What steam locomotives do we need next? I would like to see a "Russian" or a "Decopod". While we are at it. Which steam loco should Bachmann update next?
Since we are wishing ... I would be very happy with a coal-burning 4-8-2 erected by ALCO in the late 30's, especially if it looked just like a B&M 4100 Class
I'll second that vote for the Mountain type and the Pacific. And while I 'm at it through in a desent Ten Wheeler.
My current locomotive wants: (all C&O prototype, or very similar) Pacific Hudson Mountain Greenbrier (Northern for most of you) Kanawha (Berkshire for you non-C&O people) 2-6-6-2 Mallet 2-6-6-6 Allegheny Decapod Texas Anyone volunteer to buy them for me? They make several of them in brass already. One day, I hope to have a brass Allegheny. That would be so awesome.
I'm with you Ridgerunner, especially a mountain and while we are at it, how about a Heisler and a few RTR Shays... John
All this would be possible if we could just expand our market population by persuading those "old fashioned" people with Great Big HO Trains that by modelling in N, they would have more trackage, more engines, more cars, more scenery, longer trains ... and all for the same amount of money
The GHQ/deLuxe USRA 0-8-0 will be a welcome addition, and I'm hoping the Model Power 4-6-2 will be good, too. Many people ask for a generic 4-6-0 or 4-4-2. These were very common and none has been produced yet. I would like to see Con-Cor or Bachmann do a NYC Niagara version of their 4-8-4. It might be the basis for a good 4-8-2 - another locomotive that many ask for. They have a nice looking USRA 0-6-0. They should upgrade the mechanism and cast the boiler from metal to add weight - then we would have a nice, much-needed locomotive. Maybe the mechanism could be morphed into that 4-6-0 that many ask for. Mike - NYC1956
For all you adventurist out there. I posted elsewhere here what was contained in the N scale RR message Board on AAOL. That was that the Kato Mikado drivers and the Bachmann consol drivers were a drop fit into each mechanism. There are differences in the geared drive wheel in that the B man has the 2&3 drider sets while the K model has 2,3 &4. But the gearing is supposedly the same. The K model has better detail (See through spokes) but these drives could be the basis for a kitbash or an upgrade to an older model like the early articulateds. Who knows maybe a 2-6-6-2 or something. It opens up a window for doing something different.
I would like to see a C & O 2-6-6-6 Allegheny or another fine running Mallet. A NYC 4-8-4 Niagara would be welcome. ANY steamer would be welcome as long as the engine runs as well, as the KATO Mikado does. What Bachmann could do, is to reduce the size of some of their HO Spectrum engines to N-Scale and make sure they run great. They would sell a lot of them.
With the kudo's and the market response that the B-mann Consol received you would think that the B-mann execs would have to sit up and take notice. But in case they don't remember B-mann has a website and one of the features is "Ask the Bachmann" Asking them if they have olans for for future releases will probably get you a noncommittal type answer but it will send the message that there is a demand for good running steam. Bachmann did the decapod and K4 pacific in HO I think and so would be reasonable candidates for N scale.
