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Name an engine that we will probably never see in plastic

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Posted by caldreamer on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 5:04 PM

BNSF had quite a few genset locomoties, 80 in total.  Never made in N scale and very limited ??? as to which manufacturers in HO.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 4:10 PM

Lakeshore Sub

Would love to see a US modern ten wheeler again, specifically a CNW R-1.   Halmark made them in brass decades ago and Bachman stopped producing the Spectrum 10 wheeler which was a good basis for a kitbash.   Wishful thinking.

Scott Sonntag

 
You're right about the possibilities for kitbashing, Scott.
I bought two of the Bachmann 10 Wheelers, but thought them to look too old-fashioned for my late '30s-era layout...
 
 
...so I modified the slide-valve cylinders into piston-valve types...
 
 
...then modified a couple of Varney boiler castings (used for both Varney's "Casey Jones" 10-Wheeler and the Varney "Old Lady" Consolidations)...
 
 
 
...then mounted them on the Bachmann running gear, adding new cabs from Bachmann's Spectrum Consolidations (the boiler/cab assemblies were offered as kitbashing fodder by Bachmann, and may still be available as such)...
 
 
After adding a few details....
 
 
 
...and shortening and narrowing the too-long and too-wide tenders...
 
 
...I ended-up with a couple of up-to-date locomotives...

Based on the photos I found of the C&NW R-1s, the Varney boiler would likely be a useful item if you wanted to create your own R-1.

The TOY TRAIN HEAVEN site of English's Model Railroad Supply has an added-on "Fire Sale", which has a few of those Varney castings available at a reasonable price.  If you're interested, I'd suggest that you act quickly, as the numbers of them available are dwindling.

Wayne

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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 9:19 AM

FWIW what I find more annoying is when a model of a particular engine is available, but the manufacturer chooses to not offer it decorated for all the railroads that used the engine - and as often as not, doesn't offer an undec version either.

It will be interesting to see, for example, if Rapido offers their HO SW-1200 decorated for the Minneapolis Northfield and Southern and/or the identical paint scheme used by Progressive Rail on the engines when they eventually took over the line. (Progressive Rail's "high line" through Richfield and Bloomington MN have been in MR a couple of times in recent years.) Similarly, MN&S was an owner of Russian Decapods like Bachmann has made for some time - at least they do offer an undec version.

BTW Bachmann's USRA 4-8-2 is very similar to engines used by Soo Line, and their USRA 4-6-2 and 2-8-2 (and BLI ones also) are very similar to Soo Line engines - plus a Soo 4-6-2 and 2-8-2 were restored to operation in recent years on fantrips, so a model of one or the other could fit into a modern layout as well as a steam era one.

Stix
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Posted by NittanyLion on Monday, September 13, 2021 9:56 PM

Any of Amtrak's rare terminal locomotives.  

The NRE 2GS12B is my favorite.  There's only five of them out there.  Not common enough to be everywhere, not rare enough to be popular.  Not exactly a candidate for plastic.

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/580134/

#599 was once #799, an SW1001R like #796 in that picture.  

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Posted by hardcoalcase on Monday, September 13, 2021 8:35 PM

Erie's 0-8-8-0, camelback L-1 class loco.

Jim 

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Posted by cats think well of me on Monday, September 13, 2021 7:54 PM

I don't see a Boston and Maine T1a or T1b 2-8-4 being mass-produced anytime soon. The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific had acquired some during WW2 and I know the SP version had a different tender. Brass models of all three railroad's variations have been done. I own a Precision Scale Boston and Maine rendition. It's a neat engine, though the B&M hated them, prone to derailments and they were maintenance hogs, thus, the railroad scrapped all of them by the mid-50s. Here's a pic of one before WW2 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3840969

Alvie

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Posted by DrW on Monday, September 13, 2021 6:44 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
7j43k
new from BLI:

 

Isn't the BLI model limited run hybrid-brass (like an Oriental Powerhouse model)?

Let me know if it is in fact mass produced plastic.

