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!

Huge Announcement From BLI???? - UPDATE!

15689 views
120 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,255 posts
Posted by tstage on Saturday, July 11, 2009 8:26 AM

Thommo
tstage

I'm still hopin' for the 20th Century Limited passenger cars...

Tom

Walthers version doesn't do it for you? :)

Oops!  Sorry, forgot to stipulate.  I'm still hopin' for the '38 or '40 20th Century Limited passenger cars [from BLI]. The Walthers version is the '48 20th Century Limited; too late for my era - early 40s.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: NE Phoenix AZ
  • 593 posts
Posted by duckdogger on Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:49 AM

 Wondering if they will do an Amtrak version????  Bachman surely would, I'll bet.

Trains. Cooking. Cycling. So many choices but so little time.
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Modeling the Seaboard Air Line Ry.
  • 531 posts
Posted by citylimits on Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:50 AM

andrechapelon

Well, the most obvious answer is Slobbering Pennsy Freaks.

Followed by Psychotic Seaboard Groupies

And ending with Nattering Nabobs of Nacionales de Mexico Negativism.

Andre

Geeeeeeeeez, Mike, me, a Psychotic Seaboard Groupie?

How dare you divulge such medically sesitive information to the larger Model RR community.
And here's me thinking that a centipede in SAL freight colors would make a fine gift of appreciation to my Psychiatrist ( I have a brass centipede myself already) who has labored away under intense pressue to effect some kind of behavioral modification strategies to help ease my psychosis and my unabashed tendency to form small random groups of crazy folks and perform ritual extravagances such as fomation trailer hitch polishing.

Nearly cured if the drugs keep working.

BruceSmile

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, July 11, 2009 10:29 AM

 WHile it's an oddball, and I won;t be buyign any because I don;t model the PRR, SAL or NdeM, it is somethign that has not been done before, for a change. When has ANYONE done a Baldwin anything besides the Model Power Sharknoses that wasn't a switcher?

 Meanwhiel check Bachmann's announcement. Yes they have done lots of small steam, but their latest is..ta-da, another articulated steamer.

 

                            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Saturday, July 11, 2009 10:35 AM
duckdogger

 BLI is definatley redefining the term niche marketing.  What next? A1A Baldwin Sharks?

The can do something THIS niche but they won't release the N scale PRR M1 they announced FIVE YEARS ago... My loathing of BLI/PCM boils over...

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 11, 2009 10:59 AM

 I must say, that I am really disappointed by this "Huge Announcement"!

I expected something meaningful, maybe like "BLI and MTH are teaming up resources to provide the serious model railroader with excellent locos he has been looking for for so many years now", but what do I see? Just an ordinary announcement for a loco, that hardly anybody would like to see on his/her layout. It is one of those useless things over which we had many a discussion in this forum - be it from BLI or MTH.

Shame on you BLI!

Smile,Wink, & Grin 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, July 11, 2009 3:59 PM

duckdogger

 Wondering if they will do an Amtrak version????  Bachman surely would, I'll bet.

Joke all you want, Bachmann still wins here on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL.

current score:

Bachmann 24, BLI/PCM 9

Bachmann is now poised for a three point score, BLI/PCM is looking at zip.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, July 11, 2009 4:03 PM

Sir Madog
maybe like "BLI and MTH are teaming up resources to provide the serious model railroader with excellent locos he has been looking for for so many years now"

That would be as big a failure as the PRR -NYC merger. They are determined to put each other out of business, not work together.

The last time we really saw two manufacturers work together was Athearn and MDC in the old days. So much so that it made perfect sense for them to be joined together even after the orginal owners where long gone.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Saturday, July 11, 2009 4:08 PM

rrinker
 Meanwhiel check Bachmann's announcement. Yes they have done lots of small steam, but their latest is..ta-da, another articulated steamer.

