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RMT's Next Success Story?

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 6:46 PM
I don't know how Walter keeps his prices so low, but I'm sure glad that he does! He has made it possible for me to have a half-dozen BEEPs and a couple of BUDDYs, and I can sure see a bunch of BEEFs and PEEPs in my future.

I've always been a big fan of small locomotives in general, and critters in particular, so I'm kind of a captive and willing market for the things Walter makes, along with some of those great Plymouth switchers from the now-defunct K-Line, Dockside switchers from Lionel, and other such products.
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Posted by pbjwilson on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 8:06 PM
How about a track cleaning car - the Sweep

Halloween special - the Creep

Foul language sounds - the Bleep

For women only - the Streep (Meryl Streep)
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Posted by pbjwilson on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 8:12 PM
Originally posted by jaabat

What would Walter call half a GG1?

A Gpoint5?

A GEEF?

A Ghalf?

[/A nicely done 44 tonner would probably do ok as well.

Jim
quote]

The G-spot?
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Posted by FJ and G on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 8:26 PM
BB the beagle would like the name Beef Bone.[:D][:D][:D][:D]



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Posted by 3railguy on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 11:10 PM
I was hoping they would squish a big boy into an 0-2-2-0
John Long Give me Magnetraction or give me Death.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 1:01 AM
Does this mean that somebody will make O Scale Box Cars compressed to 20' and 25' long to match the lengths of the BEEF and the BEEP?

Andrew F.

[;)]
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Posted by jimhaleyscomet on Thursday, May 4, 2006 9:28 AM
For homemakers (like me) he could make the "sweep". Come to think of it that name would also work for a track cleaner car.

Jim H
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Posted by phillyreading on Thursday, May 4, 2006 9:40 AM
Don't know what RMT will make next but the Rail Diesel Car is a good runner and very nicely done, I just got one for my layout. For about $75.00 with shipping I have a very good RDC Budd car, and it will pull two other unpowered passenger cars.
Lee F.
Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 9:42 AM
Ok,so when are we going to see some midget steam engines. Something like a minature Challenger would be nice. Easter
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 5:26 PM
The BEEF appears to use the same four-wheel power chassis as the BEEP.

The BEEP, while not prototypical, has always looked at least plausible to me, something that could have existed had EMD chosen to make such a small switcher. The BEEF looks like something that should have existed, possibly EMD's answer to the Buddliner--half an engine, designed to pull a short passenger train.

I've suggested to Walter that he may want to make a boxcab shell to fit on his four-wheel power chassis. The boxcab mold could have an interchangeable roof so that it could be made as a boxcab electric (like the Lionel 520 of yore) (are you listening, Allan Miller?) or as an early boxcab diesel (something that has not been done by mainstream O-gauge manufacturers). I'll leave it to others to suggest clever monosyllabic names for these.

Richard Bjorkman
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 7:16 PM
I guess that every manufacturer out there knows I would buy a good number of boxcab locomotives like the old Lionel 520 because I've harped enough about it in the past, dating back a good number of years. Just to make it clear: I'm talking about simple and affordable boxcabs, not the higher-end stuff ("Rats" and the like) that has been offered by several manufacturers in recent years.

The 520 was, of course, one of the least expensive locomotives Lionel ever cataloged (and closest to a genuine prototype), and I would expect any modern rendition to be faithful to the low price example it set, although certainly nowhere near the $9.95 tag that the original Lionel version carried.

Ideally, of course, a newer 520-like boxcab would have window inserts, lights, metal pantograph, and a can motor, and in the best of all worlds it would even have electro-couplers so it could actually perform realistic switching moves. But I'm also realistic enough to recognize that the remote couplers might not be a feasible feature on a modest-priced item, so that's a trade-off I would be willing to accept to keep the overall price low.

I have two of the original 520s that are both in pretty darn good shape, although one has a repro pantograph. Both of the little growlers I have run well, and even though they're the cheapest of the cheap, I still like them as well as any of my far more costly locomotives.

