Big announcements from Athearn

[Anonymous]

I would've rather seen a high quality competitor for Bachmann's GS4 4-8-4. Or a good alternative for Rivarossi's Hudsons. (Hopefully in road names other than just NYC!)

I've got a Trix Big Boy, Athearn Genesis Challenger and two Rivarossi Challengers and don't know if I can justify another big articulated for my 4x8 layout! Well..... maybe just one more.....

[AntonioFP45]

Well guys, I'm with most of you in saying "Another Big Boy".

I'm only surmising, but........Think about it carefully:

If you're a Horizon/ Athearn manager, you're under pressure to make an investment and produce models that you know, statistically, will likely yield a reasonable return. So what does your sales team or marketing department do? Of coures, refer to sales statistics of locomotives sold over the years from your competition.

What two units appear at or on top of the list?

Yes, as your stomach is turning....you've guessed it: The EMD F7 and UP Big Boy! The Genesis F7 has been a winner (non-sound).

Yet I am puzzled myself as it seems that other steamers, such as the NYC "Streamlined Hudson", MIlwaukee Road Hiawath Hudson, or the Chessie 4-8-4 Grienbrier 614 have been asked for by modelers over the years.

Hope it works out for Athearn.

[route_rock]

How about an On30 heisler?Or better jsut a heisler! I can add a bigger cab. Yes Big Boys sell even though different models would sell better!

[twhite]

I'll pass. Rio Grande may have leased some UP Challenger clones (and gotten rid of them QUICK) but they never went out after a Big Boy. I've got the Genesis Rio Grande challenger and it's a good loco and a great puller, and probably the Big Boy will be the answer to everyone that wants a Big Boy that isn't: 1)Clanky like the old Rivarossi or 2)expensive like the Trix and I hope it sells well and makes Athearn a lot of money so that they can decide to spend the cost of tools and dies and electronics for a steamer that the REST of us might want. And from the posts on this thread, it doesn't seem to be yet ANOTHER Big Boy.
Tom [xx(]

[Anonymous]

Well we have 2 Big Boys coming out onto the market (Uncle irvys and the PCM) and two 4-4-0's (Bachmanns and the roundhouse re-release with sound) Borrrrrrrrrinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng. You want a one road engine thats never been made in plastic? NYC Mohawk, they had something like 150 of them, one step forward with the 4-4-0 and one step back with ANOTHER Big Boy. And I can almost garantee you the PCM model will be better sound wise.

And people wonder why I model deisels.

It's cool the N-scale guys get a good challenger with sound. Too bad the MRC sound is the drizzling***s.

[k41361]

I too agree with above post.EM-1 or M4 Yellowstones would be great.How about the B&O S-1 (2-10-2).There could be so many others.I like the 2-4-4-2 idea also or a logging 2-6-6-2.You just know they would be unique and desireable.
I've gotta say.If I had two or three Challengers or a couple of Big Boys,why would I want more.I'd go for something else.

[trolleyboy]

I must say that it's good that they are at least doing the 4-4-0. Realistically the small and medium size steamers should be the way to go ( would fit more peoples budgets and layouts ) Hopefully as said by other's, once the Big Boy buying frenzy is done maybe they will re run the Pacific and the Mike and maybe just maybe a generic Hudson. Heck if it's a good run people will modify them to be what they want them to be. Oh well.

Rob

[orsonroy]

Yay...another Big Boy...

Why couldn't Athearn take a cue from Bachmann, and come out with small and midsized steam? Athearn's marketing guys must not know the hobby at ALL: look at any photo spread of a steam-based layout in the mags. Know which engine pops up more than any other? The Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. Why? Modelers WANT smallish steam, and that's the only decent Consolidation on the market!

Dingbats...

[dknelson]

Well if you have the tooling for a Challenger paid for you already are part way there for a Big Boy, I guess. That, and the fact that some collectors will buy things and never run them so that they can preserve collector value, probably explains this.
They probably also sense, maybe correctly, that with today's "quality" a Big Boy sold 5 years ago by someone else most likely already does not run very well any more.

What we also need is the good basic 4-8-4 that was used by Rock Island, Milwaukee Road and some other lines. It was the closest thing to a USRA type generic engine in the post depression era. The big knock on steam is that it is generally so railroad specific but that particular 4-8-4 was not
Dave Nelson

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

Yay...another Big Boy...

Why couldn't Athearn take a cue from Bachmann, and come out with small and midsized steam? Athearn's marketing guys must not know the hobby at ALL: look at any photo spread of a steam-based layout in the mags. Know which engine pops up more than any other? The Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. Why? Modelers WANT smallish steam, and that's the only decent Consolidation on the market!

Dingbats...

Well,I suppose it *could* have been much worst. Another K4 perhaps? Perhaps another N&W J? Why not another useless generically designed 4-6-0 that nobody knows exactly what it suppose to be?
I think a small driver 2-8-0 would have been better.

Ding bats or no that is a nice choice for a stable mate to the 4-6-6-4.

[waltersrails]

sounds good to me. i like big boys i hope its priced fair.

[icmr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by waltersrails

sounds good to me. i like big boys i hope its priced fair.

