Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Would you buy one?

2275 views
21 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2005
  • From: Omaha-ish, Nebraska
  • 703 posts
Would you buy one?
Posted by DrummingTrainfan on Saturday, December 31, 2005 1:58 PM
In the February '06 issue of MR in the section about Trainfest there was a picture of T55's newest idea, painting new engines in old paint schemes. The two pictured were two Gevo's, one was painted in the SP black widow, one in the old NP yellowish-goldish and black.

I'm guessing they'll be doing more of this type of thing, so my question to you guys is would you buy one of these in your favorite classic paint scheme? I would consider it if they perhaps made one in perhaps CGW or a whole host of RR's, and they came down in price quite a bit.
    GIFs from http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm -Erik, the displaced CNW, Bears, White Sox, Northern Illnois Huskies, Amtrak and Metra fan.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 31, 2005 2:58 PM
not in a million years
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: NYNH&H Norwich & Worcester MP21.7
  • 774 posts
Posted by David_Telesha on Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:00 PM
Don't know where you have been but those are prototypes for the "heritage" units UP is doing...

They are/will be real locomotives - not fantasy.
David Telesha New Haven Railroad - www.NHRHTA.org
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:04 PM
feb 06 ?
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Stayton, OR
  • 523 posts
Posted by jeffshultz on Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:07 PM
No, they aren't UP fantasy prototypes - for one thing the UP is using SD70ACe's for those, and for another the number on the SP unit isn't right.

NP also became part of the BN, not the UP.

I'd love to have one of the SP units, but there is no justification for it on my layout, nor is there money in my budget...
Jeff Shultz From 2x8 to single car garage, the W&P is expanding! Willamette & Pacific - Oregon Electric Branch
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Stayton, OR
  • 523 posts
Posted by jeffshultz on Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:08 PM
Subscribers should be finding the Feb '06 issue in their mailbox shortly.
Jeff Shultz From 2x8 to single car garage, the W&P is expanding! Willamette & Pacific - Oregon Electric Branch
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:11 PM
No. Now if someone comes out with a nekkid Pam Anderson train.......then THAT will be a different story.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:38 PM
Thats like having a Wisconsin and Southern Dash 9.

Tower 55 is priced way over my head anyway.

Anyone got some Athearn they want to off load??

James
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Saturday, December 31, 2005 4:30 PM
when did jan come out in dec?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Santa Fe, NM
  • 1,169 posts
Posted by Adelie on Saturday, December 31, 2005 4:37 PM
No, unless.....

I have batted around the idea of someday building a what-if layout. For example, setting the layout in the present day but using Pennsy as the road. Brunswick green GEVO's would probably be nothing special to look at, unless you are a Pennsy fan.

Until then, it is undecorated gray.

- Mark

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 31, 2005 4:38 PM
Sure,I would buy one.....Only if they where only priced around a $100.00 a Locomotive.
Id say,sure. But no thanks. Allan.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Saturday, December 31, 2005 4:38 PM
I just checked my order and it sead delivery 3/14/2006
is that the norm
  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Middle Tennessee
  • 453 posts
Posted by Bill H. on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:08 PM
One of these:



In this scheme???



No, I believe I'll pass.
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: US
  • 129 posts
Posted by rtstasiak on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:21 PM
Although I'm not into T55, retro schemes are actually part of the fun of real and model railroading. I'm working on a pair of SD-40s painted up in the old 1960s Genesee & Wyoming scheme. Freelance, retro, and fantasy is a lot easier these days with UP and BNSF units and remote controlled humpers/trimmers running on the old NYC two miles down the road from home.

Rich
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Phoenix, Arizona
  • 1,989 posts
Posted by canazar on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:30 PM
I think its a great and cool idea. Then again, I am younger guy at 31 going on 12 so I am not too stuck in my ways. I think the new BNSF scheme is cool too so i guess that puts me in the odd ball category,

I figure it this way, back when my uncle was modeling (50-60's), you had your choice of what 30-40 roads? 50? I cant even guess but they were everywhere. And all consideded major lines. Now days, you have only 7 class one lines 7. That can get pretty boring for someone just getting into like me. If you are doig modrn times, you are pretty limited. Unless you pick some small reginal or freelance.