Yes it is an articulated steamer, but it is a smaller, layout friendly articulated that they already had driveline tooling for. A smart move in this current economy. As everyone should know, I am on the "we need more smaller/medium steam" support team, but Bachmann's choices still make more sense than those of BLI/PCM & MTH.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, July 11, 2009 5:47 PM

The did have a Centipede at the BLI booth in Hartford.  Too bad they didn't have a layout to run it on.  But, they let me take a picture:

I spoke with one of the BLI guys.  He said he actually got one of these to run around 18-inch curves.  He showed me how far out the pilot trucks would swing.  Yeah, it would look silly, but it's nice to know that if you've got some tight staging curves, you could still run one of these.

 

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Switzerland
  • 139 posts
Posted by Daniel1975 on Saturday, July 11, 2009 6:05 PM

 While at the BLI boot did you happen to notice anything we don't know about? I'm asking because on some other Forum someone posted that they had a new NYC Steam Loco at their booth...? True or not?

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, July 11, 2009 6:15 PM

I didn't notice one, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there.  I'm not in the market for engines right now, but I knew this Centipede was a topic of interest.  BLI had quite a few engines out on display, but the Centipede had its own table, while the others were all grouped together.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 11, 2009 6:31 PM

MisterBeasley

The did have a Centipede at the BLI booth in Hartford.  Too bad they didn't have a layout to run it on.  But, they let me take a picture:

I spoke with one of the BLI guys.  He said he actually got one of these to run around 18-inch curves.  He showed me how far out the pilot trucks would swing.  Yeah, it would look silly, but it's nice to know that if you've got some tight staging curves, you could still run one of these.

 

I can see the pilot trucks would be able to swing rather far out---and there will be the toy-like side overhang issue with this one------FOOBIE FOOBIE!!!Dead

ACH!! What else is new-----

I'm still waitin' on an N scale GMD1 with the A1A trucks----I'd buy 6 of 'em!!!

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Saturday, July 11, 2009 6:56 PM

 

looks good to me, not big on Pennsy for my modeling interest, butI like unique engines. You could only get this  engine in expensive brass. BLI is doing some unique things in making a few items you cold only find for brass into lower priced mass produced engines. I would like to see what else is presented by BLI at the show.
Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 11, 2009 8:44 PM

Let us talk about unique then-----if we're going to see the collector take the market then let us go reallyHUGE!!!!!!!!

How about the Baldwin 2-8-8-8-8-2 Quadruplex??MischiefMischief

Even one of those Quintuplexes might be fun!Whistling

Would need 140" radius turns but what the hey---we could even get MTH to articulate the boilers as well and then have it go through 18" curves then!!!Mischief

They want novelty-----here it isSmile,Wink, & Grin

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • 236 posts
Posted by Robt. Livingston on Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:07 PM

I saw it up at Hartford today, and it is indeed a Centipede.  BLI is also releasing a sort of 1928 Ford sedan on flanged wheels, which does operate.  And some modern hi-rail trucks, too.   They are HO and TINY.  I did NOT see any other new locos on display, and they DID have a largish circular display track that the Centipede COULD have run on, but I am guessing the prototype model doesn't run.  I don't care if it runs or not,  so I didn't ask.

I did ask why they only made BIG locos, and they said they wanted to maximize profits (reminds me of GM building SUV's), because the sound and control electronics were so much of the cost.  So, a bigger engine was more profitable, as they feared a smaller engine could not command a higher price.  Sounds like a marketing guess to me, possibly a wrong guess.  Who knows?  Marketing strategy may not be their strength.  I for one would consider a PRR E6s Atlantic, or a host of other medium-small engines.  And, my layout has 36" curves.  As it stands, I  haven't bought ANY of their engines, although I could afford them.  Last loco I purchased was a brass LIRR/PRR G5s 4-6-0, well within the typical BLI price range, and without sound or DCC.

 

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:50 PM

MisterBeasley

The did have a Centipede at the BLI booth in Hartford.  Too bad they didn't have a layout to run it on.  But, they let me take a picture:

I spoke with one of the BLI guys.  He said he actually got one of these to run around 18-inch curves.  He showed me how far out the pilot trucks would swing.  Yeah, it would look silly, but it's nice to know that if you've got some tight staging curves, you could still run one of these.

