A couple to add to my list:
1. FEC 4-6-2- A small pacific that would look good pulling two or three passenger cars. A few of these were sold to other railroads. One ended up being a key engine of the Southern steam program, Savannah and Atlanta 750. Five of these engines are preserve, one in Albany, Ga, 750 in Duluth Ga, and two in South Florida. Not sure were the fifth is now. Also, this is a nice but pretty generic looking pacific.
2. Hiawatha Class A 4-4-2. If Con-cor keeps doing the streamline set, it might happen.
Eric
elauterbach wrote: Looking at the engines released in plastic/diecast, it got me thinking about what steam engines I am surprised that they haven't made yet in HO scale. I am not talking about what engines I would like, but what engines might be so popular as to warrant a model. Since a lot of the USRA and common engines like the Berskhire have done. Here is my list:1. B&O EM-1 2-8-8-42. ATSF 2-10-4 5100 class (also leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad)3. C&O 4-8-4 (614 has a lot of fans)4. Pennsylvania Turbine S2 6-8-6 (Lionel post-war popularity might translate over)5. SRR Ps-4 4-6-2 6. DM&IR Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 (the brass ones even sell well)7. Milwaukee Road S3 4-8-4 (261 has a lot of fans plus the Walthers Hiawatha stuff)What other engines belong on this list?Eric
Looking at the engines released in plastic/diecast, it got me thinking about what steam engines I am surprised that they haven't made yet in HO scale. I am not talking about what engines I would like, but what engines might be so popular as to warrant a model. Since a lot of the USRA and common engines like the Berskhire have done. Here is my list:
1. B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4
2. ATSF 2-10-4 5100 class (also leased by the Pennsylvania Railroad)
3. C&O 4-8-4 (614 has a lot of fans)
4. Pennsylvania Turbine S2 6-8-6 (Lionel post-war popularity might translate over)
5. SRR Ps-4 4-6-2
6. DM&IR Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 (the brass ones even sell well)
7. Milwaukee Road S3 4-8-4 (261 has a lot of fans plus the Walthers Hiawatha stuff)
What other engines belong on this list?
1. Erie K-5a 4-6-2 in final modernized form. It's a USRA Heavy underneath, but the Erie modernization enhances the already rather good looks of the USRA design. In undecorated form, would make a good passenger engine on a free-lance RR.
2. Santa Fe 3400 4-6-2 - another basically good looking loco whose looks are enhanced by modernization. SF has a large following.
3. Harriman 2-8-2 - Owned and used by several railroads including SP, UP, IC. A nice counterpoint to the USRA lights and heavies.
4. ATSF 1950 2-8-0. It was popular when PFM imported it. It would be at least as popular now.
5. FEC 4-8-2 in the 401-452 number series. A number of these were eventually scattered far and wide. 2 went to the Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast, 5 to Cotton Belt, 10 to Western Pacific, and a bunch went to NDeM. A nice, moderately sized 4-8-2. Also good for a free-lance road.
6. Cotton Belt L-1 4-8-4 - One of the best proportioned medium sized 4-8-4's ever built. While the SSW only had 20 4-8-4's, 11 migrated to the SP in the 1950's (SP numbers #4475-4481, 4485-4488). Would make a good "generic" 4-8-4 if the tender had a removable oil bunker so it could easily be converted to coal.
Note: all the engines listed above would make good layout sized engines, and with some detail changes, would also make good engines for the free-lancer.
Andre
I am not thinking about what I would like to see, which is a N&W Z 2-6-6-2 and a Pennsy Q-2, but rather what might get produced. All the USRA engines have pretty much been done, as have the Russian Decapods and common Berks of the C&O, PM, NKP, and Virginian. So what will be next?
I want to see B&A, and B&M Pacifics. NYC ran their Pacifics on the former B&A main line from Boston to NY after the 20's, but all the B&A Pacifics were still being used right up into the late 40's. And on all the B&M rail lines, Pacifics ran all over New England....so where are they Atlas, Athearn, P2K, BLI, etc.????
Also, the sports model Berkshires that ran on the former B&A/NYC in New England, where are they ?
I'm surprised that any steam loco that's currently running or under reconstruction doesn't have a model of it available.
Paul A. Cutler III************Weather Or No Go New Haven************
All I know is that I would give up all my MRR purchases for a year to save up for an Northern Pacific W-3 Mikado, if only someone would build one that I could afford (i.e. le$$ than or equal to my yearly MRR budget).
Tom
You cant forget the PRR H series of engines. Thousands were made and not much diference between them. I realy could use a couple of H9s, H10s or even an H8s. I would think that would be a gold mine for someone. And dont forget the streamlined K4s.
