RMT has a couple of new products coming out: as already mentioned a new switcher reportedly with origins from the K-Line S-2 tooling and a new ore car. No art work for either yet, those thiere's a rough picture of an ore car which looks similar to the Lionel/K-Line type.
Other than the lack of new roads on this Alco S-4 switcher, these products are another sign that RMT is doing the right thing, and that there's some desire for these kinds of products.
Obviously given Walter's habit for cute names, the new switcher needed a cute name: The BANG. It will feature the usual dual motors, reverse board, directional lighting AND DIE-CAST couplers. Hurray. The announced roads for the "BANG" are:
RMT-3111 LONG ISLANDRMT-3141 SANTA FERMT-3151 PENNSYLVANIARMT-3191 BETHLEHEM STEELRMT-3201 READINGRMT-3211 NY CENTRALRMT-3231 BALTIMORE & OHIORMT-3361 JERSEY CENTRALRMT-3331 ALASKARMT-3341 WESTERN MARYLAND
I gotta ask Walter why no current modern roads for the introduction here of this loco.... this is the kind of product I want, but will wait for NS, Conrail, CSX, CPR, CN etc. I'm gettin' tired of HAVING to repaint everything for just the want of a current roadname. I wouldn't mind, but decals are getting harder to find.
Just for anyone who is interested, Microscale is discontinuing many 0-scale decals. So get what you want while it's available. I can certainly live though without one more NYC or PRR stater loco ever being made again... arrrrg!
I know they're popular and they sell, but gee - does everything made for us 027 guys have to be in those two long dead roads? I wouldn't be so tired of them if they weren't constantly on everything!!!
The newly announced ore cars will be sold in sets of 2 (with differing road #'s) for $50 and include a couple of standing RR figures.
RMT-ORE09 ATOMIC ENERGY COMMRMT-ORE11 LONG ISLANDRMT-ORE15 PENNSYLVANIARMT-ORE16 MILWAUKEE ROADRMT-ORE19B BETH STEEL-BETHLEHEM, PA PLANTRMT-ORE19J BETH STEEL-JOHNSTOWN, PA PLANTRMT-ORE19SP BETH STEEL-SPARRWS POINT, MD PLANTRMT-ORE21 NY CENTRALRMT-ORE31 ALASKARMT-ORE38 LEHIGH VALLEYRMT-ORE50 CHRISTMASRMT-ORE55 CANADIAN PACIFICRMT-ORE56 DELAWARE & HUDSONRMT-ORE72 HALLOWEEN
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Great idea, lousy name.
I'm sure RMT will make a very nice model of the switcher, and 2 motors will give it plenty of muscle. I'm very interested in a Santa Fe version.
Walter should just call it what it is instead of slapping a silly name on it. The Beeps, Peeps, etc aren't models of real trains. A cutesy name was a natural for them. This one is based on a real switcher. So call it what it is already.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Gotta agree with Jim on that name thing. "Bang"? What the heck kind of name is that? Might go with "Beastie" or some such, but "Bang"?
It's been such a long time between announcement, ordering, and release that I've already forgotten what the shortened F-units are called--the ones that go with the Peep passenger cars--but if the new locomotive is an S2 or S4, or some such, just call it what it is.
Anyhow, I'll likely spring for a Bethlehem Steel unit (whatever its name), since I already have a number of locomotives in that livery, along with the appropriate ore cars, and will hope that ultimately a U.S. Army unit is offered--in red with yellow striping, as is used on (most) contemporary U.S. Army motive power because my current layout has an all-Army theme.
Poor Brianel! This modern thing is gonna drive him crazy!
Everybody knows that toy trains are about Santa Fe and Pennsy.... I'll take one of each!
Allan Miller wrote:Gotta agree with Jim on that name thing. "Bang"? What the heck kind of name is that? Might go with "Beastie" or some such, but "Bang"?
From the RMT website:
Another Blast from the past… an “ITTY BITTY BANG BANG” Why BANG?…Switchers work in a freight yard. when cars couple together they go BANG.
Yeah, kinda cheesey, but I'm glad they're being made, regardless what they are called. Hopefully, Walter will add additional road names (as he has done for the Beep) in time.
For the BANG S-4 Switcher real roadnames would include CP RAIL, CN, GT, PC, and Conrail.
They were built around 1950. CSX and NS predecessors bought them, so CSX and Norfolk Southern might have actually been applied in the 1980's. CSX and NS on the BANG is a must.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Keith, I don't know if I'd call it an obsession. Yes, I am very aware of the roads that went into Conrail and indeed they are quite well represented on my layout.
