As a PRR modeler, the only engines I have a keen eye for and already pre-ordered are two of those B6sb's and one of the PRR S1 in the fantasy Tuscan Red color. Besides that, the PRR P70 coach sets and a single unique business Z-74 car. Like a lot of people are saying, the Big Boys are great and all, but for steam era stuff, we want to see more variety. Athearn only has like 4 UP prototypes and one SP Mountain prototype. They used to offer the NP Challenger, but who knows where that tooling is now or if it will be used again. BLI is doing great with fulfilling the steam/transition era market well, though I would prefer more companies like Athearn making new Steam toolings or heck, Scale Trains to get up off their arse to make more of what they bought from MTH's toolings. The J is a good start, and the passenger cars, but yeah, I wanna see them do more as time goes on. Lots of people want the Lima S3 Berk, so it would be a perfect move for ScaleTrains to make that as their next Foxvalley line engine.
Similar sentiments here, I wish I had room in my budget right now for a P70 set. I have heard that ScaleTrains plans for their next steam engine to be the Berkshire, but timing is unknown. Maybe we'll find out after the show this weekend with the announcements they have planned
That would be so nice to see, especially with the more budget conscious lines. That really helped people easily pick up enough rolling stock for a few trains
Ooh, Conrail and NS B30-7s?! All right-all right, I'll have to add that to my wish list. Same for the Family Lines C420. It's got me thinking of a certain shortline in Southern Indiana.
12:29: Chehalis is pronounced Chuh HAY lus. A Weyerhaeuser RR which ran logs from Chehalis WA to Tacoma in the years 1982-1992 over the former MILW (Tacoma Eastern) branch. 15:29: Those are UP F9Ms rebuilt from F3s. I've had one on order for SEVEN years! 23:06 Hawker Siddeley is pronounced Hawker SID dil eee, not Sid-daily. British firm
Thanks so much on the pronunciations, always good to learn! I know those Bowsers have been quite delayed, if I remember right this run was originally estimated to deliver mid 2023
@@da-joe-trains @Greatdome99 yeah I'm a fan of the CW. Have a pix of me with a great big dog in front of their C415 (I'm a C415 nut and have seen most of them) I myself ordered on of the Geeps. and I kinda wish I'd also got the earlier GP9. Those RRs in that area and the line out to Aberdeen are so interesting and offer both the historic and current modeler and interesting prototype to follow.
Right? I don't have one but it would still be fairly easy to pick up one secondhand in good condition. The only one that makes sense for me is the modern/PTC BLI model, as it's something we haven't seen before compared to the coal-fired Athearn run
@@da-joe-trains ha, there is a static cam there with the same view I like. So no loss there. The PTZ catches very little extral. Hey Re: the F40phm-2 I think I want to get one, the Q heritage, and was poking around and all my regular haunts don't have Pre-order listings for them. I don't really find Lombards pre order any different than my regular shop (EHS) And my regular shop holds my stuff to ship. Not sure where I want to order from. Was considering Otter Valley as they get Rapido the earliest, but they don't even have them listed and they are on the water. UGG!
Very odd to hear, I assumed all shops would have them at least listed by now (of course I didn't check other sites as I am just going through Lombard). I can't wait, I really hope they nail this one after the Budd Gallery cars sold out so quickly
@@da-joe-trains I talked to my dealer EHS and he is not sure of any extras and had some standbys. Since they still show on Rapido I just bit the bullet and ordered the Q one direct. He said he got shorted on the Gallery cars and didn't get the ones he personally wanted. Tho he sold me my set. (and on sale!) Good dude.
I don't mind the Legendary Liveries on diesels, but having them on the Big Boy (I think minus the UP one) feels way more wrong 🤷♂ But I can appreciate Athearn trying something unique!
