But if they release all the roads in the first run, doesn't leave any new roads for following runs...sure there are more numbers, but no new paint
This was one reason why I stayed away from scale trains.. By the way my self is one word- myself. Tom
I’m missing your point. Which one reason are you referring to? There are five pages of mostly praise for ST in this thread. Are you just replying to the OP?
I just sent an email asking if they would be doing another run of the C39-8 in CR 6001. I guess it was too much to say yes or no, so they sent me pretty much what was listed on their website which doesn't answer my question at all! I guess they don't have the time!
They can't really say yes or no. It's unlikely that they know if they will run it again or not. The C39-8 was a bit of an odd choice, especially in N scale. I don't think it was exactly a hot seller for them. So while I'm sure they'd love to produce another run (2nd run = more $$$) they'll have to convince themselves that demand is sufficient to sell them. Meanwhile, they'll keep the factory cranking on faster sellers like the C44-9W (not to mention the far more profitable HO models). Maybe they'll give the C39-8 another chance a few years down the road. In the meantime, the world is still full of suckers (like me) who have a hard time saying no to a beautiful locomotive. Cash is sometimes able to persuade us to give up a shelf queen that has no real use to us.
I messed up by not pre-ordering but there is no way to pre-order all the things I want. I buy what's out first and hope things are around later like years ago! Can't find a (DC) CR 6001 anywhere!
How desperate are you for a DC C39-8 CR 6001? I ran across one shop that has both a DCC/Sound CR 6001 and a DC CR 6019. You could buy both locos, swap the shells and resell the "DCC/Sound CR 6019". If you want to do that, I'll send you a PM with the shop info.
Dave, You received a bounceback e-mail from the Sales Mailbox yesterday. This is to let you know we received your e-mail and will follow-up soon. Michelle responded this morning. We have no plans to rerun Conrail C39-8 #6001. We only sold 18 pieces for the non-sound version. If we rerun the Conrail/SP lease units, we'll likely offer new road number(s). If your concern with preordering is having the resources to pay for the model when it arrives, may we offer a suggestion? Several of our customers purchase gift codes (similar to gift cards) as their budget allows. Gift codes are available in increments of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $500. When the product arrives, you can combine the gift codes to pay for your preorder. Here's a link for more information. https://www.scaletrains.com/products/gift-cards?_pos=1&_sid=d895a0c6a&_ss=r Thanks, Shane Shane Wilson President ScaleTrains.com, Inc.
Only 18 sold, ouch. I wonder how many sound units sold? That reminds me, I need to order more 5188 hoppers.
I'm glad you posted this question Karl. I realized I looked at the wrong line on the original purchase order. We actually ordered 36 with DCC & Sound and 30 DC units for a total of 66 pieces. BTW: the next group of Gunderson 5188 Covered Hopper roadnames and paint schemes will be in stock this Friday (July 26th). Shane Shane Wilson President ScaleTrains.com, Inc.
That is a surprisingly small number of units. I hope the C44-9W sales make up for that. Thanks for the heads up on the 5188s!
I believe that DCC has been a catastrophe for N Scale. Before DCC, people used to buy dozens of locomotives, since they were cheap and you just put them on the track. Now, you buy three and work constantly to make them run. Is DCC better? For some things, but the effect on the manufacturers has been seismic. N Scale was already a low volume market, and the advent of DCC made the unit counts falter, then plummet. In the end, did the advantages of DCC warrant the side effect of pushing us out of the manufacturing pipeline?
It's the second most popular scale behind HO scale. Not sure what you're referring to as low-market. DCC makes N scale better, IMO, because it allows for independent and mulitiple sound units and control on the same layout. Wiring is easier too.
I would tend to agree. It is a hobby. Manufacturers are competing for people to expend money, which a lot more people than many realize, don't have any real excess available. Trains are a frill, not necessity. There are still many who do not use DCC. Perhaps simply making units DCC ready, and allowing the purchaser to add their own choice, would have been better.
The only mfg that I am aware of that only offers their locomotives with DCC and sound is Broadway Ltd. Bachman offers some of their locomotives as DC and then there other models are DCC and sound only. Atlas, Scaletrains, Kato, and Fox Valley offer DC locomotives that have DCC ready mechanisms. So there are still plenty of options for those of us who run DC only. And I'll add that my DC Scaletrains C39-8 is a work of art and runs just as well. If they ever introduce another locomotive that is in my era I'm on board.
Options, but the people with the big bucks that make the numbers buy the more expensive but low volume buys. This pulls the stuffings out of profits and the decisions that drive commits. Not an argument for or against DCC, merely how economics works.