-Kevin

 

It is indeed mass produced plastic. You can get it for $370-400 (list $500) with Paragon 4. It is a georgeous model (I got two), comparable to the 1988 Key brass models (which still sell for $700+), although the brass models probably have more road number-specific details.

Hope this helps...

JW

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Posted by snjroy on Monday, September 13, 2021 1:03 PM

Manufacturers seem to have lost interest in narrow gauge diesels. Grandt lines offered a switcher - not sure if these are still available. There is some european stuff. I doubt someone will ever produce the larger NG diesels that were in Yukon (WPY), or the GMD NF210 that roamed in Newfoundland.  

Simon

 

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Posted by emdmike on Monday, September 13, 2021 12:06 PM

caldreamer

Unfortunatly neither BN 1410 or 1416 made it into the BNSF. Both were retired in December of 1990.

 

 I knew this, both were on the local shortline in Indiana in the spring of 1991. .   And I thought MTH did the UP 4-12-2 in diecast a few years ago with sound and all the nice lighting they put in their models in HO scale.   

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

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Posted by dknelson on Monday, September 13, 2021 10:23 AM

Well now let's not abandon all hope here -- recall that AHM, working with Rivarossi and others, had plastic versions of the Indiana Harbor Belt 3-cylinder 0-8-0 in its catalog for years and there were only three of the prototype made, all running in a fairly restricted geographical area too.  And that same locomotive then got made, in plastic, in N scale and O scale two-rail!   Probably the largest selling scale model 0-8-0, ever, and it was at best a distant cousin of the USRA 0-8-0 that could have been accurately lettered for many more (and more popular) railroads.  

AHM followed suit with the Krauss Maffei diesel hydraulic that ran briefly on Rio Grande and SP.  Compared to the K-M, the Fairbanks Morse C-Liner and EMD BL-2 (on Fairbanks Morse trucks!) that AHM came out with were practically main stream stuff!   

Not nearly as popular a model,  but one could also mention Athearn's Boston & Maine 4-6-2 as a decidedly odd choice for mass produced plastic, as it was anything but a generic looking prototype and thus was an odd choice for a company which usually chose prototypes on which all sorts of roadnames could be slapped on and be called "close enough."   Their Santa Fe caboose for example.  

I am aware that that was a different era of tooling costs, model train marketing, and prototype modeling, but still, even then people in model railroading were shaking their heads at AHM's audacity in making a best seller out of an Indiana Harbor Belt locomotive.   

Dave Nelson

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Posted by wjstix on Monday, September 13, 2021 9:59 AM

Unfortunately, pretty much any steam engine not a USRA engine (original or copy), or not owned by Pennsy, NYC, N&W, UP or ATSF is unlikely to ever be made in plastic.

Stix
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Posted by Lakeshore Sub on Monday, September 13, 2021 9:29 AM

Would love to see a US modern ten wheeler again, specifically a CNW R-1.   Halmark made them in brass decades ago and Bachman stopped producing the Spectrum 10 wheeler which was a good basis for a kitbash.   Wishful thinking.

Scott Sonntag

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, September 12, 2021 6:09 PM

doctorwayne
The Central's H10s were also among my favourites...all business and a geddouta-my-way look.

Wayne

Well put, Wayne. Laugh  I consider it one of NYC's original "unibrows"...

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

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

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Posted by doctorwayne on Sunday, September 12, 2021 4:22 PM

I can't see this one being made in plastic (and perhaps not in brass, either)...

but I think that CNR's S-4-a and S-4-bs were among the nicest-looking Mikados that I've seen, even though the CNR cheaped-out and wouldn't spring for a second airpump to balance the appearance of the front end.

The Central's H10s were also among my favourites, but I doubt we'll ever see them in plastic, either...all business and a geddouta-my-way look.

Wayne

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Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, September 12, 2021 3:52 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
7j43k
new from BLI:

 

Isn't the BLI model limited run hybrid-brass (like an Oriental Powerhouse model)?

Let me know if it is in fact mass produced plastic.

-Kevin

 

 

Nope.  It's not listed as a "brass-hybrid".  It's listed as a Paragon 4.

