mdvle

Athearn - December 2022 - preorders due December 23rd, eta January 2024

F89-F TOFC Flat Car - PDF unavailable at this time

ACF 4600 Covered Hopper - Akron Canton and Youngstown, Santa Fe, Soo, Vermont Railway, UP, WP

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/10_ATHN_4600_Covered_Hopper_112522.pdf

NEW - 45' Freuhauf Z Van Trailer - BN, Clipper, Transamerica, Xtra Lease

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/11_ATHN_45ft_Fruehauf_Z_Van_Trailer_112522.pdf

53' CIMC Container - STG Logistics, Yellow, Schneider, Exel, EMP, COFC Logistics

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/12_ATHN_53ft_CIMC_Container_112522.pdf

Athearn - December 2022 - preorders due December 23rd, eta January 2024

Genesis - F89F TOFC (available with or without trailer) - KCS, Trailer Train, SP

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/01_GEN_F89F_TOFC_with_Trailer_112522.pdf

Genesis - ACF 4600 - Akron Canton and Youngstown, Vermont Railway, Santa Fe, Soo, UP, WP

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/02_GEN_ACF_4600_Covered_Hopper_112522.pdf

SW1500 - Rock Island, UP, SP, Southern, Minneapolis Northfield & Southern, Frisco

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/03_ATHHO_EMD_SW1500_112522.pdf

SD45T-2 - UP, SP, CN, Cotton Belt, Bessemer & Lake Erie, Undecorated

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/04_ATHHO_SD45T-2_112522.pdf

Ford C Tractor with Trailer - Fire Rescue, City Fire Department,  Jo Jo Chocolate Flavored Drink, Penguin Ginger Ale, Old Colony, Black Horse Ale

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/05_ATHHO_Ford C_Beverage_Trailer_112522.pdf

53' CIMC Container - STG Logistics, Schneider, Yellow, Exel, COFC Logistics, EMP

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/07_ATHHO_53ft_CIMC_Container_112522.pdf

Roundhouse - 40' 4-bay offset hopper - WM, Peabody, LV, MP, Rio Grande, C&O

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112522/08_RNDHO_40ft_4-Bay_Offset_Hopper_112522.pdf

Teignmouth would likely have been a branch line but it is perhaps worth remembering that things were different back then with the attaching/detaching of through coaches meaning other than the time penalty it won't have been the same hassle that it would be today.

On 13/11/2022 at 12:44, Nova Scotian said:

I doubt the service could ever be profitable given they don't own the tracks, the track quality in NB is such that the speeds are very slow, they have no economies of scale in staffing, resourcing, equipment etc from having any other service out this way. Any investment in new equipment isn't going to pay off, even if it did increase ridership etc. I can imagine the breakeven point is just too out of reach for the volumes of people that would travel.

Ownership of the tracks isn't the issue - passenger rail generally doesn't make money and often when someone claims it does it will because it either is a luxury tour operation (Rocky Mountaineer, Orient Express, etc) or there is some other thing driving the revenue like real estate.

On 13/11/2022 at 18:30, jsp3970 said:

The other news I have heard is that the Canadian Government is going to take away the HFR and award it to a private company, both for construction and operation.

Sort of.

The VIA HFR proposal is a PPP (public private partnership) where the private sector builds the infrastructure and leases is back to the government (or government entity like VIA) to use.

36 minutes ago, Nova Scotian said:

As a side note I've been looking at tickets for December on the Ocean - very, very little sleeper availability. It doesn't seem unpopular - but I doubt there'll be any analysis of lost revenue (due to capacity) when doing profit/loss for the line.

Capacity depends on if they are adding an otherwise spare vehicle onto the end of the train or taking away seats/beds to get an empty vehicle.

But there is no profit/loss - just a variation on how big the loss is.

VIA's 2019 annual report (so no Covid impact) shows the Ocean as losing C$42 million with a government subsidy per passenger of C$535

1) the first revenue run of the new Siemens trains was November 8th on Montreal-Ottawa trains

2) VIA has (for about a month now) been using a non-revenue car at the rear of all trains using the Budd stainless equipment.  This is a result of concerns being investigated with online reports that a HEP-1 and HEP-2 car have been or will be sent to Ottawa for compression testing

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/via-rail-canada-adds-buffer-cars-to-rear-of-all-heritage-equipped-trains/

And a more recent article with some specific details

http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2022/11/breaking-buffer-cars-in-news.html

ScaleTrains

NEW - Rivet Counter - Thrall 48' Coil Steel Car - BNSF, Central of Tennessee Railway & Navigation, IC, NS, SF, UP

https://www.scaletrains.com/n-scale/n-scale-freight-cars/rivet-counter-n-scale-trinity-48-2-hood-coil-steel-car.html

Exactrail

Trinity 6275 Boxcar - TTX, SRY, LRS GATX

https://exactrail.com/blogs/announcements/coming-soon-ho-n-scale-trinity-6275-boxcars

