So, this is purely speculation, but it seems to me that most GN models sell very quickly. When I look on eBay, I can find many steam locos and whatnot, but when I try to find GN models, they either don't exist, or are priced at super high prices. IE, an used BLI 2-8-0 in GN, $500, that's more than then original MSRP! A brand new in WP? $350. Is it my imagination or does GN stuff A- Sell out quickly when new, and B- Sell higher than average for used. Am I crazy?
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
Are there other Roadnames people have notice this with?
Rio Grande
JDawg Am I crazy?
Am I crazy?
Yes, I think you are
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
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Railroads are not equally popular.
Popular will draw more interest. And bidders.
If this is a problem for you, you might try researching what railroad is the least popular, and change your interest from GN to that one.
Ed
JDawg So, this is purely speculation, but it seems to me that most GN models sell very quickly. When I look on eBay, I can find many steam locos and whatnot, but when I try to find GN models, they either don't exist, or are priced at super high prices. IE, an used BLI 2-8-0 in GN, $500, that's more than then original MSRP! A brand new in WP? $350. Is it my imagination or does GN stuff A- Sell out quickly when new, and B- Sell higher than average for used.
So, this is purely speculation, but it seems to me that most GN models sell very quickly. When I look on eBay, I can find many steam locos and whatnot, but when I try to find GN models, they either don't exist, or are priced at super high prices. IE, an used BLI 2-8-0 in GN, $500, that's more than then original MSRP! A brand new in WP? $350. Is it my imagination or does GN stuff A- Sell out quickly when new, and B- Sell higher than average for used.
Rich
Alton Junction
A local guy did a custom-painted run of GN GEVOS in orange and green and sold a couple dozen pretty quick. Kind of exhausted his decal supply, apparently.
Nothing against Great Northern or C&NW, but my guess is that there are fewer models of those roads available, whereas Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, and other big-name roads have a wider appeal to much of the modelling public. The model manufacturers are more likely to chase the larger market.
And, just to reassure you that I'm an unbiased observer, here's some Great Northern rolling stock...(click on photos for a larger view)
...and some C&NW stuff, too...
Wayne
Wayne, could you reposition that C&NW boxcar in front of Bertrams?
doctorwayne Nothing against Great Northern or C&NW, but my guess is that there are fewer models of those roads available, whereas Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, and other big-name roads have a wider appeal to much of the modelling public. The model manufacturers are more likely to chase the larger market.
That was my assumption too, but I just don't understand why bigger roadnames don't sell quicker if that is the case. I've talked to hobby shop owners all over the country (quite literally hundreds over the years) and they all say the same thing. GN (and other select roadnames) sell 20-50% faster than other items. I don't get it.
I'd expect this in a Midwest state. But even in places like Florida, Texas and New Jersey, it still seems to sell fast.
JDawgI'd expect this in a Midwest state. But even in places like Florida, Texas and New Jersey, it still seems to sell fast.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
JDawg I've talked to hobby shop owners all over the country (quite literally hundreds over the years) and they all say the same thing. GN (and other select roadnames) sell 20-50% faster than other items. I don't get it. I'd expect this in a Midwest state. But even in places like Florida, Texas and New Jersey, it still seems to sell fast.
I've talked to hobby shop owners all over the country (quite literally hundreds over the years) and they all say the same thing. GN (and other select roadnames) sell 20-50% faster than other items. I don't get it.
Great Northern is a popular railroad. It's popular all over the US. And elsewhere. Are you disagreeing with me when I say that, or are you puzzled over why that might be?
Popular railroads sell better than unpopular. Do you agree with that? Or disagree?
I'll add in that when I bought my first brass steam engine in 1963, it was Great Northern. So was my second. And my third. And my fourth. And.......
So I'm one of the guys who makes it popular.
I agree Ed. Popular railroads do sell faster. I'd just think than manufacuterus would hone in on this and make more of the popular stuff.
The UP for example. Huge railroad. But, I don't know, it just doesn't seem super popular, but manufacturers pump out lots of models.
Note: the 4014 models are different of course. Totally different category.
azrail Rio Grande
Yep. The recent run if Intermountain GS drop bottom Gons poofed away fast!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Graham LineA local guy did a custom-painted run of GN GEVOS in orange and green and sold a couple dozen pretty quick.
