mdvle

Rapido update, posted to Facebook, that due to feedback they have *conditionally* added an Amtrak California version of the Horizon Dinette, will only go ahead if sufficient pre-orders are made.

#111 - https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rapido-News-111---Tons-of-new-products-in-HO-and-N-scales-.html?soid=1101318906379&aid=PEZYaZImheU [edit fixed link]

US prototype models announced by Rapido today. Horizon Cars - Coach and Dinette - $59.95 - Amtrak Ph3 Early / Amtrak Phase 3 Late / Amtrak Phase 4 / Amtrak Phase 4b / Undecorated https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/n-scale/passenger-cars/n-scale-horizon-coaches Comet Cars - Coach and Cab car - $5995 - CDOT, MBTA, SEPTA, NJT, MNCR New York, AMT Montreal, Undecorated https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/n-scale/passenger-cars/n-scale-comet-cabs-and-coaches

US prototype models announced by Rapido today. Horizon Cars - Coach and a Dinette - $99.95 - Amtrak Ph3 Early / Amtrak Ph3 Late / Amtrak Ph4 / Amtrak Ph4b / Amtrak California / Undecorated. Order deadline Nov 18 https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/passenger-cars/ho-scale-horizon-coaches Comet Coaches - Coach and Cab Control Car - 3 car set $329.95 / unnumbered coaches $99.95 - AMT / CDOT / MBTA / NJT / Septa / Undecorated Order deadline Feb 10th https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/passenger-cars/ho-scale-comet-cabs-and-coaches F40PH Phase 2b / Commuter versions - $225 DC / $335 DCC-Sound - Amtrak Phase II / Amtrak Phase III / Rio Grande Ski Train / Agawa Canyon Tour Train / Montreal AMT / CSX (with larger fuel tank) / Virginia Railway Express / MBTA / NJT / Undecorated Order deadline Nov 18 https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/ho-scale-later-phase-f40ph Rio Grande Ski Train - 3-pack (Coach, Parlor-Club, Cafe-Lounge) $319.95 / additional coaches $109.95 - if sufficient orders the Snack Coach will be tooled with extra window, otherwise a standard coach will be substituted. Order deadline Sept 9 https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/passenger-cars/ho-scale-denver-rio-grande-ski-train USRA Double-Sheathed Wood Boxcar - $49.95 / $199.80 4-pack / $99.80 bright yellow 2-pack. CB&Q, ATSF, B&M, Rock Island, Lackawana, GN, NYC, MP, Minneapolis & St. Louis, Frisco, SP&S, Wabash, Pere Marquette, TH&B (Red), TH&B (Yellow), Undecorated Order deadline Sept 9th - model is fully tooled and final sampled and ready to go. https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/freight-cars/ho-scale-usra-double-sheathed-wood-boxcar Rebuilt FL9 - relaunch of project - $249.95 DC / $349.95 DCC-Sound - ConnDot(New Haven) / Metro North (NYC) / Metro North (Silver/Blue) / Metro North (Blue/Red) / Amtrak Phase III / Maine Eastern Order deadline Oct 31st https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/diesel-locomotives/ho-scale-modernized-emd-fl9

Not really. They are all the same orientation for the ease of the factory floor and its processes - so the workers all know without thinking where things go without having to wonder if this is one of the 50% that are the other way around.

Not sure about the dates, there a lot of photos and videos online though - specifically search on the Dawlish sea wall. I think the 142's were gone by then so there was a short period where they used class 155's until something else could be sorted, eventually returning to older DMUs (class 101/108 primarily I think). Don't know the exact time frame (I was in south Devon 86-89) but the BT painted 118 was used in the area. Fair bit of Class 50, which some stuff painted NSE either for stock movements or for Summer Saturday. Abundance of HST, and a fair number of Class 47. As the previously mentioned Summer Saturday was still sort of a thing a lot of other unusual traction could be found, don't know how accurate but the ColourRail website shows 45107 at Paignton on May 30 1987.

Not necessarily the best to answer this, but my superficial understanding is that there are a number of options absent a majority shareholder to oppose the activist(s). The most obvious would be to continue buying shares, though few want to spend that much time and money. Other alternatives include: - convincing other shareholders to agree with them, thus creating a majority to engage in a proxy issue to force the company to do something at the annual meeting - create negative publicity, which can hinder the companies plans - likely many more As for the story at hand, it is easy as a non-shareholder to say First should be left alone. However, I would agree there is certainly an argument to be made for the sale of Greyhound as it shows every indication to be a business in decline, and perhaps even terminal decline at least as it currently is formed. Despite efforts to turn things around it is still in trouble and it likely is time to bail out so they can focus more on the better performing parts of the company. I would also argue that the rail division needs some urgent attention, for SWR to have gotten into so much trouble so quickly is an indication of a bid that should never have been made. It may be some changes need to be made, or it may be they need to reconsider participating in the rail franchise system, but there is a problem from a First perspective. So perhaps in this case, as much as activist and vulture investors are so often in the wrong, that they have a point.

