I second the Alco diesel switcher, and how about a better FM switcher than the old Minitrix version. (Both in ATSF zebra stripe and blue/yellow schemes). On the steam side has anyone mentioned a 4-4-2, some of Santa Fe's lasted into the late steam era. The problem with most steam locos though, an exception being the USRA designs, is that they were very railroad specific. I think the innocent days when we would accept a Minitrix K4 or Con-Cor NYC hudson lettered for our favorite road just to get a steamer are gone. With the exeption of an ATSF LL 2-8-8-2 and a brass 2-10-4 all my steamers are lettered for my own roadname.
It has been said many a time in this thread.... but .... WE NEED DASH 8-40C / CW's !!!!!!!!!! c'mon Atlas and Kato, flip a coin also SD38 GP15 MP36PH in steam - C&NW E4 Hudson (so there were only 6 made but I want one)
I don't ask for much. I'd love to have a 44-tonner. JnJ shelved its shell version quite some time ago. I want this loco for my N layout that has a Milwaukee Road theme. A few years before the MILW abandoned the branch line through my hometown, the 44-T was usually at the head.
I can't (won't) give you SD38s and SD38-2s but I can sell you kits to convert SD40s and SD40-2s. N SD Hoods There's a typo on the page that I am aware of - the 300 series numbers are for 2nd generation Kato SD40-2s - it will get corrected when the all-new website is launched next month. Mark
There's an N scale NR class loco on the way - we are making the masters. It uses an Atlas SD50 or SD60 mechanism.
The GP15s are on hold until the US dollar picks up in value - it's at at an almost record low against our currency. We are diversifying into models for Australian, Canadian, South African and NZ customers. What's going on with your economy?
We're getting to where it's cheaper to build N Scale stuff here instead of airlifting it across the Pacific! :tb-cool:
Good question. I have some ideas and strong beliefs about it, but they're probably better suited to WhattheheyhappenedtomycountryBoard.com and not here. I want to hear more about Kiwi and Australian models in N scale. That sounds cool. I would love to see something like this in N scale: http://www.railways.pilbara.net.au/bhp/loco/dash8/pages/dash8_39.html Adam
The mining roads in Australia are back of beyond - I don't think they are as popular as those in the populated areas but I agree; that dash 8 would make a great model. You won't see any New Zealand N scale. The track gauge here is 3'6" (1067 mm) so it's tt scale (1:120) on 9 mm track. S scale on 16.5mm track is a lot more popular.
A little secret... a lot of these area people love to model here in North America are also "out in the boonies." Well, Australia, having a smaller population and a large country/continent probably has more "back of beyond" than the U.S., but I would guess Canada, being the second largest country in the world but with about 35 million people, has even more "back of beyond" areas. Those mining operation locos are cool. You know, New Zealand railroads would work fine in N scale if they ran on Z track, which works out in scale to almost the EXACT gauge to scale. Nn3 folks use Z scale track, but it's actually about 41" in scale, and that's closer to 3'-6" than to 3'-0". Adam
Besides , some of us Canadians do not model anything but us roads. I would love a gp 15 in mopac. I will pay in Canadian dollars!
Welll, Id love to see the following Florida East Coast models, an FEC 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain with oil tender a FEC E6 ABA set and some good passenger cars like ACL or FEC Budd champion cars Amtrak Viewliner Cars and Amtrak Amfleet cars (not those godawful bachmann cars!) maybe a SW1200 wouldnt be bad either...can I get greedy and ask for them with DCC and Sound? Max M.
Australia has a useful strip of land roughly 3,000km long by 250km wide down the East Coast, 70% of the population are crammed into 6 cities the other 30% scattered across the rest of the country. We have 37,000km of coastline and most of the country is desert or semi desert, our rail system runs from Cairns in the North to Perth in the South West, total length approx 7,500km, also a rail line through the centre that runs between Adelaide and Darwin, about 3,000km long. Most of our locos are GE or Alco types manufactured under licence in Australia, for anyone wishing to view Aussie Loco types there is a comprehensive list on this link. http://locopage.railpage.org.au/
I personally would love one of these: http://locopage.railpage.org.au/photos/M232.jpg What cutie. I think Aussie engines would sell in the US to collectors and people who like collorful locos. I could be wrong.