 

Why am I looking at this and getting the feeling that it should have pantographs and be painted in Great Northern Orange and Omaha Green? 

Tom Tongue

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Sunday, July 12, 2009 6:39 AM

 Baldwin made electric locomotives so the concept carries over...

 Consider the Virginian EL2's and the UP turbines, made by GE.

vgnEL2 

 upturbine

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:57 AM

twhite

Why am I looking at this and getting the feeling that it should have pantographs and be painted in Great Northern Orange and Omaha Green? 

EL-2 mutants? HMMMNWhistling

TWhite: Wouldn't Quadruplexes and Quintuplexes be fascinating looking as well?WhistlingMischief I'm guessing the only issue with them would be the turns----at about, oh----120" radii Tongue

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • 49 posts
Posted by nyflyer on Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:30 AM

Please be a 4-6-0 and or 2-8-0 CAMELBACK OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE.

 

 

I know, I know, but I can dream can't I.

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Northern VA
  • 3,050 posts
Posted by jwhitten on Sunday, July 12, 2009 7:55 PM

steemtrayn

andrechapelon

blownout cylinder

The question is now, how many people will buy something like that though?

Well, the most obvious answer is Slobbering Pennsy Freaks.

K4, I1, M1, J1,  GG1, Q2, and now this....Apparently, they know who their customers are.

 

 

I'll be buying some. I've been wishing I could afford some Centipedes. And PRR ran them in my neck of the woods (Altoona / Horseshoe curve). Even though I'm running the South Penn, its just a short run south of Altoona and similar terrain. Will be a perfect loco set for my layout.

Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in the late 50's
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Washington Township (Gloucester County), NJ
  • 35 posts
Posted by dmolavi on Monday, July 13, 2009 6:47 AM

 i already have asked them to do a paragon 2 run of the PRR T1's, and have been told it's not on the list yet.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, July 13, 2009 8:58 AM

 I was hoping there Huge Announcement was they got there people in charge of QC glasses!

 Or they now know how to fix shorting problems on Y6-b's.Big Smile (I found the fix and e-mailed them how to do it)

 Un like most people here, I like big engines. I was hoping for a Yellow Stone my self.

      Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 13, 2009 9:42 AM

cudaken

 Un like most people here, I like big engines. I was hoping for a Yellow Stone my self.

      Cuda Ken

 

... I like big engines as well and don´t mind BLI or MTH turning out those monsters that we will not be able to run on our layouts, but only if the main stream manufacturers like Bachmann, Atlas, Athearn, Walthers Proto do their homework and provide us with the workhorses we need... 

When I grow up and get real rich, I will have a nice collection of all UP and PRR monsters ...Cool

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, July 13, 2009 9:57 AM

Their comments about needing to make big engines to maximize profits were interesting, but are they correct?

Take a look at the Proto 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 models.  From reading here, these are extremely popular models, and not exactly bargain-basement items.  They've sold out the entire production run, too.  From that, I would say that there is indeed a market for high-quality small steam.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Joizey
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by SteamFreak on Monday, July 13, 2009 11:34 AM

 Apparently the prototype at the Hartford booth was a clever decoy. BLI is now saying that like their next project, the Jawn Henry, the Centipede will be built out of Lego and able to negotiate curves as small as 15", making it popular with everyone from toddlers to backwoods logging modelers alike: Lego JAWN HENRY

Updates as they happen... Whistling

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Monday, July 13, 2009 6:10 PM

MisterBeasley
Their comments about needing to make big engines to maximize profits were interesting, but are they correct?

MMMM---if it is true then I'd love to see what they could do with one of those Quadruplex/Quintuplex things I asked aboutWhistling

---Actually, I'd like to see just how they figure their costing out ---Smile,Wink, & Grin

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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!