RMT's Next Success Story?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: There's little doubt in my mind that a boxcab, similar to the Lionel 520, would be well received, and is long overdue. The tooling would be no more complex than that used for the BEEF or PEEP, aside from the need for a pantograph, and the locomotive could be produced in the rainbow of liveries that we have seen, thus far, for the BEEPs.

As much as I agree with Allan Miller about the need for an affordable boxcab electric in the spirit of the Lionel 520 and as much as I would be inclined to buy several of these, I am not sure that the "rainbow of liveries" would really work out as well for the boxcab electric as it has for the BEEP or as well as it could for the forthcoming BEEF. Would people buy boxcab electrics painted for the many railroads that never had electrified trackage? If I were Walter Matuch, this would be a serious consideration for me.

This is why, when I mentioned the boxcab idea to Walter, I suggested that the body tooling be designed in such a way that it can be molded as either a boxcab electric or a boxcab diesel. The boxcab electric would be great for those of us who want such an engine, but would probably be viable in only a limited number of road names. The boxcab diesel could probably be made in a wider variety of road names and would also, to the best of my knowledge, be the first mass-produced model of a boxcab diesel in the 3-rail O-gauge market.

Richard Bjorkman

[douellet]

The idea for a 520 boxcab sounds like it would be a good seller for RMT. I think RMT is making some great low priced trains. I'd like to see them make a GE 44 or 70 ton style body shell to fit on the beep power unit. I bet it would be popular item.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevingol
[
for fathers day the girls got me a Pennsy BEEP. OK, I got me a Pennsy Beep so the girls and I can run the trains some more and just used Fathers day as an eccuse.

Now you need the 3 PRR "Peep" passenger cars for it to pull. Pre-order now for Fall delivery. I ordered the B&O "Peeps" for my B&O "Beep". Joe

[NZRMac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NZRMac

QUOTE: Originally posted by marxalot

I'm going home and measure up my greatly loved Marx Monon A-A units. I think they are 22" overall which means this Beef unit at 10 " is right in there. I bet an A-B arrangement would look very nice. I see where both are powered too.

Jim

How the h*** did I post this? I was looking at a Marx Monon on our local auction site and did a little googleing to find out more, found this on trains.com but didn't know I posted anything weird huh??

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Models/Railway/Locomotives/auction-59470975.htm

Ken.

[FJ and G]

Here's a cool eggliner that would be a nice product. Also, notice it's power source...

http://www.geocities.com/eggink806/eggliner.html

[Anonymous]

After leaving the trains on the shelf in the closet for a realy long time, i got them down when my girls started to show and intrest in trains. (ok they watched tomas) So i started to play with them more, then just out of chance I went to lionel 's visitors center with my wife and girls, and i was hooked again. I picked up a couple of 5 buck cars there, and a catalog. But then prices they wanted for there stuff was just to unreasonable for something for me and the girls to play with. But i was still hooked on the trains. I started picking up OGR and CTT and found these beep things. "What the heck is a BEEP?" So i started looking around for them. Just what i was looking for. A nice little sheep loco that i wouldn't have to try and keep the girls away from because i was too afraid that they might break somehting. Something that me and the kids could realy enjoy and get a lot of use out of. That trip to lionel rekindeld the joy of trains in me, but RMT's products got me realy excited. So for fathers day the girls got me a Pennsy BEEP. OK, I got me a Pennsy Beep so the girls and I can run the trains some more and just used Fathers day as an eccuse. I would realy like to get a sound system now so they have a whistle. (I run the throttel, but its the girls job to work the whistle.)

[NZRMac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by marxalot

I'm going home and measure up my greatly loved Marx Monon A-A units. I think they are 22" overall which means this Beef unit at 10 " is right in there. I bet an A-B arrangement would look very nice. I see where both are powered too.

Jim

[Anonymous]

Well, to each their own. To me, the 520 looks like a caboose...actual prototype or not. I have, or have ordered, most of the RMT offerings, but a 520 would not interest me. Joe

[Jumijo]

I'll second your motion on the Lionel 520, Allan. Richard Bjorkman, who posted above, runs one of them (or something very similar) at shows from time to time in my area, and that is how I was initially introduced to those neat little engines. A 520 knock off would be a great seller for RMT, if not Lionel.

Jim

[Anonymous]

There's little doubt in my mind that a boxcab, similar to the Lionel 520, would be well received, and is long overdue. The tooling would be no more complex than that used for the BEEF or PEEP, aside from the need for a pantograph, and the locomotive could be produced in the rainbow of liveries that we have seen, thus far, for the BEEPs.

As founder of the "Friends of the 520" initiative some years ago (that used to be my tagline back when I was on the AOL forum), I spent a lot of time imploring Lionel and other firms to reproduce this neat little engine in an upgraded version (with operating lights, window inserts, and a more durable pantograph) but to no avail. A good number of others issued similar pleas, but all have fallen on deaf ears to this point.

Perhaps the best chance of ever seeing this engine produced rests with Walter. I don't wait around waiting for it to happen (I have two of the original Lionel 520s in excellent shape), but I can guarantee that I would be first in line for three or four new and better versions if/when they are ever produced. There's little doubt in my mind that this type of locomotive would, if done properly, outsell even the ever-popular BEEPs. It's just a natural for a switching layout and the one real advantage it has over BEEPs, BEEFs, and PEEPs is that it represents an authentic prototype. Because that it so, it definitely has the potential of reaching an expanded audience.