I have no idea what it's made of.  BLI doesn't say.

 

But it lists for $100 less than an Athearn Genesis 4-8-2.

 

Ed

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Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, September 12, 2021 3:36 PM

ndbprr
UP 4-12-2. Turning radius would be prohibitive

Didn't Broadway tackle this beast a while back?

https://www.broadway-limited.com/paragon4hybridup4-12-2ho.aspx

  • Will Operate on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
  • Recommended Minimum Radius: 22 inches
  • Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the UP 4-12-2 locomotive

SeeYou190
Isn't the BLI model limited run hybrid-brass (like an Oriental Powerhouse model)?

I consider the Hybrid thing a mass-market model. Sure, their detail level is a bit higher but, generally, if you wait long enough BLI will crank out a couple thousand more. (Is this the second or third run of the 4-12-2s?)

Speaking of oddballs in plastic, I never thought I'd see a PRR DD1 in plastic but I just took one out of the box last night.

 PRR_DD1-GHB-HO by Edmund, on Flickr

It will supplement my earlier, brass, Alco Models motor:

 PRR_DD1-fi2i by Edmund, on Flickr

To add to Tom's NYC steam list, I'd be first in line to grab a couple K-5 or K-11 Pacifics. These were the cutting edge passenger locomotive on the NYC before 1927.

https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/pages-from-1981q2the-k-11s.pdf

Broadway WAS going to do the K5 "Commodore" streamlined version but that got shelved.

Regards, Ed

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Posted by chatanuga on Sunday, September 12, 2021 3:26 PM

Amtrak's GE P30CH in both Phase II and Phase III paint.

Kevin

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Posted by dti406 on Sunday, September 12, 2021 2:01 PM

The Ferro Kid

Steam -- a Lehigh Valley 4-8-4 Pocono and a DL&W 4-8-4 Wyoming.

Diesel -- Baldwin B-B Babyface, DR 4-4-15, a la CNJ, NYC, and MoPac.

 



The only problem with the Babyfaces is that all three had different bodies and frame lengths.

 

Rick Jesionowski 

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Posted by The Ferro Kid on Sunday, September 12, 2021 1:15 PM

Steam -- a Lehigh Valley 4-8-4 Pocono and a DL&W 4-8-4 Wyoming.

Diesel -- Baldwin B-B Babyface, DR 4-4-15, a la CNJ, NYC, and MoPac.

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Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, September 12, 2021 12:48 PM

Lastspikemike
Selkirk 8000 is the Selkirk version  Rapido needs to build first.

Because they only made one, I would only have to buy one and the wallet would be happy. With only having one version to sell I don't think Rapido could sell enough to make it profitable. 

There was a poll on FB asking would you buy one if Rapido made it and the "NOs"  are ahead 3 to 1 last I checked.Grumpy

Brent

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, September 12, 2021 12:00 PM

7j43k
new from BLI:

Isn't the BLI model limited run hybrid-brass (like an Oriental Powerhouse model)?

Let me know if it is in fact mass produced plastic.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by ckape on Sunday, September 12, 2021 11:58 AM

A SF30B would be a nice addition to my Minnesota Commercial fleet.

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Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, September 12, 2021 11:30 AM

SeeYou190

I am going to be a big downer here, but I think at this point, any road-specific medium sized, non-flashy, steam locomotive will never be made in RTR plastic.

Union Pacific 2-8-0, Santa Fe 4-6-2, N&W 4-8-0, and so on... never to be made in RTR plastic.

The flashy rarites like Royal Hudsons, Big Boys, Class As, EM-1s, and so on will continue to sell well. However, the workaday locomotives with road specific spotting features that were much more common will not be seen.

I think only the PRR will have road-specific medium steam mass produced from this point forward.

  

 

new from BLI:

 

 

But generally, to get a medium sized steam loco for YOUR railroad is gonna mean a LOOOONG wait.

Well, unless you're a Santa Fe modeler.