I'm sure the Legendary Liveries is to help them justify doing yet another Big Boy run in this fairly saturated market, it would be interesting to know how well those specific paint schemes sell
I enjoy your newsletter recaps. But, I want to make some corrections on the mistakes you're making. First, early GP38/40 are different than the later GP38/40-2 line. The main spotting features between the standard line and the -2 line. First, is the change from the early Bloomberg M trucks to the Bloomberg B trucks. The M trucks had dual clasp brakes and no struts and the B trucks had single clasp brakes with a single strut on one axle. Then, there is a water-sight glass on the Fireman's side. Lastly, dynamic brake units on the -2 's where usually longer than on earlier units (this did show up on later straight GP40's). With EMD parts being interchangeable it's not unusual to find these features mixed up on later rebuilt units. With all that being said, Athearn at this time only offers a pure GP38-2 and GP40-2. The only ones who offer a GP40 is Atlas, Bachmann, Scale Trains, and (coming soon) Rapido and Custom Model Works. Speaking of Atlas their new CN caboose is different than the one Rapido is offering. The CN caboose is part of the Trueline Trains tooling that Atls acquired. Thank you for adding Bowser to your recap list and you did miss the new locomotive they just announced, see their website for info. I just saw the announcement on my Facebook feed. I have to disagree with you about the BNSF heritage I paint scheme, it's so bland and reminds me of the the first years of BN. To me I was so glad when they came up with the Heritage II scheme it added more the Santa Fe flare. Since I model the 90's I'm most likey only to get BN units and the first excuative paint schemes which I have from Kato on the SD70MACs. Keep up the good work and I suggest to do some research on material before you do a video on it. It will help prevent future mistakes and give you a little more information on stuff that these manufacturers are coming out with since they are so railroad and era-specific nowadays.
Appreciate the thoughts. I do mention in the video that I know this Athearn release is a GP38-2 vs the Rapido straight GP38, my point was it would be neat to demonstrate the differences between the two, covering the items like you mentioned. I do enough research but with probably 30 models featured per video I'm not always perfect. The Bowser SW1001 came out after this video was released so I'll try to cover that next week. All about preference too on paint schemes, I grew up seeing H1 Dash 9s/AC4400s on the BNSF racetrack so that's probably where that comes from for me. I do love a BN executive MAC, got a Kato myself and hoping to grab another eventually
Not gonna lie, with ScaleTrains announcements of the NS heritage units, the used market is gonna get flooded with the old Bachmann engines. Might not be the best units, but still something for us relatively budget minded modelers. I use to be a fan of 8012(PRR unit, but the NKP livery is beginning to grow on me...with no small part of a recently restored SD9 in Fort Wayne...and ew...oversized....know what, I'mma hold my tongue...not a fan of the 4-8-8-4's personally....use to be though, but not as of late...Honestly, Ho scale could use 20x more lesser known engines before another run of Big Boys.... As for pre-orders moving forward, I think for my *small* rebuilt modern fleet, that ex-B&M car would do nicely behind one of the CSX heritage units. I'm gonna look into those Walther Alco FP units. They look better than the EMD, and Baldwin counter parts, however, it'd be nice if they did the FP in GN, SP, ACL, and other liveries, and not just Via, and CN.
Agreed, especially on the NS heritage front. The Bachmann models were alright, but this may be the last run of the NS units for a while unless the prototypes change somehow. I guess it makes sense for the BLI modern Big Boy with PTC, but I don't see a reason for Athearn to be doing the coal-fired run
@@da-joe-trains The big boys runs for me is the equivalent of "...here we go again", but it seems like every year....manufactures should really lay off the Wasatch class for a decade or so with how many are out. We could use some more USRA engines, wider variety of Pacific's, decapods, Northern's, etc. I'm 'bout to start emailing them with wish lists of steam engines that are NOT from the Union Pacific, or active parts of the Union Pacific Steam Program. Know what, this issue should be brought up next week...so many Big Boy's that there should be public discourse and a letter signed by the community sent to all manufacture's telling them to stop making Big Boy's for a few years and focus on other steam engines. The new runs of the Wasatch wont move like older runs. A break needs to be had, and the manufactures need to HEAR/SEE us be fed up with the amount of Big Boys being announced & released.