GN? GEVOS? Must be Fantasy Island.
JDawg I agree Ed. Popular railroads do sell faster. I'd just think than manufacuterus would hone in on this and make more of the popular stuff.
They do. Note that Athearn did two runs of GN GP9's, not far apart.
If UP wasn't popular, the product wouldn't sell. Athearn has done two runs of UP GP9B's, and there's another one coming along. If they didn't sell, they wouldn't make them.
And the reason they sell is that they're popular. So it appears your opinion of UP's popularity with modelers is incorrect.
If UP isn't "super popular", where do all the models go that you say manufacturers "pump out"?
I think your looking at a supply and demand situation more than anything. and here I thought every layout had a Santa Ge warbonet with silver passenger cars...
If you can't find enough Great Northern stuff, one option is to make it yourself...that's why they offer undecorated cars, decals and dry transfers, paint and paint removers.
I've probably bought at least half of my rolling stock off the "used" (and sometimes abused) tables at various hobbyshops and train shows...that's over 200 cars.
I then altered, or repaired them, then made them into what I wanted them to be. Most of them didn't cost much, and model paint will go a long way. The added details can get a bit pricey, but you simply do what you can afford.
Here are some that you might not find in r-t-r form, or even as kits...
This one is a much-modified Train Miniature boxcar, converted into a door-and-a-half boxcar, and lettered with C-D-S dry transfers...
...this one's also a Train Miniature car with modified details and C-D-S lettering...
This one was an undecorated Accurail kit, but removing the cast-on grabirons and sill steps, then replacing them with metal ones made it at least a little more detailed. The lettering is decals from Champ, unfortunately no longer available...
Here's another undecorated kit from Accurail, this one lettered with decals from MicroScale...
This car is mostly a scratchbuild, although the roof is from Red Caboose, and the doors from Bowser. The lettering is from Wright-Trak...
If you want Great Northern rolling stock, look for photos of real cars, then search for models which are similar. They can be painted or not, but if you can find suitable Great Northern lettering, you'll be on the path to having a decent roster of GN cars. Here's a link to some Great Northern decals.
...and, for my cousin Ricardo, a couple of scenes at Bertram's...
doctorwayne ...and, for my cousin Ricardo, a couple of scenes at Bertram's... Wayne
Ricardo
Let's suppose you are a GN modeler. The manufacturer thinks he knows the market based on past experience. He also needs to take into account the current economic climate and makes a guess as ro the number he can sell which may be smaller or greater then the demand. You lost out on a smaller run of a GN loco last time. You jump on the next one produced causing it to sell out quickly. Does that mean there is a bigger market for GN products? Maybe. But your goal as manufacturer is to sell out as fast as possible to maximize your profit. PRR will always sell as it was the biggest railroad. Which one do you think would bring you more revenue and eventually profit. I am very surprised at some of the road names that manufacturers produce and not at all surprised they sell out quickly. It is also why many experienced modelers learn to be handy with an airbrush and decalling so they can turn an undecorated model into whatever they want. I do that even with PRR equipment even though there is a plethora of readily available models. My efforts now exceed the quality of most prepainted cars and locos. Surprisingly even undecorated rolling stock is becoming harder to obtain.
I too have always found Great Northern (at a reasonable price) a bit scarce at times. Quite the popular Road name as guys like to hold on to those. I've found Duluth Mesabi Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific almost impossible to add to your roster anymore.
And the new brass recruit
One just has to keep an eye out through the years as they slowly come around. I only buy them when the 'Price Is Right'. I learned that one from Bob quite a while back
TF
Wow track fiddler. Awesome stuff. Sorry about saying the UP wasn't popular everyone. I guess it just seems that everywhere I look, they are UP models. I am going to end up doing a custom GN paint job on, conincidentaly, a UP steamer. Haha!
Track fiddler I too have always found Great Northern a bit scarce at times. Quite the popular Road name as guys like to hold on to those. I've found Duluth Mesabi Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific almost impossible to add to your roster anymore.
I too have always found Great Northern a bit scarce at times. Quite the popular Road name as guys like to hold on to those. I've found Duluth Mesabi Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific almost impossible to add to your roster anymore.
