time around and don't want to pay the price of the newest version. They already have the tooling. They only have to add a few features or just make a slight variation. Doing business this way I'm sure means a higher profit as they aren't designing from the ground up. You want something different you have to go brass. With Weaver no longer around. It only leaves 3rd rail.
How about some S70 LRT cars. There are more whooping cranes than that model in O.
There are too many EXPENSIVE locomotives!
In the "old days", the only motive power produced in O Scale was for ATSF, NYC, PRR, SP and UP. Since then, speaking as a steam enthusiast, we have had the good fortune to see CNR, CPR, GTW, SRR, P&LE, B&LE, DM&IR, D&RGW, C&NW, CB&Q, CMStP&P, Erie, DL&W, NP, GN, CRRNJ, NKP, RDG, WM, C&O, N&W, B&O and, no doubt, others which don't come immediately to mind. I'm actually reasonably happy !!!!
The ones made after 1900 AD.
I am glad all these guys go for the high priced new trains, keeps them away from the neat old stuff and drive up prices.
Of all the things one could worry about in the hobby, this is pretty much near the bottom of my list . Don't get it at all, for some reason. My sympathies to those who feel strongly about this.
I agree. What !! Me worry !!
Being involved on the manufacturing side in a consulting role, I can simply say that what gets produced is solely a function of what will sell in quantity and actually get the manufacturer a small profit. Often most locomotive runs make it thanks to 4 roads, PRR, NYC, ATSF and SP. The rest of the roads are there to simply fill out the minimum number of units that need to produced. If you can't find a prototype that ran on one of those roads or better, two of them, it won't likely be done unless is a 75-100 piece brass offering. There is no magic to this. If all the locomotive that have been posted on this thread so far didn't sell, they wouldn't be produced anymore.
I favor streamlined steam engines. My wish list includes beauties like these in affordable Rail King with DCS:
Attachments
Over the years, I have intentionally sold off as much NYC "stuff" as I could....and I have very little Pennsylvania on my layout. My interests have change to NKP, UP, and any big steam that ran out West.
However, the reality is that a lot of model trains are sold to people who live in...or once lived in....the Northeast part of the Country. They represent a very large segment of the hobby and will always be over-represented, so to speak. It simply makes economic sense for Lionel and MTH to do so.
So long as you can find what YOU are looking for, it really doesn't matter if there is too much of Brand X out there, IMHO.
Take a step back and see how much greater our current choices are compared to 1950, 1970, or even 1990.
my guess is that the manufacturing costs involved in making a 4-8-4 are insignificantly more than producing a 4-4-2 or a 4-6-0, so i don't blame the manufacturers for sticking to the big stuff, but i'd sure like to see more small locomotives.
cheers...gary
I would like to see more steam engines by Brooks, ALCO, Lima and the N&W circa 1930 to 1950.
The only ones I see too many of are the newer ones that break down.
Bobby Ogage posted:I would like to see more steam engines by Brooks, ALCO, Lima and the N&W circa 1930 to 1950.
Now THAT sure narrows it down, doesn't it?
Hot Water posted:Bobby Ogage posted:I would like to see more steam engines by Brooks, ALCO, Lima and the N&W circa 1930 to 1950.
Now THAT sure narrows it down, doesn't it?
Well, he eliminated Baldwin.
Mine.
Well i
Everything lately seems too many of, same engines, different road names put on, improper details for named roads. Some re-hash with gimmicks added rather then a brand new variety with proper details of individual roads. I don't get excited anymore with new catalogs, or BTO items. Never knowing if or when built or even as described. Seems none of the 3 rarely will offer a never before made steam or diesel engine. Odd that Golden Gate Depot, can produce and manufacture in a short time quality realistic detail properly models and sell out. This must say something to the big 3 that yes we will purchase newly produced, properly detailed models if made and spend the bucks for them.
TM Terry posted:Has any O-gauge manufacturer made an ACL diesel that wasn't purple?
IIRC MTH did in black with yellow.
I want a brick in the red and silver of the Santa Fe, never too much of the red and silver.
Dave
I think we're making too many SD70ACe's and ES44AC's.
When I was a kid there were two choices if you wanted an F3. Santa Fe or the other one. Not much of a choice because it was Santa Fe all the way. Lionel over the years came out with a few more road names but it did not take too many fingers to get to the end of the list..
In 1983 Williams broke new ground and put out a nice group of choices. OK, F7's but pretty close. He was careful to shy away from the Santa Fe and NYC because there were still a boat load of them around.
I think it was 1995 when MTH opened the flood gates and for the next five years put out enough roads that fingers and toes could not hold the totals. My point, don't really have one. I do however like covered wagons. By the way, you will notice that my Williams picture is missing the NH F7. If anyone wants to part with theirs my email is in the profile.-
Attachments
There was a closed hobby shop in the Chicago west ''burbs" that displayed a wall of O gauge Hudsons. These were not models of Essex, or Terraplane, or the Hudson pickup, which l might have bought in 1/43 or 1/48. I really don't care what is made for others, and hope they get all they want; l just want some different variety for me, and the company l have on this post. When l was in HO, l could get almost any prototype l wanted, IF l had the money (major obstacle)...in three rail, money will get you repetition of the same few. I have this problem, though, with other consumer goods..
Bobby Ogage posted:This post is a message to train manufacturers that there are too many of these locomotives, ...
from what i've been reading, new locomotives that need to be immediately sent back for repair.