Granted, I admit, the price is pretty steep and hopefully, it will come down by the summer. But I think the theroy or conecpt is a great one. You can have fun with a throwback scheme. Either make it a great conversation peice, or be perfect for those that wanted to model a "what if scenario." LIke the fellow doing PRR. How cool to see a GEVO done up for PRR or NP, WP SF... it can go and on.

I give Tower 55 credit. Even if you dont like the engines, you have to give some props for thinking outside the box and haveing some fun whith it.

jus my 2 cents

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Pacific NW
  • 733 posts
Posted by JohnT14808 on Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:38 PM
What T55 needs to do is sell JUST the retro shells for $15.00....They'll make a killing!! Think of all the different shells they could do in fallen flag livery.......
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Dallas, GA
  • 2,643 posts
Posted by TrainFreak409 on Saturday, December 31, 2005 6:17 PM
I parallel Adalie here. I have often considered playing with a modern Pennsylvania Railroad. I think that would be awesome. That would be as awesome as an EMD DD40X in PRR...Which I have.[;)] Now...The next thing I'd like to see is an SD70ACe in PRR. But until I get an airbrush, I'm off to dream.[:D]

Where other railroads are concerned, as long as the paint scheme strikes my fancy and looks good to me, I don't care if it is prototypical or not.[8D]

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Crosby, Texas
  • 3,660 posts
Posted by cwclark on Saturday, December 31, 2005 7:49 PM
I must be missing something, but the only tower 55 advertisement i found in this month's MRR was of a BNSF in the new black ,orange, yellow, and silver paint scheme..they didn't mention SP at all...page 38...chuck

  • Member since
    July 2005
  • From: Omaha-ish, Nebraska
  • 703 posts
Posted by DrummingTrainfan on Saturday, December 31, 2005 11:32 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark

I must be missing something, but the only tower 55 advertisement i found in this month's MRR was of a BNSF in the new black ,orange, yellow, and silver paint scheme..they didn't mention SP at all...page 38...chuck



This wasn't an official advertisement. This was near the front in the section about the Trainfest in Wisconsin.

Yes these are fantasy, it even said so right in the page.
    GIFs from http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm -Erik, the displaced CNW, Bears, White Sox, Northern Illnois Huskies, Amtrak and Metra fan.
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
  • 10,621 posts
Posted by dehusman on Sunday, January 1, 2006 12:19 AM
no.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Middle Tennessee
  • 453 posts
Posted by Bill H. on Sunday, January 1, 2006 1:47 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark

I must be missing something, but the only tower 55 advertisement i found in this month's MRR was of a BNSF in the new black ,orange, yellow, and silver paint scheme..they didn't mention SP at all...page 38...chuck


http://www.modeltrains.com/WEB%20-%20CMT/Overland%20Models/Tower%2055/over-tower55-southern-pacific.htm

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: NYNH&H Norwich & Worcester MP21.7
  • 774 posts
Posted by David_Telesha on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 1:02 PM
I hear you guys saying it would be cool to do this and that in vintage schemes - but CDOT did this long before UP and others - since the early 1990's at least.

Check out the P32AC-DM owned by CDOT and pooled in the Metro North equipment.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2004092819294822534.jpg

Yep - the New Haven is alive and well - thats the 1954 H. Matter designed, "McGinnis" scheme nicknamed after NH prez Pat McGinnis...

Look at the other equipment the NH never owned but was painted by CDOT to set it apart from Metro North and as a tribute the New Haven.

GP40PH:
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20041116184842720.jpg

This THING:
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2006010209245014364.jpg

Take another look - that's an F7 - never owned by the real New Haven, but it looks great thanks to CDOT:
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2006010209223810528.jpg
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2005122312271116261.jpg

The MU's are jointly owned MN/CDOT - the red looks NH to me...
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2004112417530916299.jpg

Love the newer safety ends:
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2004112417563016659.jpg

YES, even the coaches and cab cars - wait!! CHECK OUT the NH sticker on the door!!
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2004092819523923650.jpg

New Haven rules.
David Telesha New Haven Railroad - www.NHRHTA.org

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!