PCM is coming out with the I1s in HO that looks good but I dont care for the Loksound horn/whistle volumes being so low. If I get one it will be non sound and Tsunnami it.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Definately the Southern Ps-4. As it was elegant and in it's own class
I could see a C&O Greenbrier as these were a Handsome engine and were well proportioned and C&O is a frequently modelled RR. One of the reasons, I suspect, we see a lot of PRR releases and UP releases.
A Royal Hudson. Unfortunately as a Canadian Engine it's appeal may be restricted to mostly the Canadian market. Then again when True Line Trains CN 4-8-4 did a pre-release of a 1000 units they sold very quick, quicker than anyone anticipated.
A Yellowstone would also be a nice addition. but is the market there?
Saying all this maybe we have to ask the manufacturers what criteria they use when deciding on a new product. How do they calculate what will fly and what won't?
Why did MTH decide on a Triplex? They had their reasons, hey I might even get one myself
Which are the most modelled Railroads in the hobby? Does this help to determine new releases?
Just some thoughts
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
doctorwayne wrote: Tom, you're certainly right about the Big Boy, although part of its cachet is due to its "biggest" tag. It is a handsome loco, though, as are the ones suggested. I think that some of the popularity of some of these locos can be attributed to the fact that there are still examples extant, and it would probably be good for the hobby to see any or all of them produced. Having started model railroading in the late '50s, I'm continuously amazed by the locos that manufacturers are bringing out, so perhaps any of these locos are possible in the not-too-distant future. As modellers in general become more aware of what existed outside of their personal experiences or favourites, the market for some of these relatively obscure locos grows, and as demand creates a viable market, some manufacturer is sure to respond. The Internet could be a useful tool for organising the demand for particular locos, so it's really up to the potential customers to get the ball rolling. As a dyed-in-the-wool kitbasher, though, I'm probably not in that group. Wayne
Tom, you're certainly right about the Big Boy, although part of its cachet is due to its "biggest" tag. It is a handsome loco, though, as are the ones suggested. I think that some of the popularity of some of these locos can be attributed to the fact that there are still examples extant, and it would probably be good for the hobby to see any or all of them produced. Having started model railroading in the late '50s, I'm continuously amazed by the locos that manufacturers are bringing out, so perhaps any of these locos are possible in the not-too-distant future. As modellers in general become more aware of what existed outside of their personal experiences or favourites, the market for some of these relatively obscure locos grows, and as demand creates a viable market, some manufacturer is sure to respond. The Internet could be a useful tool for organising the demand for particular locos, so it's really up to the potential customers to get the ball rolling. As a dyed-in-the-wool kitbasher, though, I'm probably not in that group.
Wayne
Wayne--you make a really GOOD point about manufacturers wanting to model steam locos of which there are at least some examples still in existance--either running or in museums.
For instance, I model mainly Rio Grande standard-gauge steam (of which there is only one existing prototype loco, a little 2-8-0--all the rest were scrapped by the railroad). And since the prototypes are not available for railfans or hobbyists to see and enjoy, except in photographs or films, it makes it tricky for a mfgr to produce, say, one of their L-131 2-8-8-2's or L-105 4-6-6-4's in anything but brass, due to what they think might be a very limited market. Ergo--my roster is either brass or kit-bashed (kind of a lost art, don't you think, these days?).
But then, again, it hasn't stopped mfgrs from producing no longer existing prototypes. I for one, was REALLY surprised (and pleased) when BLI chose the early 'flat-faced' AC 4-5 SP Cab-Forwards as their model instead of the more familiar AC-8-12's. Who'da thunk, right?
So, maybe there's still hope for my Greenbrier, Yellowstone and your Mohawk, after all!
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
doctorwayne wrote:#4 I'd suggest that anyone interested should start saving now: as a one-off, this is unlikely to appear as anything other than brass.
#4 I'd suggest that anyone interested should start saving now: as a one-off, this is unlikely to appear as anything other than brass.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
My list was of engines that I think might be popular enough to be produced. The Mohawk and smaller Heisler are good candidates. The Rivarossi Heisler is way too big. Maybe Bachmann will do this for their Spectrum line. I was thinking that BLI was coming out with a Mohawk in the near future. I would be surprised if MTH did the Turbine. I know that there was only one, but I think that Lionel's Post-war model of this engine makes it a good possibility.
If you are talking about just number made of the actual engine, then the Pennsy L1 2-8-2 should be near the top.
The Em-1 would me my choise. That and the the DM&ÍR Yellowstones.