Cheap skilled labour (yes, China is still relatively cheap despite the wage increases of the last decade) is certainly a major factor, as our models are labour intensive given the production runs are so small that automation isn't really feasible. It is somewhat difficult to get facts, the closest we seem to get is Jason Shron from Rapido trains who is quite open about what he views the issues are. I believe he has estimated in the past that to do a highly detailed model with production in North America would boost costs by about 4X. But it is also somewhat the technology that is available to the manufacturer these days - particularly the pad printing. Given enough time most of us could probably build a detailed model, but what we can't reliably do for most of us is replicate the reproduction of the livery, and while the basics are painted much of the more intricate stuff is actually printed onto the models.

But would anyone buy the rail side given the reported financial problems at SWR? Far better to let First/SWR and DaFT sort that out first one way or another.

Just to add to this, Brightline (the private passenger system in Florida) has plans to build a Las Vegas - Southern California line which could prove to be interesting.

Reflecting that intercity bus service in North America is in trouble. Last year Greyhound Canada (which First does own) cut all of its service in Western Canada, leaving it to only serve the two largest provinces.

The (now not so new) UK representative for Heljan agrees, see his comment from last year here: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/139653-Heljan-announce-o-gauge-clayton/&do=findComment&comment=3387530

This section at the very bottom of the Overview page at the link you provided tells the story: "Unlike their 3.0 counterparts, Proto-Sound 3E+ locomotives cannot operate on standard 2-rail track. They only operate on HO (3-Rail) Stud Rail track (ie: Marklin C or K track)." So given that it is a 3E+ locomotive then it will not work on 2-rail track so unless you are using the 3-rail track you are out of luck.

Tangent have a new release of Bethlehem 52'6" 70-ton Gondolas Available Wabash "Original 1957", Wellsville, Addison & Galeton (WAG) "1961 Paint", WM "Original 2-54" / "1967 Repaint" https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/bethlehem-70-ton-riveted-drop-end-gondola/

The wait is over, the first shipment of Royal Hudson locomotives have arrived at Rapido headquarters.

From his actual blog post: I guess it depends on whether our definition of slightly and Dave's definition are close...

It's a unique enough item that while sales for running on a layout may be questionable, sales to collectors to sit in a cabinet could well make it a viable model.

Someone on Facebook has indicated it will be OO, don't know if accurate.

No, you didn't state it as a fact, but: 1) you did get a reply from a 3rd party that seemed to indicated that the price you guessed at was correct 2) regrettably a lot of people don't fully read what is posted, and in their quick reading of your post many won't have registered it as a question. Alternately, you and anyone else could have simply gone to the Realtrack website which has prices, and would have been much quicker...

The bus companies don't even have to create an app - there is a standard for providing their schedules so that any app or Google Maps can use the data to provide information to users (and not even just stop schedules, but trip planning). There is also I believe a standard for providing the real time locations of the buses so any app can know if the bus is early or late. This of course gives the advantage that visitors don't need to download a special app or go to a special website, they can just continue to use Google or their favourite app. Having said the above, it only works if the bus companies provide the data.

If you do end up liking the long tunnel idea, perhaps a mock up using paper/cardboard first to make sure that the kids are happy with their trains being hidden for half the loop.

The danger is if Charlie is unable to answer in a timely manner because he is busy, then others reading the read may assume your higher price mentioned is accurate thus possibly costing sales of the model. If you really don't want to ask Realtrack directly, then just ask generically without providing what may be inaccurate information.

The first 2 710s have now entered service - https://www.londonreconnections.com/2019/in-pictures-overground-class-710s-enter-service/

It sounds to me like what you want, and what the kids want, are 2 different things and thus when you built something that was closer to what you wanted the issues occurred. For now at least is sounds like the kids want the train equivalent of a slot car set (nothing wrong with that), and that means double track oval. Perhaps view it as 2 separate layouts on one board - the OO for those who just want to run / race trains, and then the narrow gauge done more prototypically to suit your interests. You could then also maybe the OO storage a dual purpose that could be used as storage, or as a more prototypical goods yard for you. Then, re-evaluate if things change over time.

I like the look of them, but sadly expect we will never see a model made of them.