Now that C&O 1309 is scheduled to come back into steam by 2016 I wonder if the Bmann is going to do a little reworking and release the 2-6-6-2 again. Seems like the eastern steam may soon eclipse the western steam. Just maybe Kato will take another look at something other than the western focus for the eastern modeler.
A re-release of the 2-6-6-2 even with some slight differences in the shell and or tender would not be something new in my book since the mechanism exists but just be another version of the same loco which the 2nd run of that mechanism corrected the faults of the first run. I just figure with the impending return of the 1309 to excursion service they will capitalize on that. Along the lines of a completely new release I would speculate that we will finally see a completely new Northern type coming out of them. The shell and lack of tender pick-up has been a big issue now for years and I suspect that would be the most likely entry again into steam as a completely new loco. If one looks at the list of reworked mechanisms and shells they have pretty much covered the 6 driver arrangement with mostly new stuff. It took years to finally come up with a completely new and much better 2-8-0 both in body and mechanism. The older 2-8-0 was limited to just a few roads and their attempts to come up with a 2-8-2 wasn't worth much using that mechanism. So my speculation and readings of the tea leaves with Madam Zackahoras comes up with the following as far as steam. At some point a third run of 2-6-6-2s, an all new Northern and tender, finally the heavy 2-10-2 that folks have been waiting for if they follow up with what they did with the Mountains by issuing a light followed later by a heavy version. And in a last reading of the tea leaves finally a 2-8-2 that they haven't had for over a decade. As far as diesel goes I am out of tea leaves for now for any further speculation. But given Bmanns continued release of steam I would wager your retirement funds on a new steam release.
Ya' know, I had heard about this a while back from a person whose longstanding membership in the Beta Sigma Fraternity is well known. Thus, I discounted it. I heard the same thing a few more times from others who are more reliable, I acknowledged it, but kept my thoughts to myself that this is just a rumour. Finally, I heard it from a really reliable source, so I looked it up. Yup. Is the C&O a USRA 2-6-6-2? I know that C&O had USRA 2-6-6-2 s, but I could not find any information on if this is a USRA 2-6-6-2. I do admit that I did not look too far. I found a couple of mentions of it, but did not look too far for detailed articles or pieces on it.
The loco is listed as an H-6 class and although similar to some of the USRA design it is supposed to be C&Os own design with improvements over the USRA design.
Bachmann has a great HO-scale Berkshire. We haven't had a Berk in production in N since the last of the Walthers/LL series back in the mid-2000's (2006?). A new Berk with a mechanism that was well-balanced; that actually pulled something; that was DCC-equipped and easily convertible to sound would be much appreciated. But a light Mike to replace the now-defunct Model Power version would also be welcome on the NKP . . . John C.
Well if they re-run the 2-6-6-2, B-Mann can ad DCC, sound, lights, etc etc for all they want, but if it doesn't pull any better than the previous runs, the Indiana Railway will not buy one two or three. All these streamers are nice to look at, but we need the good looking steamers to pull. We will just buy more Walthers 0-8-0's, Athearn 4-6-6-4's, Kato 2-8-2's and Con-Cor 2-10-2's. We know these engines look good and PULL.
Kato is working on a 4-8-4 release the end of this year or the first of next year, hope it is as good as their other locos.
A 2-6-6-2 could handle the curves and grades of the Saucier Central, and be neat to watch wandering through the farms and woods. Though sadly the B&M never owned an articulated of any kind to my knowledge. Besides, I can't afford another(!) locomotive. Gotta keep balance and happiness, doncha know....LOL
The B-mann 2-10-2 will out pull a traction tire equipped Kato 2-8-0. The B-mann 2-10-2 also looks better than the Con-Cor 2-10-2. You are correct, the 2-6-6-2 is pretty anemic puller. If you want to empty the yard get a B-mann EM-1, it will pull 70 cars on level track. Have fun, Mark
C'mon guys, I read every post here and not once, not a single solitary time did I see the required mention of that one locomotive that everyone needs. The PRR K4 Pacific. Now that would be a new locomotive. Yeah, I know about the Trix model from the '60's. As bad of a locomotive as that is it still is in demand. If Bachmann came out with a new K4 we could all bury the Trix one.
.... except for the Y3, Y6b, and the J, not counting the K and S USRA's......I wish my road's steam was so overlooked ...:teeth: Otto
Wow, I never knew the Trix Pacifics were so bad.... The one I have runs like a Swiss watch and pulled about 30 cars. When converted to DCC it pulled nearly 40 cars.
They are not. Some versions only had a one tender truck wired to the motor and depended on an iffy drawbar wiper for the 2nd truck. Convert it to two wire, one from each truck, or an all wheel pick-up tender and they run just fine. The Decapod they put out had the issue of trying to use the Pacific shell which the cylinders did not line up with the steam supply but when tweeked a bit like the Pacific was a good runner just poor marks received for the lousy shell attempt. An early generation very simplistic mechanism that runs fine and will pull very good. I have four of the little beasts.