 

 

Ed

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, September 12, 2021 11:05 AM

emdmike
The BN version is different from the Paducah version as they have big fuel tanks and air tanks above the tank like a GP38, along with the 4 stacks, winterization hatch, Horst "ox yoke" air intake, chop nose with a non sloping top to it.

I keep thinking back to the International/Highliners or whatever it was approach to an F-unit shell, where the thing would be either made or tooled as a 'kit of parts' that would have the correct grills, lights, boards, tanks, etc. applied to it.  Surely there is a version of that that could be applied to a Geep shell, and cover from GP7/9 all the way up to at least GP20 and perhaps GP24, with the aftermarket providing some of the 'specialty' components for various varietals -- in 3D print or using 3D print to develop molds for resin or injection.

I'd go for multiples of the Midsouth version, frogeye lights and all.  Nearly EVERY railroad could use some kind of Geep... 

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Posted by caldreamer on Sunday, September 12, 2021 8:17 AM

Unfortunatly neither BN 1410 or 1416 made it into the BNSF. Both were retired in December of 1990.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, September 12, 2021 12:48 AM

emdmike
what engines do you think we will never see in mass produced RTR plastic.

I am going to be a big downer here, but I think at this point, any road-specific medium sized, non-flashy, steam locomotive will never be made in RTR plastic.

Union Pacific 2-8-0, Santa Fe 4-6-2, N&W 4-8-0, and so on... never to be made in RTR plastic.

The flashy rarites like Royal Hudsons, Big Boys, Class As, EM-1s, and so on will continue to sell well. However, the workaday locomotives with road specific spotting features that were much more common will not be seen.

I think only the PRR will have road-specific medium steam mass produced from this point forward.

Southgate 2
The one-off Cummins center cab.

Everyone missed their chance to sell me that model. It is off of my "buy" list.

-Kevin

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Posted by emdmike on Saturday, September 11, 2021 11:41 PM

Most all the 1400's and similar 1300 series BN GP's found homes post BN, from the Bloomer line in their CB&Q colors to other shortlines.  Intermountain proved that shortlines sell with their IC style GP10's.  Small 4 axle EMD's are the bread and butter of small shortlines and ones that cannot afford GP38's go with GP9's and the rebuilds they became, and most are chop nosed by this point.    I have pics of 1410 in the PNW, Minnesota, Chicago.  She saw most of the BN system thru her years just as the 1410, let alone her years as a high nose GN GP9. 

 

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, September 11, 2021 11:36 PM

I certainly agree about the BN 1400's.  I have a feeling there will be a BN/PNW dry spell from Athearn, though.

Athearn owns the F's and the GP's.  Been awhile, no?  How about some BN ABBA F9's?  Or the above mentioned 1400's?  They DO sell.  Or maybe some BSB Geeps?

 

Ed

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Posted by emdmike on Saturday, September 11, 2021 11:18 PM

And the RS1325's live on, one in G&W corperate colors, now in the IRM collection and operational last I knew.  Many engines lived on after the class ones were done with them and some Mfg's ignore that.    I will add another one.  BN's version of the GP10, the 1400's.   1410 and 1416 worked the local shortline in Indiana for many years.  I have the beacon and number glass off 1410 when she was renumbered.  The BN version is different from the Padauch(sp) version as they have big fuel tanks and air tanks above the tank like a GP38, along with the 4 stacks, winterization hatch, Horst "ox yoke" air intake, chop nose with a non sloping top to it.  To me one of the best reworks of the classic GP9.  Give me this in BN colors, with the nice LED Prime beacon like Rapido is using now and I will patch it out just like pictured below.  Are we listening Athearn! You have the state of the art GP9 tooling, it is possible!     

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, September 11, 2021 11:02 PM

JDawg

EMD NW5 only like 13 Ever built. 

 

 

That MAY not be what we lead off with when we pitch this thing.

 

Think GN!  Think BN!  Think Southern!  Think all the folks lucky enough to own these later!!!

 

And SO CUTE!

Keep hitting that one!

(Say!  Didn't more railroads own NW5's than SDL39's?)  See where I'm going? 

 

Ed

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