Thanks for taking a look at the Atlas stuff, I totally missed that
No problem, I almost forgot too! Might pick up my 1st B30-7, still undecided though
As a PRR modeler, the only engines I have a keen eye for and already pre-ordered are two of those B6sb's and one of the PRR S1 in the fantasy Tuscan Red color. Besides that, the PRR P70 coach sets and a single unique business Z-74 car. Like a lot of people are saying, the Big Boys are great and all, but for steam era stuff, we want to see more variety. Athearn only has like 4 UP prototypes and one SP Mountain prototype. They used to offer the NP Challenger, but who knows where that tooling is now or if it will be used again. BLI is doing great with fulfilling the steam/transition era market well, though I would prefer more companies like Athearn making new Steam toolings or heck, Scale Trains to get up off their arse to make more of what they bought from MTH's toolings. The J is a good start, and the passenger cars, but yeah, I wanna see them do more as time goes on. Lots of people want the Lima S3 Berk, so it would be a perfect move for ScaleTrains to make that as their next Foxvalley line engine.
Similar sentiments here, I wish I had room in my budget right now for a P70 set. I have heard that ScaleTrains plans for their next steam engine to be the Berkshire, but timing is unknown. Maybe we'll find out after the show this weekend with the announcements they have planned
Hi DA JOE TRAINS & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks DA JOE TRAINS & Friends Randy
Thanks Randy!
Great video! Excited for 2025!
Thank you, cheers to 2025!
I really would like to see the Manufacturers do 12 car sets again like Roundhouse use to do
That would be so nice to see, especially with the more budget conscious lines. That really helped people easily pick up enough rolling stock for a few trains
Ooh, Conrail and NS B30-7s?! All right-all right, I'll have to add that to my wish list. Same for the Family Lines C420. It's got me thinking of a certain shortline in Southern Indiana.
Do I hear some patch jobs from you in the future?! Always nice to see more 4 axle power in the market, which Atlas does pretty well
12:29: Chehalis is pronounced Chuh HAY lus. A Weyerhaeuser RR which ran logs from Chehalis WA to Tacoma in the years 1982-1992 over the former MILW (Tacoma Eastern) branch.
15:29: Those are UP F9Ms rebuilt from F3s. I've had one on order for SEVEN years!
23:06 Hawker Siddeley is pronounced Hawker SID dil eee, not Sid-daily. British firm
Thanks so much on the pronunciations, always good to learn!
I know those Bowsers have been quite delayed, if I remember right this run was originally estimated to deliver mid 2023
@@da-joe-trains @Greatdome99 yeah I'm a fan of the CW. Have a pix of me with a great big dog in front of their C415 (I'm a C415 nut and have seen most of them) I myself ordered on of the Geeps. and I kinda wish I'd also got the earlier GP9. Those RRs in that area and the line out to Aberdeen are so interesting and offer both the historic and current modeler and interesting prototype to follow.
How many runs of Big Boys can Athearn and BLI bring? I think everybody and their mother has 1 Big Boy already
Right? I don't have one but it would still be fairly easy to pick up one secondhand in good condition. The only one that makes sense for me is the modern/PTC BLI model, as it's something we haven't seen before compared to the coal-fired Athearn run
Bummer on Glendale OH cam. Love that location. Stuck on it.
Of course it's one of the good ones, they knew people would pay for that one!
@@da-joe-trains ha, there is a static cam there with the same view I like. So no loss there. The PTZ catches very little extral. Hey Re: the F40phm-2 I think I want to get one, the Q heritage, and was poking around and all my regular haunts don't have Pre-order listings for them. I don't really find Lombards pre order any different than my regular shop (EHS) And my regular shop holds my stuff to ship. Not sure where I want to order from. Was considering Otter Valley as they get Rapido the earliest, but they don't even have them listed and they are on the water. UGG!
Very odd to hear, I assumed all shops would have them at least listed by now (of course I didn't check other sites as I am just going through Lombard). I can't wait, I really hope they nail this one after the Budd Gallery cars sold out so quickly
@@da-joe-trains I talked to my dealer EHS and he is not sure of any extras and had some standbys. Since they still show on Rapido I just bit the bullet and ordered the Q one direct. He said he got shorted on the Gallery cars and didn't get the ones he personally wanted. Tho he sold me my set. (and on sale!) Good dude.
Does sound like a nice guy, glad you were able to get some. Do you not like the Lombard method or did they say they were already fully reserved?
Surprise Atlas wasn’t doing GBW’s C420 323. That’s the one I would take than what they offer
Hmm, yeah that would have been a good one. Do you model the GBW?