Magnus
twhite wrote:DrWayne--Not to get into an argument, but remember, only 25 Big Boys were ever built by Alco, and they all went to only one railroad--Union Pacifc--yet almost every hobby manufacturer around has built a model of them. So the Yellowstone analogy doesn't really work, here. The wish list doesn't seem to be about the number of PROTOTYPES built, but about locomotives that seem to be on the top of a lot of modeler's 'wish lists' for manufacture. For instance, I live in California and model a western railroad, but let me tell you, if a mfgr like BLI came out with a model of the C&O Greenbrier 4-8-4, I'd be badgering my LHS to death to get it in for me. Okay, so only 12 were built, but it's still a very distinctive--and IMO--beautiful example of the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement in its prime. And from what I've read in other posts, it would probably sell very well. Same thing for the Missabe Yellowstones--it's usually always among the top 3 whenever anyone posts a 'to-do' steamer list for manufacturers. And as Elauterbach wrote, even the brass ones are selling so well they're hard to find--I know, I'm looking for some more, myself. But I certainly agree with you about the Mohawk--now that's one handsome 4-8-2 that has been overlooked for WAY too long. Tom
DrWayne--
Not to get into an argument, but remember, only 25 Big Boys were ever built by Alco, and they all went to only one railroad--Union Pacifc--yet almost every hobby manufacturer around has built a model of them. So the Yellowstone analogy doesn't really work, here.
The wish list doesn't seem to be about the number of PROTOTYPES built, but about locomotives that seem to be on the top of a lot of modeler's 'wish lists' for manufacture. For instance, I live in California and model a western railroad, but let me tell you, if a mfgr like BLI came out with a model of the C&O Greenbrier 4-8-4, I'd be badgering my LHS to death to get it in for me. Okay, so only 12 were built, but it's still a very distinctive--and IMO--beautiful example of the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement in its prime. And from what I've read in other posts, it would probably sell very well. Same thing for the Missabe Yellowstones--it's usually always among the top 3 whenever anyone posts a 'to-do' steamer list for manufacturers. And as Elauterbach wrote, even the brass ones are selling so well they're hard to find--I know, I'm looking for some more, myself.
But I certainly agree with you about the Mohawk--now that's one handsome 4-8-2 that has been overlooked for WAY too long.
I'm pretty ignorant about steam but it probably has to do not strictly with the number made, but the popularity too. That probably explains the Big Boy.
As much as some Rio Grande prototypes would be nice, again, too rare to justify.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
#1 and #6, while both attractive locos, comprise 2/3 of all the locos of this wheel arrangement: B&O 30 EM-1, DM&IR 8 M-3, 10 M-4, along with NP 12 Z-5, and SP 12 AC-9.
#2 I'm not familiar with this loco, but Broadway makes the 3800 Class as well as the PRR version - I don't know if these are candidates for kitbashing or not.
#3 Another attractive loco, but one of only 12 built.
#5 I can't find much on these other than the 4501 at the Smithsonian, but a credible model can be had with a kitbash of the old Rivarossi USRA Heavy Pacific, and it might be possible to use the running gear from a BLI USRA Light Pacific with the superstructure (boiler, cab, etc.) of the BLI Heavy Mikado - the prototype USRA Pacifics and Mikados used the same boiler - although the "light" boiler was smaller in diameter than the "heavy". The Ps-4 is closer to the "Heavy" version.
#7 Similar to #3, one of only 10 locos.
I'm not surprised at all that none of these locos have been made in plastic. I wouldn't be surprised, though, to see BLI come out with a version of the USRA Heavy Pacific, and possible a fairly close version of the Ps-4. Likewise for the ATSF 5100 Class. Perhaps if enough people suggest it, Walthers will produce the S3 to go with their Hiawatha - don't hold your breath, though. I think that the 2-8-8-4 wheel arrangement could be a money-maker for someone, though - possibly BLI. I don't know how similar the running gear of the 72 prototype locos were, but if they were close, the costs could be spread over all 5 prototypes. None of these locos, worthy as they might be, would be on my shopping list, though, as they're all too big for my branchline operations.
In my opinion, the one loco that's been overlooked for far too long is the NYC Mohawk. With 600 locos in four classes (BLI has done or is doing an L-4b in brass/plastic), this is a very underrepresented loco. It is possible to kitbash some versions using the Bachmann USRA Light or Heavy Mountains, but it does surprise me that this loco has been passed over.
Hmmm,
Southern Railway Ps4 Pacific
Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson
More to come.
Cheese
Nick! :)