Jerry Britton posted this on the late Atlas forum that Bowser was doing the Pennsy GLA hoppers. I forgot when the expected delivery was supposed to be. Could someone repost that information? Also since Jerry has a seemingly good rapport with Bowser has he mentioned to Bowser's about doing the PRR ore jennies? The H21 Hoppers seem to have sold quite well. Seems there were a lot more PRR people out there than what some manufacturers thought.
Bowser has a new manufacturing "workflow" set up which they (Lee English) tell me allows production to occur (from "go" to "ship") in under six months. When I was originally brought into the loop that the GLa's were released to production, I expected them late this year. However, Lee told me about a week ago that early fall is more likely. The same road names released in HO will be planned in N, with the PRR and Berwind schemes at the top of the list. I am campaigning for an initial release of 24-36 road numbers in Circle Keystone. (In HO they started with 48 numbers.) Ore jennies aren't likely, at least not soon. One of the advantages we in N scale have is that when Bowser does an N scale car that was already done in HO, the research is already done. They haven't done ore jennies in HO, so it would be starting from scratch. Stewart Hobbies did the ore jennies in HO, so I don't think Bowser will consider it. Lee has already indicated that the F30 flat would be too fragile in plastic in N, so that's out. That suggests that the next N scale car would have to be the GS gondola or one of the box cars. Personally, I'd prefer the box cars. Unless he's ready to do the N8 cabin in N scale, of course! I would expect part numbers and pricing on the GLa's in another month or so. Lee doesn't want to be accused of promoting "vaporware" as so many other manufacturers have done lately. He wants to be sure he will meet the ETA! The GLa will have Rapido's (yuk!).
Jerry, Do you think that a Interstate scheme would be done? They bought a few of the Berwind hoppers. The railroad owned a few thousand hoppers so they did show up all over the east coast hauling coal.
I don't see them on the HO list, so I would say "not initially". Two options: 1) Campaign for Bowser to do them. They'll want to know how many there were in this service and what years they were used. This will determine how well they might sell. 2) Commission a special run. They'll do multiple road numbers on a run of 300 cars. Can you find 25 people to each buy a dozen?
Jerry, is there anyway to have Bowser market these without the trucks and couplers? Or are these like the H21's and have a truck frame not currently available?
Jerry, is there anyway to have Bowser market these without the trucks and couplers? Or are these like the H21's and have a truck frame not currently available? </font>[/QUOTE]I'm not a freight truck expert, so I can't tell you what is/isn't available. I "think" it is a unique truck. And to market two versions would actually increase the price... and might introduce error. Bowser's research suggests that most modelers retain the Rapido's.
Jerry, is there anyway to have Bowser market these without the trucks and couplers? Or are these like the H21's and have a truck frame not currently available? </font>[/QUOTE]Bowser's research suggests that most modelers retain the Rapido's. </font>[/QUOTE]I wonder if they use the same market research company as Intermountain?
Now, now!!! InterMountain started using Atlas trucks and couplers about a year ago (maybe more) and then last month switched to MicroTrains. So be careful what you say about new and future IM releases!