Exactrail

NEW - PC&F 60' 7633 Boxcar - Milwaukee Road, WP, MP, Texas Pacific, CP Rail 'MILW', UP 'WP', UP 'MP'

https://exactrail.com/blogs/announcements/coming-soon-the-all-new-ho-scale-pc-f-7633-boxcar

PC&F Beer Car - Tropicana, Manufacturers Railway, Conrail, Progressive Rail, Lamb Weston

https://exactrail.com/blogs/announcements/coming-soon-ho-scale-pc-f-beer-car

Trinity 6275 Boxcar - TTX, SRY, LRS GATX

https://exactrail.com/blogs/announcements/coming-soon-ho-n-scale-trinity-6275-boxcars

Bowser - November 10th 2022

Alco RS-3m Chop Nose - D&H (Bicentennial / Lightning Stripe / Blue), Western New York & Pennsylvania

https://www.bowser-trains.com/new/rs3m.html

GMD SD40-2, SD40-3, SD40-2F - preorders due Jan 6 2023, eta December 2023 - CP, ONR, StL&H, Cando, Central Maine & Quebec

https://www.bowser-trains.com/new/sd40-2.html

Accurail - November 2022

• 2-Bay ACF Aluminum Covered Hopper - Cargill
• 36' Double Sheath Wood Boxcar - New York Central & Hudson River
• USRA Twin Hopper - N&W
• 2-By ACF Covered Hopper - Midwest 3-car set or individual Monon / Rock Island / Chicago & Eastern Illinois
• 36' Fowler Wood Boxcar - CN

http://accurail.com/accurail/CATALOG/2022/2022_November.pdf

ScaleTrains

NEW - Kit Classics ($20) - PS-1 40' Boxcar - ATSF, CP, C&O, C&NW, Milwaukee Road, Minneapolis Northfield & Southern, NYC, UP

https://www.scaletrains.com/ho-scale/ho-scale-freight-cars/kit-classics-ho-scale-p-s-40-boxcar.html

Additonal run - SDL39 - Milwaukee Road (Early / Billboard), WC (Creme Yellow / Delux Yellow), Ferrocarril del Pacifico S.A

https://www.scaletrains.com/ho-scale/ho-scale-locomotives/museum-quality-ho-scale-emd-sdl39.html?availability=40

Rapido Trains

Barrel Ore Hoppers - both long and short versions - preorder deadline February 15th 2023

https://rapidotrains.com/n-scale/freight-cars/nsc-barrel-ore-hopper.html

Offered by Rapido North America, only questions might be length, availability, and getting it to the UK.

https://rapidotrains.com/detail-parts/rolling-stock-parts/lighting-kit.html

Athearn - November 2022 - preorders due November 25th - eta December 2023

Genesis - GE AC4400CW - BNSF, Ferromex, CP, KCS, Quebec Cartier Railway, UP

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/01_GENHO_AC4400_102822.pdf

Genesis - GP7 - SF, Conrail, WP, Reading, Maine Central

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/02_GENHO_GP7_102822.pdf

NEW - Genesis - NSC 6400 Gondola with Load - American Iron & Metal, Cardella Waste Service of New Jersey, DEAX, Murhpy Road Recycling LLC, Residco, IWXX

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/03_GEN_NSC_6400_Gondola_102822.pdf

Genesis - GATC 2600 Airslide Hopper - MP, NP, D&H, SF, PRR, Revere Sugar

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/04_GEN_GATC_2600_Airslide_102822.pdf

Genesis - PC&F 50' Boxcar w/ 8'+8' Youngstown Doors - SP, Evergreen, Data Only

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/05_GEN_50ft_PCF_Box_Car_102822.pdf

PS-2 2003 Covered Hopper - SF, B&O, BN, FEC, Rock Island, Wabash

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/06_ATH_2003_Covered_Hopper_102822.pdf

NEW - 50' FMC 5327 Plugdoor Boxcar - Bay Line, Minnesota Dakota & Western, Quebec-Gatineau Railway, CP, New Orleans Public Belt

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/07_ATH_FMC_Boxcar_102822.pdf

Athearn - November 2022 - preorders due November 25th - eta December 2023

Genesis - GATC 2600 Airslide Hopper - MP, NP, D&H, SF, PRR, Revere Sugar

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/08_GENN_GATC_2600_Airslide_102822.pdf

50' FMC 5327 Plugdoor Boxcar - Bay Line, Minnesota Dakota & Western, Quebec-Gatineau Railway, CP, New Orleans Public Belt

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/102822/09_ATHN_FMC_Boxcar_102822.pdf

Rapido has posted to Twitter that the Amtrak Turboliner will be made

The pumps are fine, albeit strange to modern eyes. The problem is the figure who is too short for a typical adult - his head should be above the roof of the pickup truck.   See 9:16 of this video if it doesn't show the relevant image as the thumbnail