[#ditto][#ditto]



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[Leon Silverman]

Intermountain recently announched they were coming out with properly articulated AC-12. This makes it distinctive from other mass marketed versions of this type of engine. If Athearn's Big Boy also sports true articulation, it will also be distinguished from other versions that have been available (except for Bowser). If the model Big Boy mimicked the flexibility of the prototype, it could not negotiate an HO curve tighter than a 42" radius.

[Anonymous]

DARN! so you don't think the GENESIS 4-8-8-4 would go around my 18" curves? What about a 4-6-6-4 on 18" curves?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Leon Silverman

Intermountain recently announched they were coming out with properly articulated AC-12. This makes it distinctive from other mass marketed versions of this type of engine. If Athearn's Big Boy also sports true articulation, it will also be distinguished from other versions that have been available (except for Bowser). If the model Big Boy mimicked the flexibility of the prototype, it could not negotiate an HO curve tighter than a 42" radius.

The old Tenshodo Big Boys and Key models would go around 30" curves and I would hope the plastic models would have more tollerance in the lateral motion. 24" to 30" might be the minimum if the rear engine was not hinged like the Genesis Challenger.

The Intermountain will probably need 26" to 30" curves also.

[AggroJones]

The ONLY way I see the Genesis BB as okay, is if its priced below all other BigBoys, which is unlikely.

[Anonymous]

I would like to see a low drivered 2-8-2, like the one in the movie Emperor of the North, nice slow freight loco, could be detailed to any era. There are way to many large steamers on the market already. We do need more mid size steamers and styles not previously done in mass production.

[Anonymous]

The Tank car and hopper i will buy, but i want athearn to come out with modern hoppers like the 5200, and others
but the one thing i am waiting for is the toer 55 sd70ace units the up heritage!!!!!

[NevinW]

If the 4-4-0 looks like a V&T Reno and runs really well, then I will sell all my B&O, WM stuff, tear down my current railroad and build a new model railroad based on the Virginia and Truckee. Somehow I doubt that it will be a classic 1870's 4-4-0. - Nevin

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: I would like to see a low drivered 2-8-2

Harriman standard - suitable for at least three or four roads, and bashable into a D&SL 2-8-2.

[Anonymous]

Makes me wonder what they were smoking in Southern California to bring in a Big Boy this year.

It is for sure, most of us will get one, but is is still an odd choice with so many already out there available. Maybe that was their plan all along.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cgrivno

Athearn Trains just announced several new models scheduled for release in 2006, including a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy (HO scale Genesis series), 4-4-0 with sound (HO scale Roundhouse line), 4-6-6-4 Challenger with sound (N scale), American Car & Foundry 2,970-cubic-foot-capacity two-bay covered hopper (HO scale Ready-to-Roll), and 30,000-gallon ethanol tank car (HO and N scales). We'll have a full report tomorrow on MR Express.

The N scale Challenger should be a great model for the N scale market. Anyone ready to get in line for it???

[Anonymous]

Heres the details on the 4-4-0...
4-4-0 steam locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago & North Western; Denver & Rio Grande Western; Great Northern; and New York Central. Sound-equipped with handheld remote control, upgraded mechanism and tooling, prototype-specific details, and magnetic knuckle couplers. $224.98 to $229.98. July 2006. Roundhouse
For the Big Boy...
4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Union Pacific (two road numbers) and undecorated. Operates on DC and Digital Command Control (DCC). Features factory-installed DCC sound board with dual speakers, five-pole skew-wound armature motor with dual flywheels, blackened RP-25 contour metal wheels, and handheld remote control for DC operation. $449.98. July 2006. Genesis Series
Ouch! $450!! Glad I don't want one!

[cmulligan01]

The latest MRR in the product announcement area has an item about Hornby releasing some Rivarossi models including a Big Boy so that has the count up to 3 for this year.

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cgrivno

Athearn Trains just announced several new models scheduled for release in 2006, including a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy (HO scale Genesis series), 4-4-0 with sound (HO scale Roundhouse line),

All right! Maybe Athearn's new Big Boy won't be over-priced like Trix's![:D][:D][:D]

I wonder if the 4-4-0 will be an old time version?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw8835

Heres the details on the 4-4-0...
4-4-0 steam locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago & North Western; Denver & Rio Grande Western; Great Northern; and New York Central. Sound-equipped with handheld remote control, upgraded mechanism and tooling, prototype-specific details, and magnetic knuckle couplers. $224.98 to $229.98. July 2006. Roundhouse
For the Big Boy...
4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Union Pacific (two road numbers) and undecorated. Operates on DC and Digital Command Control (DCC). Features factory-installed DCC sound board with dual speakers, five-pole skew-wound armature motor with dual flywheels, blackened RP-25 contour metal wheels, and handheld remote control for DC operation. $449.98. July 2006. Genesis Series
Ouch! $450!! Glad I don't want one!

The HO Challengers are 360 list but go for 255 at many shops. The 4000 series should be about 350 or so.
They will be a bargain compared to the Trix and should run at least as good as their Challenger. They can use the same sound since it is not correct for anything.

[Anonymous]

I know it's off the subject but would this http://www.ihc-hobby.com/cgi-bin/bsc.cgi?sn=70227K86GD3240070O3573M879490U&id=23401 go around my 18" curves?

[Anonymous]

good luck athearn