Think of it this way: the train companies want to appeal to new customers. Many of us established and older guys buy the roads of our past and our memories. The PRR and NYC (amongst the others) were located in what was the most densely populated area of the country. The northeast US is still the strongest area as far as model train interests go. It makes sense to me then, to at least include a few of the current roads on affordable trains. Boy, there's no shortage of modern, current roads on HO or N scale items. If I didn't love toy trains so much, I'd be in one of those scales.
The Lehigh Valley is my first love as far as road names go. Reading, CNJ, EL, PC and the New Haven are on that list of my "fallen flag" favorites. But when I see trains today, I see Norfolk Southern and Conrail mostly. given the way the railroads operate today, I also see plenty of "visitors" like CSX, UP, CPR, CNA and Soo. They represent these current roads on scale proportioned high end trains... why not the low end too? Funny, but I saw an Erie Lackawanna hopper today only a couple hours ago.... amazing... in orignal paint.
My disappointment is now highlighted by Microscale discontinuing many 0-scale decal sets, after the loss of Champ decals (who also made a good selection of 0 scale). I can continue (as I have) to cob HO sets... using larger hearlds and logo lettering mixed with 0 and S scale data sets. It's getting harder and harder to find decal sets that I can use. Even Hearld King is gone and although they only made HO sets, I used quite a few of those. I have been making some of my own, but it is difficult to make white or yellow colored decals on a copier and have the color come out as deeply as it does via screen printing.
The train companies will make trains as they choose to do. And I suppose I will continue to repaint. But I NEVER pay anything close to list for something I'm planning on repainting. I'll wait for blowouts or used items. Or maybe I'll do without. But I will not pay anything close to list for something I have to put the time and expense into repainting. That's just my feeling.
And I've been blessed or lucky. One time at YORK I saw a K-Line S-2 for over $100. Several tables away was the same one for $75. I looked and the guy tried his best sales approach on me. But I put it back and told him it was more than I wanted to pay for something I had to repaint.... I told him I liked Conrail... and it must have hit a chord with him. He asked "you gonna repaint it to Conrail? $35 and it's yours." So I got it and today's it's Conrail. At another show I got 4 powered K-Line TCA Alco FA's with busted pilots for $60. I fixed the pilots (easy enough to do) and did them up for my favorite roads. But again, I'm not paying list or close to it for something in a road I don't like.
And given the years and years of positive reaction and response to my custom painted modern road units, I'd say I'm not alone. Kids react so much more enthusiastically to a railroad they have seen. The old RR paint schemes may look great. But if I'm running a NYC lightning stripe loco, the kids will ask me to take that off and put on the NS or Conrail locos... that's happened more times than I can count. Today's kids who like trains have ZERO connection with the railroads of OUR youth.
Many times I've been asked where did I get the K-Line Alco FA or S-2 in CSX, Norfolk Southern, Conrail or CPR? I've had offers right at shows from guys who really want modern roads. I sold a custom made kitbashed loco in Conrail once (an 027-ized Dash-8 I made myself), and regretted it almost immediately (even though I got the price I wanted) and have never done it again.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I agree with Brian that these manufacturers would do well to pay a bit more attention to more contemporary liveries that people today are apt to be more familiar with. I'm kind of partial to Conrail myself, although I've sold nearly all that I had, aside from a K-Line MP-15 that is currently up for sale on another forum.
There's sure nothing wrong with offering the old standbys, but my feeling is that folks like Walter need to also mix things up a bit with their initial runs of a particular item. I don't think they could go wong with Conrail, NS, and the other contemporaries.
There is a Canadian Pacific BEEP in the most recent scheme.
The BANG S-4 could be made in the CP Rail and the CN/GT Scheme to be a connection to current railroads.
The Burlington Northern Ore Cars that had the Oxide Red with Yellow Ends scheme which LIONEL produced have all been sold out. BN Ore Cars in multiple numbers would be good sellers.
Nobody has made the CNW Style Ore Car for O Gauge yet, but the real ones had ribs. At Least Lionel made one road number for the CNW Ore Car in a post 1980 scheme. Ready-Made-Toys could offer both the oxide and green CNW ore car schemes on that ore car.
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Good evening all,
Please forgive me, Brianel, for what looks like piling on, but the last time I checked, the Alaska Railroad is a viable and existing railroad line. Granted, it is not Conrail, NS, BNSF, CSX, etc., but one can make the claim it is a "modern" rail line. Whether it used the S-4 or not, I have no idea. I do have a mischievous bent from time to time and I can't resist a softball served up that fat. If it is any comfort to you, I do agree with what you about 95% of the time. I share your frustration in the lack of attention to the low level line that seems to be evident at times. Still, Lionel has been creative lately with the Halloween set and the Great Western Lincoln Logs set. I wish they or some one else (are you listening, Williams or RMT) would make the true O-27 cars again. I was also hoping MTH would have a Tinplate 2007 Volume 2 catalog with Ives 1770 series cars as well, and that did not happen either. Oh, well, dreams do come true sometimes.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Walter,
You can count on me to pre-order one of your S-4 BANG's in the AT&SF livery. Hopefully, black with zebra stripes along with the other add-ons you're known for. I'll also be ordering an Electric RR sound system for it. While I'm here, how about bringing out O-27 A-B ALCOs (ala-K-line) in the AT&SF Blue Bonnet paint scheme, that the Mojave & SF RR is in need of for freight service. My set of AT&SF RDC Buddy's have my passenger service covered.
brianel027 wrote: Today's kids who like trains have ZERO connection with the railroads of OUR youth.