I'm rather amazed at the wide variety available from the manufacturers to a small and increasingly crabby market of consumers. Perhaps the quality levels might increase if they offered less variety and increased production run quantities of fewer items.
And, as prior threads seem to indicate, the O Gauge market is over-represented in NJ, PA, and OH, and that explains the preponderance of PRR and NYC engines.
In diesel, modern power especially seems to have been over produced. Both Lionel and MTH now make scale and semi scale SD70ACe's and GEVO's (this even includes S scale for Lionel) and for me at least, the models are just as boring as the prototypes. I wish O scale manufacturers would take note from their HO scale neighbors and shift away from the fantasy and prototypical eyesore paint jobs and details and shift all of their high end products to high detail and correct models with better sound and more features similar to what can be found in DCC decoders. And I really think what some consider "obscure" engines will sell. Scale Trains, an excellent HO and N company has been producing some really neat stuff like C39-8's and C40-9 standard cabs and they've been selling. This is what we need in O - for the love of God, not enough F unit!
Stated before: Atlas offers un-decorated models. And will supply detail pieces for a price. Custom paints.
artyoung posted:The only ones I see too many of are the newer ones that break down.
You beat me to it.
I agree with the comment, make less, allow more time to Quality Control. This will save both Lionel, and the Customer lots of money and Time....Quality Control, and Packaging, yes make the shipping cradles, styrofoam container user friendly and easy to get the engines out without damaging them at that time. I know Profit is important, but the bitterness of poor Quality long remains after the Sweetness of low price remains. Have the manufacture keep all wiring harnesses correctly, the modules secured properly, the lights correctly, etc....It’s time consuming having to call for Return Authorizations all the time.
To secifically answer the question, there’s simply to much out there.....Wow.
colorado hirailer posted:When l was in HO, l could get almost any prototype l wanted, IF l had the money (major obstacle)..
I have heard this is true, you can get any new or unique HO you want if you have enough $$$$
How about an affordable Rail King Berk with a coffin feed-water heater.
How about offering an affordable Forney El 0-4-0. This type of steam engine operated on the Els in New York City and Chicago. They also ran on the Long Island Rail Road and the White Pass & Yukon.
Lionel has made far too many Pere Marquette Berkshires in the past.
IMHO, there are way too many F units and SD70ACes in HO specifically, what about some of the road specific locomotives instead of reusing the old tooling every year? I understand it may cost significantly more to create new tooling, but it would be worth it to create new, popular models such as Tier 4 locos or Strasburgs steam.
Hudson
Big Boys
OTOH:you can't have too many PRR locos. But that's just me😂
It's just business. If it sells it will be made. If it does not sell, it will not be made. Even if there are three or four folks who would sell their first born, no sale, no manufacture. Steam engines are usually very road specific, fat chance getting unpopular steam made. Diesels stand a better chance. Many roads would just call for a paint job.
Most RR models are sold to folks in the northeast, so..........
Most RR mag subscriptions are in the northeast, so..........
🤣
U.P. ....Eye poop" 😮😝
Not really hatin'. i'ye couldn't resist stealing it from a kids cartoon and bashing it into a RR joke 💩 (2stupid dogs- contruction elevator UP button interpreted as ...directional (pun intended )
0-4-0 Forney ? It would have better small curve looks and performance but looses it's namesake uniqueness 😕
Isn't that an 0-4-4 Forney ? 👀
Maybe there were 2or6 rears too..? But i.e. frame and rear bogie set UP being the Forney namesake focus (and pictures of the uniquness online the part of the reason for (imo) increased interest in overall diversity, more so than the company reputation that also carried the name into todays awareness of them? 🤔)
Not a retired el I don't think, but the last salvagable one(?) is now alive and running running a schedule at the Henry Ford Greenfield Villiage just outside of Detroit.
Heisler, Climax, Shay, Porter, Vulcan, Plymouth, Forney... hey with Euro, maybe add Ganz, Garrett & Krocks among some others.
... Hmmm all those names hold more stand alone design recognition than usual without any singular big road name association; what's missing most in that type of early somewhat industrial representation in O ?
If such "losers" by roadname and popularity how did more than one or two of the grouping ever happen ?
I think Forney is one of those potential "gap fillers" between roadname and the worlds most popular locos that could at least hold itself up to be a nice notch in a bragging belt of "been there".
So add some of that to your letter's list of possible recognition possibilities, along with the nice international exposure to a historical & technical minded "international set" that may also have some money to burn, if the mfg managed to work it into the HFGV gift shop offerings too.
I think they carried a General and/or one of the Hudsons or Berks along side high dollar static displays during the 70's and moved them at or above MSRP well.
I just remember the Lionel pride seeing Lionel black steam there and then talking to a pretty girl in an old fashioned blue dress outside of the growing crowd 😍.
Not a landslide possibility in any brand but a small rockfall that has potential to catch some big rollers; before they can simply roll past and settle elsewhere...like On30 which I think is the big producer over the history of the sparce modeling opopportuni .... yea nice going spell-wreck, leave me to my own foolishness😲.... opportunities for a Forney.
(New HO drives existing within our O mfg realm, but yet nobody even dipping a toe at all in On30 yet, all while also still ignoring the style niche in O is a curiosity to me.)
Too much Postwar out there right now and it's stinkin' wonderful.
Chris S.