This is my first NSE convention and here's some of what I learned thus far. Friday, June 22, 2018: Atlas acquired Walthers' toolings for locos and freight rolling stock. Paul Graf said this acquistion "fit into our plan, with little overlap in models." He expects to issue product announcements for these Walthers' toolings in late Q4. Please note this acquisition does not include the passenger rolling stock models, which were acquired by Lowell Smith. ScaleTrains.com continues to add to its n-scale inventory and announced two new toolings, one for a loco (never done before in n-scale), the GE C39-8 engine and one for a freight car, the Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4785 ct covered hopper. As is typical for manufacturers at these kinds of shows, ScaleTrains.com also announced an NSE limited edition run of the Big Blow, complete with an NSE logo. Only 126 of these models will be made. Although this might seem like a fantasy run, because this logo (which Shane Wilson showed us) was actually placed on the real prototype #26 loco (albeit on a temporary basis via magnetic signage) that makes this model technically not a fantasy run. InterMountain announced a new loco tooling for the Dash 9 (GE C44-9W loco) model. As is customary with InterMountain, these models will come in DC, DCC and DCC with sound for each road number. Prior to the show, ExactRail (as promised at the Amherst Train Show this winter) announced a new tooling, Johnstown America Autoflood II Hopper with removable coal loads. Similar to its previous work with brand names (Heinz, Hershey, etc.)MicroTrains announced the Thomas Kinkade Freight Series. Different paintings from Kinkade, known as the Painter of Light, will adorn black box cars, a loco and a caboose. These paintings will be illuminated from within the car using led lights. Stay tuned: I have more manufacturers to visit and will report back. On Sunday, at the manufacturers' breakfast, Kato plans to announced six products, three of which will be new toolings.
As I already posted elsewhere, I'm really looking forward to hearing what Kato is releasing. Hopefully with three new toolings there will be at least one new named passenger train consist.
Here is a revised post from above...this time with pictures that actually work. Friday, June 22, 2018: Atlas acquired Walthers' toolings for locos and freight rolling stock. Paul Graf said this acquisition "fit into our plan, with little overlap in models." He expects to issue product announcements for these Walthers' toolings in late Q4. Please note this acquisition does not include the passenger rolling stock models, which were acquired by Lowell Smith. ScaleTrains.com continues to add to its n-scale inventory and announced two new toolings, one for a loco (never done before in n-scale), the GE C39-8 engine and one for a freight car, the Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4785 cf covered hopper. As is typical for manufacturers at these kinds of shows, ScaleTrains.com also announced an NSE limited edition run of the Big Blow, complete with an NSE logo. Only 126 of these models will be made. Although this might seem like a fantasy run, because this logo (which Shane Wilson showed us) was actually placed on the real prototype #26 loco (albeit on a temporary basis via magnetic signage) that makes this model technically not a fantasy run. InterMountain announced a new loco tooling for the Dash 9 (GE C44-9W loco) model. As is customary with InterMountain, these models will come in DC, DCC and DCC with sound for each road number. Prior to the show, ExactRail (as promised at the Amherst Train Show this winter) announced a new tooling, Johnstown America Autoflood II Hopper with removable coal loads. Similar to its previous work with brand names (Heinz, Hershey, etc.) MicroTrains announced the Thomas Kinkade Freight Series. Different paintings from Kinkade, known as the Painter of Light, will adorn black box cars, a loco and a caboose. These paintings will be illuminated from within the car using led lights. Stay tuned: I have more manufacturers to visit and will report back. On Sunday, at the manufacturers' breakfast, Kato plans to announced six products, three of which will be new toolings.
Sweet. I hope that report is accurate. I'll be happy even if it is the 20th Century Limited, although I would much prefer the NCL or Twin Cities Zephyr. It means less than nothing, but those three trains were the top vote getters in Kato's recent on line poll.
Just reported on Railwire by bbussey: New Kato releases ATSF Super Chief Q2 19 ATSF El Capitan Q2 19 ATSF F7s Q2 19 ATSF PAs Q2 19 NYC E7s Q2 19 NYC 20th Century Limited Q2 19 My guess is that the three newly tooled items (previously rumored) are comprised of the PAs, E7s and the 20th Century Limited train set.
Those Thomas Kincade cars are maybe the first "fantasy" car I've ever had an real interest in! Wow, looking forward to seeing this whole set! Those turbines are quite a beast as well...