Today's kids who like trains have ZERO connection with the railroads of OUR youth.
Brian, while I sympathize with your crusade and even agree with your point, I think you're painting with too wide a brush here. "ZERO" is too strong a word. My 9-year-old's favorite road is the NYC. His only early exposure to it was an NYC Flyer he got for his first Christmas. He was partial to the Santa Fe for a while (and still likes it), but he has decided that the Central is his favorite road.
We live in MO on the old Frisco (MY favorite road), so his attraction is not regional. Sure, he gets excited when he sees BNSF and NS engines hereabouts and UP when we visit old MoPac towns. But when it comes time to ask for additions to his collection, he wants NYC. Oh, he'd take BNSF if he got one (in fact, he has gotten a Frisco piece or two, as well, and likes them), but only NYC gets on his request lists.
Lord knows, he's not just like every other 9-year-old, but he cannot be unique, either. Wherever the connection may come from and however common it may be, it's there.
palallin wrote: brianel027 wrote: Today's kids who like trains have ZERO connection with the railroads of OUR youth.Brian, while I sympathize with your crusade and even agree with your point, I think you're painting with too wide a brush here. "ZERO" is too strong a word. My 9-year-old's favorite road is the NYC. His only early exposure to it was an NYC Flyer he got for his first Christmas. He was partial to the Santa Fe for a while (and still likes it), but he has decided that the Central is his favorite road.
I enjoy the history and geography represented by the colorful schemes of multiple railroads that only existed years before my youth. Examples might be the many of the component lines of the SP, Erie, UP, etc. And my kids enjoy the history that comes from talking of railroad photographs or models of a time before them - names like SP, CB&Q, Rock Island, CNW, etc.
That said, I agree that there should be offerings in the big 5 (CN, BNSF, CSX, UP, NS) on a regular basis - regardless of whether the model's prototype is too old to have been used post-merger. I don't mind fanciful schemes at all, such as a steamer or GP7 in CSX colors. But I would also like a collection of schemes from the '50s and '60s, and also from pre-WW1 (in my case especially the latter). I just enjoy colorful trains.
just my thoughts
Fred W
palallin wrote: brianel027 wrote: Today's kids who like trains have ZERO connection with the railroads of OUR youth.Brian, while I sympathize with your crusade and even agree with your point, I think you're painting with too wide a brush here. "ZERO" is too strong a word. My 9-year-old's favorite road is the NYC. His only early exposure to it was an NYC Flyer he got for his first Christmas. He was partial to the Santa Fe for a while (and still likes it), but he has decided that the Central is his favorite road. We live in MO on the old Frisco (MY favorite road), so his attraction is not regional. Sure, he gets excited when he sees BNSF and NS engines hereabouts and UP when we visit old MoPac towns. But when it comes time to ask for additions to his collection, he wants NYC. Oh, he'd take BNSF if he got one (in fact, he has gotten a Frisco piece or two, as well, and likes them), but only NYC gets on his request lists. Lord knows, he's not just like every other 9-year-old, but he cannot be unique, either. Wherever the connection may come from and however common it may be, it's there.
Smart kid!!!!
Dep
Virginian Railroad
Norfolk Southern BEEF in the new scheme!
That one is for you brian, so you better buy two sets.
I think one of the main problems with current road liveries is the licensing fees that the railroads are demanding. Atlas-O pays license fees to both UP and CSX for road names that have long since been swallowed up in mergers. And I believe MTH recently settled with Union Pacific over the same issue. Atlas does produce some modern road names as well as some of the more famous fallen flags. But most of it is full scale O gauge, and the layout I'm working on won't handle anything that large. One of the things I like about RMT is that they produce more road names than just about anyone else, and their equipment will fit into any layout.
Personally, I don't pay much attention to road names. No, I tell a lie; I do tend to favor eastern and midwestern railroads, but if I see a locomotive or rolling stock I like, I'll purchase it regardless of what livery it's wearing, even if it is the Xmas & North Pole Line.
And yes, I am seriously considering their S-4 'Banger'. I'm waiting to see how it looks compared with their 'Beep' and with Lionel's Industrial 'Critter' Switcher.
Henry
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