Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
QUOTE: Originally posted by jsalemi Kadee ...and has been coming on strong with their rolling stock. QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher They have made what 3 HO freight cars? Guess you haven't checked Kadee's web site lately -- they've put out well over 100 different 40' and 50 PS-1 boxcars and PS-2 covered hoppers over the past couple of years, with 4 new releases a month.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher They have made what 3 HO freight cars?
QUOTE: Originally posted by tsgtbob Sadly, I have also seen some nice makers fall by the wayside, anyone here remember Arbour models, or for that matter Varney?
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
QUOTE: Originally posted by jsalemi And in those five types of cars, they've made over a hundred different models. So the question is, are we counting types, or total runs? Because if we're counting types, just about every rolling stock manufacturer just makes a few types, and then decorates them differently. [:)]
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher Kadee is the top supplier of couplers for all scales. If I was to put Kadee into a "scale" manufacturer, I would put them in N-scale with their Micro Trains stuff. They have made what 3 HO freight cars?
QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 If we are honestly talking major players, then it is really only Walthers, Atlas, Horizon, Bachmann, and maybe Woodland Scenics, when it comes to independent American companies. Bachmann's a Chinese company, not an American one. Of the five mentioned above, it's by far the largest (we only see a tiny amount of the stuff Bachmann cranks out per year). QUOTE: This is down considerably from even ten years ago. In my book all the rest (Bowser, MP, Accurail, BLI, DPM, IHC, Con-Cor, et al.) would be considered second string. If one includes companies outside the U.S. then things become much more complicated IHC's bigger than you think, and is at least as large as Horizon. And you completely forgot Model Power, which is another foreign manufacturer in the same size range as Bachmann.
QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 If we are honestly talking major players, then it is really only Walthers, Atlas, Horizon, Bachmann, and maybe Woodland Scenics, when it comes to independent American companies.
QUOTE: This is down considerably from even ten years ago. In my book all the rest (Bowser, MP, Accurail, BLI, DPM, IHC, Con-Cor, et al.) would be considered second string. If one includes companies outside the U.S. then things become much more complicated
QUOTE: Originally posted by jsalemi Bowser, who made steam engines for quite a while and recent bought Stewart, makers of wonderful diesel engines. Intermountain makes both locos and rolling stock. Accurail is also a big maker of rolling stock. I'd consider all these majors. Kadee is of course the top supplier for couplers, and has been coming on strong with their rolling stock. Red Caboose and Branchline are also moderate size players, as is probably Broadway Limited. I'd call these folks the second tier. And of course there's a whole subset of folks who are more specialized but still good, like Circuitron, Cooch Industries, Blair Line, Woodland Scenics, and on and on.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.