*Sigh*. Not a thing, so far, of any slight interest for me. My time frame is fifty years ago. I wish a certain manufacturer would release their SW1 in MILW O/B scheme.
Well some interesting things. Intermountain in the Dash 9's is interesting, but I have so many of those already, it will be a pass for me. Kato is the most interesting with all the new ATSF and the NYC stuff. Q2 19 will be a big hurt on the wallet.....
Sunday June 24, 2018 The Manufacturers' Breakfast Buffet sponsored by Digitrax featured more than 20 manufacturers of all shapes and sizes who discussed new available releases as well as new announcements. Here are some highlights of what some of them reported. North American Rail Car New tooling: a marine industry cylindrical hopper (known in Canada as the Trudeau (for the Prime Minister) hopper) N Scale Architect Re-tooling its fence line Walthers Atlas may have purchased all loco and freight car toolings from Walthers but "I'm not going to work for Atlas; will stay in cheese land; not out of n-scale; we will stil make our Cornerstone kits." On the horizon: expect new announcements at the NMRA and Trainfest shows Kato New tooling: Based on polling from customers, the company is now researching and plans to produce a 1950s version (lightweight) of the 20th Century Limited passenger train (each car in the set will be a new tooling). ETA: late 2019, early 2020. Trainworx Two new toolings: Denver & Rio Grande Western switcher cabooses: Salt Lake City switch caboose and Utah State RR Museum Caboose ETA early 2019 Both models were on display at the show and the plan was to have them available for the show but some kind of glitch didn't make that possible. Nathan and Pat Sanders at the Swap-a-rama show on Saturday. Refurbished, more user-friendly website in the works (thanks to Pat's son, Nathan) Atlas Walthers toolings acquisition Will continue to convert locos to DC with sound functionality and will produce BLMA detail parts in Q3/Q4 2019
@Mark Watson and I were privileged to run the new ScaleTrains C39-8 (first persons to do so outside the company) on the FreeMoN layout.
Well you are half right...I havent tried in 5 years. The last time there I couldnt get on TRW for days and I couldnt see pics there when I finally did. And no...I dont wanna try again...Thanks
More from the Manufacturers' Breakfast Buffet.... MicroTrains Thomas Kinkade Freight Series. Different paintings from Kinkade, known as the Painter of Light, will adorn black box cars, a loco and a caboose. These paintings will be illuminated from within the car using led lights. A non n-scale item (or z-scale for that matter) meant to attract younger folks to the hobby: The Trains of Time set. If you are familiar with the American Girl product line, this is similar but for trains. The first of the series is based on the worst circus train wreck in US history and will come with with everything needed to run a train. Fox Valley New tooling: new 53' single well car. I believe no one has done this in n-scale before. (Kato does have an articulated 53' well car.) N Scale Kits more 3D printing (of flat car loads) Plans to work with Tichy Trains and JTC (Jacksonville Termial Co.) on new products Exact Rail At the swap-a-rama, the company featured its newly announced Johnstown America Autoflood II Hopper with removable coal loads with 8 paint schemes. Chris was not at the breakfast but via Rich from Digitrax said: "Over the last 5 years, ExactRail has been slow in n-scale but that will change."
And yet more from the Manufacturers' Breakfast Buffet.... Wheels of Time Talked about 3-D printed everyday work trucks. "They actually roll." Custom Signal Systems (local to Utah) "We make things that people can't find commercially." Products accommodate layouts that use and don't use computers. Eastern Seaboard Models New tooling: X-72 boxcar (Penn Central and Western Pacific) ETA end of 2018. ScaleTrains.com Two new toolings: GE C39-8 engine and Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4785 cf covered hopper. ScaleTrains.com also mentioned an NSE limited edition run of the Big Blow, complete with an NSE 2018 logo. Lowell Smith Will contiunue making Lowell Smith Signature Series special runs. Will, under RailSmith brand created based on acquired Walthers' passenger toolings/artwork, make limited quantities of these cars. These items will be ready-to-run and come in new road names/numbers. George Howedell Just retired from the Post Office. Plans to slow down a bit but will do 2 special runs: MTL Southern Pacific 39' tank car (painted with special scheme for diesel fuel) and an InterMountain Santa Fe (Texas & Chief route) ice reefer. Digitrax Informal polling of the audience: lots more folks were DCC vs analog. Mostly runners vs collectors were in attendance. "We appreciate all of you. Eventually you will come over to the dark side." Expect new announcements at the NMRA show. All blue ticket holders won a Digitrax decoder!