Here is my observation Southern Pacific and Rio Grande are among the fastest selling. Great Northern and Northern Pacific sell slower than the afor mentioned.
For example. Earlier this week, MB Klein got in a new run of Intermountain GS gondolas in SP, D&RGW, SPS, GN, NP and WP. The D&RGW were sold out within about 24 hours. The SP were sold out within about 48 hours.
All 6 numbers of the GN are still availalbe to buy 5 days after this series of gondolas went up for sale. They seem to be among the slowest to sell of this road names.
Last I checked, there was still one WP, and a number of UP as well.
richhotrain Track fiddler I too have always found Great Northern a bit scarce at times. Quite the popular Road name as guys like to hold on to those. I've found Duluth Mesabi Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific almost impossible to add to your roster anymore. Speaking of hard to find, how about Monon passenger cars??? Rich
Speaking of hard to find, how about Monon passenger cars???
Ha! There was a saying in the old neighborhood that Timmy started, (Tricky-tricky Monon!) I wonder if that's where he got that saying?
I forgot about these hiding in the back. One has to have his F7's Dontcha know?
Check out this beauty up in Duluth Minnesota. The thing looked like it just rolled off the showroom floor!
Try finding this Rio Grande as it's one of my favorite boxcars. Finding one at an acceptable price is a tough act to follow.
And if you do find this one you are my hero
I can't find any more DMIR's to save my soul. A used caboose went for $67, $16 shipping a few weeks ago
Oh! , ...By the way, Josh Miller the manager of the Duluth Depot did call me back a couple years ago. He said the boiler color of all the DMIR's were Russian Iron as far as he knew. I know it relates to another thread here but he said he asked around and if the original color was named something different, nobody at the Depot knew about it.
riogrande5761 Here is my observation Southern Pacific and Rio Grande are among the fastest selling. Great Northern and Northern Pacific sell slower than the afor mentioned. For example. Earlier this week, MB Klein got in a new run of Intermountain GS gondolas in SP, D&RGW, SPS, GN, NP and WP. The D&RGW were sold out withing about 24 hours. The SP were sold out within about 48 hours. All 6 numbers of the GN are still availalbe to buy 5 days after this series of gondolas went up for sale. They seem to be among the slowest to sell of this road names. Last I checked, there was still one WP, and a number of UP as well.
For example. Earlier this week, MB Klein got in a new run of Intermountain GS gondolas in SP, D&RGW, SPS, GN, NP and WP. The D&RGW were sold out withing about 24 hours. The SP were sold out within about 48 hours.
The models in this run are correct for SP, UP and D&RGW (if Intermountain got the D&RGW numbers correct).
They are not correct for the others.
This fact certainly tempers my interest in purchase.
Perhaps increased sales of the SP version would be the existence of sugar beet trains on that railroad.
Also entering into the sales level is how many of each Intermountain did and how many Klein ordered.
If one of them misjudged the interest in Rio Grande and ordered low, then that road would sell out quickly, even if it was only produced at 10% of the level of SP.
If they went high on SP&S because it's so popular, only to have more people declining to buy a foobie, then there'd be stock on the shelf.
I love those GN nw5s. The Duluth transfer railway kept them in rockys robe for years after the BN merger.
JDawg I love those GN nw5s. The Duluth transfer railway kept them in rockys robe for years after the BN merger.
It'll be a great day when they are offered in plastic. I wonder how many I'll get.....
If you think it CAN'T happen, consider that ScaleTrains will be making an SDL39 (10 made). There were 13 NW5's made.
7j43k JDawg I love those GN nw5s. The Duluth transfer railway kept them in rockys robe for years after the BN merger. It'll be a great day when they are offered in plastic. I wonder how many I'll get..... If you think it CAN'T happen, consider that ScaleTrains will be making an SDL39 (10 made). There were 13 NW5's made. Ed
Id buy one of every road number if they made them in GN, if they evey make them that is....
There was an Estate auction I found online that had a couple of hundred brass locos on the block. I put really low bids on dozens of them and ended up with this for $30.00. The Great Northern locos went the cheapest for some reason. This one has volunteered to be the first brass loco I attempt to paint. If I ever get around to it.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."