But I don't want to load Walter up with new ideas. He's taking things in deliberate and measured steps, and that's the way he should continue doing it, given the uncertainties of today's market. I'll be delighted when the BEEFs and PEEPs are available, and that will be good enough for me for a while. I'm planning to buy several B&O BEEFs and a bunch of the PEEPs when they're available--at least for a start--and then will wait to see what additional liveries are offered.
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Posted by pbjwilson on Thursday, May 4, 2006 7:57 PM
Flat car with mini submarine - the Deep

Mini milk car - the Teet

Neil Young and Crazy Horse car - the Beat
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Posted by jimhaleyscomet on Friday, May 5, 2006 1:37 PM
Boxcab engine.......Boxx.

Jim H
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Posted by palallin on Friday, May 5, 2006 2:39 PM
0-4-4-0 - The BABYBOY (being articulated, it has to have a multisyllabic name [;)] )

20' VandeCamp's boxcar - the BEEN

1-truck,1-cylinder Shay - the SHEEP

1 truck Heisler - the HEEP

1 truck Climax - the CHEEP (or the CLIP)

1 vat wine barrel car - the WEEP

Inexspensive boxcab (like a Rat) - the MOUSE

BEEP-like version of the GE U-boat - the U-DINGHY


I think I need to rest now. . . .
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 6, 2006 1:47 PM
"I never received any promotional materials from them after that. And their website always seems to be lagging what's actually available. "
-------------------
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.

Not knowing how Walter views or operates his business, I nevertheless imagine he's probably pretty darn happy with the way things have been going these past few years. I assume that there's a bit of a learning curve involved, and that BEEPs in some liveries, for example, sell a whole lot better than BEEPs in other liveries, but offering a large variety of BEEPs lets him see, in actual dollars-and-cents terms, just where he might go with subsequent products such as the BEEFs and PEEPs, or anything else he might plan.

I just check his website from time to time to see what's offered, but most of all I learn about his new products by regularly reading the various forums because as soon as something is announced, either Walter himself or one of his customers lets the whole O gauge world know about it in short order.

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Posted by 1688torpedo on Saturday, May 6, 2006 8:41 PM
Dave- If Walter made a Boxcar with a Picture of BB on it advertising the "Star Horse Dog Food Company" I sure would buy it for the fun of it.[:D][:o)][8D][;)] Take Care & remember " May the Horse be with you"[;)][:P][:o)]
Keith Woodworth........Seat Belts save lives,Please drive safely.
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Posted by BobbyDing on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 12:53 AM
I'm late to add my 2 cents, but....

Cute, Attractive and Affordable. Love them. Certainly a shot in the arm for O scale, as these would make really great holiday starter sets. Bravo to RMT. Their size makes them kind of like characatures of the real thing, but done with class. Are they available direct from RMT only? if not I think the LHS would do well to stock up on these for the holidays. As they could then sell track and xformer with them.

I'll be buying a few for sure. A small steamer would be cool. Hope they leave just enough space to add some electronics later (whistle and/or Command).

Bobby
"Of course I crash them! Why else would a grown man play with Trains!".. Gomez Addams
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Posted by Jumijo on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 5:26 AM
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

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 9:22 AM
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.
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Posted by Jumijo on Thursday, May 11, 2006 9:39 AM
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

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

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Posted by jimhaleyscomet on Thursday, May 11, 2006 10:17 AM
Perhaps RMT will start making shorty passenger and freight cars?

Jim H
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Posted by Bob Keller on Thursday, May 11, 2006 11:24 AM
RMT showed the short passenger cars at York.

Bob Keller

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 13, 2006 7:21 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Ogaugeoverlord

RMT showed the short passenger cars at York.

What's the approximate length? Is there a picture somewhere?
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Posted by BobbyDing on Saturday, May 13, 2006 9:25 AM
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
"Of course I crash them! Why else would a grown man play with Trains!".. Gomez Addams
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 13, 2006 11:01 AM
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.
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Posted by BobbyDing on Sunday, May 14, 2006 10:18 AM
"Of course I crash them! Why else would a grown man play with Trains!".. Gomez Addams
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Posted by Bob Keller on Friday, May 26, 2006 9:53 AM
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.

Bob Keller

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 26, 2006 1:44 PM
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
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Posted by Bob Keller on Friday, May 26, 2006 1:48 PM
All I saw was the unpainted passenger set (it was crowded) but I bet the Pennsy rig was outstanding!

Bob Keller

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Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, May 26, 2006 1:59 PM
Boy, I can't wait to see these - I can imagine them even as a 'trailer' behind my trollies.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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