Atlas - Fall 2022 - preorders due December 14th 2022

Premier - ES44AC/DC - BNSF (H2 Pumpkin), CP (Every Child Matters / Hapag-Lloyd), CN (100th Anniversary), KCS (Safety Starts Here), UP (Flagless / 2022), CSX (Western Maryland Emblem / Spirit of Cincinnati)

Premier - 4 Bay Coal Hopper - Alaska Railroad, BN, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Conrail, DRG&W, SP, Fallen Flags 3-Pack (3-rail only - CNJ/LV/Reading)

Premier - 75' Depressed Center Flat Cars with Loads - Kasgro Rail Lines, PC, WP, P&LE, Conrail, TTX, SF

Premier - 20,000 Gallon Tank Car - Chevron, CSX, Dupont, Cargill, GATX, Olympic Coatings

Premier - Northeast Caboose - CNJ, CNW/UP, Conrail, LV, Maine Central, N&W, Reading

Master - Maxi-IV Well Car - BNSF, TTX (4 schemes)

Master - 53' Container - CSX, EMP, Swift, HUB Group, CP,

Master - 40' Steel Reefer - CNJ Ballantine Heritage, BN MOW, WFEX, Bangor and Aroostook, MDT

Trainman - 40' Hy-Cube Box Car - CSX Operation Lifesaver, GE, SP, Burlington, SF, UP

https://download.atlasrr.com/1022MCPDF/ATOOCT2022MSRPOnly.pdf

11 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

I think not, judging by the number of posts in the Hornby thread there is considerable interest!

RMweb is merely a small fraction of the hobby so attempting to judge interest based on RMweb is difficult.

But the key point is that Hornby's online sales are a small fraction of their total sales (someone on RMweb in the past came up with a percentage of Hornby's annual report) - they still in OO heavily rely on those retailers they treat so badly to sell their product.

So given their questionable ability to sell product direct in any volume it will be interesting to see whether they can sell TT:120 direct only in sufficient sales numbers to make it viable for Hornby - or whether those train set market customers they seem to be aiming at will simply continue to buy OO from their local physical shops or Amazon/eBay/etc.

18 minutes ago, mdvle said:

It's not the duplication per se - Hornby is innocent (in this case) of deliberately trying to hurt another company given that we know Hornby has been planning this for years.

I'm now not so sure about this.

Hornby may be innocent, but it may also be deliberate.

Heljan announced their 31 4 months ago (June 14th).

The Hornby 31 is a vague "phase III" release sometime in the future - say maybe 2H 2023 - so over a year to bring to market which is potentially doable given they already have the research and drawings for their OO Class 31.

So long term planned by Hornby or a reaction?  Don't know.

5 hours ago, whart57 said:

Heljan withdrew because Hornby were going to produce the same locos.

Unlikely.

Would they cancel their announced product for that reason - yes.

But withdraw entirely from TT:120 - no.

To me the withdrawl from TT:120 entirely is because Hornby is through the large size of their announcement making it clear - much like products like the Terrier - that Hornby believes that TT:120 is "Hornby" and that they won't welcome anyone else into that market.

5 hours ago, whart57 said:

Now given that it would have been hard if not impossible for Hornby to react to the Heljan announcements of only a couple of months ago with competing offers

Actually quite easy.

Heljan announced their 31 4 months ago (June 14th).  Hornby's 31 is a vague phase III future release - say 2nd half of 2023.  So well over a year to bring to market with the research already done thanks to the existing OO 31.

And note much like the Titfield Thunderbolt all we have are some livery drawings in a catalog...

So yes it could have been deliberate.

12 hours ago, britishcolumbian said:

Okay, thanks for the summary. It does help put things into perspective - but I still think Hornby's approach is more right than wrong. *If* they had been making the announcement without five years of work already having been done, with everything just being vapourware at the moment, then I'd say okay, maybe they shouldn't have announced the 31, since Heljan has already announced it, but as it is we don't know how far along they are with theirs - and they really didn't have a choice but to come out all guns blazing.

It's not the duplication per se - Hornby is innocent (in this case) of deliberately trying to hurt another company given that we know Hornby has been planning this for years.

The problem is that Hornby is clearly attempting to claim TT:120 as an exclusive Hornby only scale - and that isn't good for us modellers.

12 hours ago, britishcolumbian said:

The flipside of that backstory, then, is: if the retailers are already annoyed with them, could they genuinely expect the retailers to want to stock TT at all? I can certainly see them sitting in the boardroom discussing that and concluding that no, that's too big a chance to take.

The key thing is Hornby is for the most part too big to not offer to their customers - which is of course the only reason Hornby has gotten away with their antics so far in OO.

Would they buy TT:120 stock to put on the shelf?  Maybe, maybe not - but they would sell Hornby TT:120 out of the catalog to any customer who walked in (physically or virtually) to the store and asked for it and that option has been removed.  And if this had of been a broader multi-company product array then the Hornby items would have been more likely to be featured.

But as it stands today UK TT:120 is a Hornby only scale and only available from Hornby direct - so there is zero reason for any retailer to support TT:120 going forward even if they were interested after the Peco announcement.