Jack Lynch started the manufacturers’ presentations at 2PM. Williams by Bachmann is coming out with a 4-6-2 Semi-Scale Pacific in NYC #6467 (gray); Southern #1409 (green); Santa Fe #3430 (black); and Wabash #696 (dark blue). MSRP is $599.95
The Norfolk Southern Heritage Series GE Dash 9 Scale Diesels will be made in Lehigh Valley #8104; Central of Georgia #8101; Southern #8099; Pennsylvania Railroad #8102; and Nickel Plate Road #8100. MSRP: 499.95.
In EZ Streets, they will have a pick-up truck in four configurations: tow truck, ice cream truck, food truck, and pick-up with cargo in the bed. MSRP is $99.95.
Bachmann is bringing the Chuggington series to O gauge in very limited editions. Only 480 models will be made of each of the two locomotives, Brewster and Wilson. 300 models will be made of each hopper car (one blue, one yellow) and 480 models will be made of the passenger car and the box car. They say they will only be made once.
Jack said the O scale GE 44-tonner is selling out – it is the hottest selling locomotive they have had. Anybody sitting on the fence needs to buy quickly or else wait six to ten months for the next run. Jack showed Bachmann’s versions of the 44-tonner in N, HO, and O scales. He mentioned that the tiny N scale version came with DCC and was the first locomotive with the DCC board included.
Jack showed the new sound board for O gauge Williams by Bachmann. It is available for separate sale and was designed to be retrofit-able to their locomotives with previous sound boards.
Jack displayed an HO Santa Fe Freight “Blue Lightning” set with their E-Z App Blue Tooth control that does not require any intermediate system such as a Command Base or TIU. The app talks directly to the locomotive. He mentioned how much easier it is to set Configuration Variables (known to DCC users) and pointed out that the new system is like moving from DOS to Windows: much easier to use. He was asked if the E-Z App system would be licensed to other manufacturers and said that would be up to the developer. He also indicated we may see the E-Z App in O gauge next year.
Jack also addressed the comments that Williams by Bachmann seems to have dropped a lot of locomotives from the catalog. Not true. They are upgrading the entire line and it takes time to implement the changes. But the locomotives will re-appear and he specifically mentioned that the E-7 diesels were on their way back.
Also mentioned in their Spring 2015 brochure as “previously announced” and either in stores or on their way are Alco Scale FA-1 and FB-1 units; Alco semi-scale FA-2 units; EMD GP-38s; and EMD NW-2 scale switchers.