[CSXect]

[8D] If enough people ask for a box cab locomotive it just might happen.


I would like to see a texas special beef and beeps.[8D]

[Anonymous]

If they made a beep like this electric engine I would get a few.[img.nr]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6da29b3127cce886fa15eed2900000016100ActG7Ru0ZsWJg[/img.nr][:)][:)]........Felix

[Bob Keller]

Ready Made Toys has drawings of their passenger cars on their website. I ordered mine ...

http://readymadetoys.stores.yahoo.net/rmttoytrpaca.html

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Craignor

Folks,

I like the looks of these, I saw them and the shorty passenger cars (peeps) that were on display too. They look cool. I have three Beeps and am very satisfied with them.

My only recommendation for Walter is to sell a optional version of each Beep, Beef, and Buddy with a horn and a bell. Sounds would add alot of play value, but I am too inept to do an afftermarket conversion myself.

I would pay $100-125 for one equipped with sound.

Craignor,

I am so sure you could install a Sound Commander, if you contact me I will send you one for free to prove it. You installed the windshield in the Beep, right ;) This is almost as easy!

BTW: the BEEF is the same power truck as the Beep; thus the BEEP upgrades for sound and TMCC will work on the BEEF...

jon
www.electricrr.com

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DJSpanky

I'm very interested in something like this (along with some other RMT offerings) as I'm trying to put together a small, easily storable O27 layout for my 3 year old. Since the layout will be so small, RMT's products will be perfect for it.

I agree. Consider getting a external whistle for on or under the layout. I use a Lionel one on my Christmas layout so kids can blow it without going near the transformer. The RTM engines don't have whistles, and this would be cheaper than installing one in each unit. Joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: All I saw was the unpainted passenger set (it was crowded) but I bet the Pennsy rig was outstanding!

Actually, Bob, the Pennsy cars weren't put on display at York until midday on Friday, so they may not have been there when you were there. The paint job on the samples was first-rate. People are gong to have fun with these.

Richard Bjorkman

[cnw1995]

Boy, I can't wait to see these - I can imagine them even as a 'trailer' behind my trollies.

[Bob Keller]

All I saw was the unpainted passenger set (it was crowded) but I bet the Pennsy rig was outstanding!

[Anonymous]

The PEEPS, as I remember them, were maybe five inches long. They had a playfully cartoonish look to them. People will smile when you run these.

Walter had on display both an unpainted set and a set in PRR tuscan.

Richard Bjorkman

[Bob Keller]

The cars they had on display were unpainted plastic samples. If memory serves, there were three heavyweights (one three-wheel axle), a baggage car, a coach, and an open ended observation car. I didn't see a price or a list of potential road names, but I'd guess that this would be the next thing after the cab units.

[BobbyDing]

Ahhhh,

Found Some Here:

http://www.bates-r-us.org/birdwater/index.html

[Anonymous]

I imagine some images of those Birdwater and Rasberry drawings are still floating aorund somewhere in Walter's mind. After all, he did work with Aristocraft before branching off on his own.

[BobbyDing]

Dang! I just realized where I've seen these before (or something like them). Does anybody remember the old Birdwater and Raspberry cartoons from GR Magazine? Drawings of small, cute locos of all types? I used to look forward to those little cartoons with every issue. Maybe that is why these caught my eye. Not suggesting that's where RMT got the idea. The parallel just finally struck me. Hope they do a couple of steamers next year. Tried to find the Birdwater archives on the web so I could add a link for those who never saw them, but I cannot. Drat.

Bobby

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ogaugeoverlord

RMT showed the short passenger cars at York.

What's the approximate length? Is there a picture somewhere?

[Bob Keller]

RMT showed the short passenger cars at York.

[jimhaleyscomet]

Perhaps RMT will start making shorty passenger and freight cars?

Jim H

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DJSpanky

QUOTE: Originally posted by Allan Miller


I'm sure that's true, but I would rather see things stay as they are rather than see Walter be forced by expenses to raise his prices. His is a very small operation--just a couple of folks, I believe--and my guess is that product quality and price is enough to assure that the word gets spread to a decent degree.

Alan, I was not attempting to rag on him or suggest he increase his overhead, but was thinking more along the lines that if he improved his marketing, his volume would increase which would allow him to expand his operation. (Never underestimate the power of a glossy flier that can be shown to the wife with something for her Halloween layout!) Obviously he doesn't want to overextend himself on cost, but if it provides a viable return on his investment, why not? And I know one proven way is to hit up a satisfied customer with your latest offerings.

That strategy sure works for Williams at my house. Every time they send a flyer to me, I end up buying something. Yesterday I bought a State of Maine B&A boxcar. But I had to seriously restrain myself from buying several other very nice items.

Jim

Jim

[Anonymous]

It would be nice to have a BEEF A-B-A Set decorated in the Soo Line 1960's colors and graphics.

The SOO scheme looks simple, although the graphic curve could be more difficult to reproduce than it appears.

I use Atlas O Track, so it has to be an A-B-A set in case one unit loses power on a switch the others push or pull it along.

Andrew F.

[Jumijo]

Bobby,

Any number of dealers sell the Beeps. I think you'd actually get a better price buying from a dealer than directly from RMT. I bought mine from Jim's Train Shop in Homer, PA and was very happy with the service.

The last issue of OGR (Run 214) showed Beeps beeing fitted with command and sound chips. It didn't look too complicated.

Jim