@@da-joe-trains I do have some GBW locomotives and rolling stock.
Neat! I'd probably only end up grabbing GBW 2407 if that was ever made since I've been around it at the IRM many times
@@da-joe-trains Oh yeah definitely
I don't mind the Legendary Liveries on diesels, but having them on the Big Boy (I think minus the UP one) feels way more wrong 🤷♂ But I can appreciate Athearn trying something unique!
Also as someone who loves coal trains and models a portion of the Powder River Basin, I'm excited for those coal gondolas!
I'm sure the Legendary Liveries is to help them justify doing yet another Big Boy run in this fairly saturated market, it would be interesting to know how well those specific paint schemes sell
I’m annoyed that Genesis has done every Geep except the 60. Well I guess the 30 also but the 60 is the one I want.
I'd love a Genesis BNSF or SP GP60 for local service, that would be sweet
I enjoy your newsletter recaps. But, I want to make some corrections on the mistakes you're making. First, early GP38/40 are different than the later GP38/40-2 line. The main spotting features between the standard line and the -2 line. First, is the change from the early Bloomberg M trucks to the Bloomberg B trucks. The M trucks had dual clasp brakes and no struts and the B trucks had single clasp brakes with a single strut on one axle. Then, there is a water-sight glass on the Fireman's side. Lastly, dynamic brake units on the -2 's where usually longer than on earlier units (this did show up on later straight GP40's). With EMD parts being interchangeable it's not unusual to find these features mixed up on later rebuilt units. With all that being said, Athearn at this time only offers a pure GP38-2 and GP40-2. The only ones who offer a GP40 is Atlas, Bachmann, Scale Trains, and (coming soon) Rapido and Custom Model Works. Speaking of Atlas their new CN caboose is different than the one Rapido is offering. The CN caboose is part of the Trueline Trains tooling that Atls acquired. Thank you for adding Bowser to your recap list and you did miss the new locomotive they just announced, see their website for info. I just saw the announcement on my Facebook feed. I have to disagree with you about the BNSF heritage I paint scheme, it's so bland and reminds me of the the first years of BN. To me I was so glad when they came up with the Heritage II scheme it added more the Santa Fe flare. Since I model the 90's I'm most likey only to get BN units and the first excuative paint schemes which I have from Kato on the SD70MACs. Keep up the good work and I suggest to do some research on material before you do a video on it. It will help prevent future mistakes and give you a little more information on stuff that these manufacturers are coming out with since they are so railroad and era-specific nowadays.
Appreciate the thoughts. I do mention in the video that I know this Athearn release is a GP38-2 vs the Rapido straight GP38, my point was it would be neat to demonstrate the differences between the two, covering the items like you mentioned. I do enough research but with probably 30 models featured per video I'm not always perfect. The Bowser SW1001 came out after this video was released so I'll try to cover that next week. All about preference too on paint schemes, I grew up seeing H1 Dash 9s/AC4400s on the BNSF racetrack so that's probably where that comes from for me. I do love a BN executive MAC, got a Kato myself and hoping to grab another eventually
Nothing really “wowed” me. Some decent things though
Same here, I enjoy F units so the Bowser delivery is quite neat, but I still don't have any of those on order
Not gonna lie, with ScaleTrains announcements of the NS heritage units, the used market is gonna get flooded with the old Bachmann engines. Might not be the best units, but still something for us relatively budget minded modelers. I use to be a fan of 8012(PRR unit, but the NKP livery is beginning to grow on me...with no small part of a recently restored SD9 in Fort Wayne...and ew...oversized....know what, I'mma hold my tongue...not a fan of the 4-8-8-4's personally....use to be though, but not as of late...Honestly, Ho scale could use 20x more lesser known engines before another run of Big Boys....
As for pre-orders moving forward, I think for my *small* rebuilt modern fleet, that ex-B&M car would do nicely behind one of the CSX heritage units. I'm gonna look into those Walther Alco FP units. They look better than the EMD, and Baldwin counter parts, however, it'd be nice if they did the FP in GN, SP, ACL, and other liveries, and not just Via, and CN.
Agreed, especially on the NS heritage front. The Bachmann models were alright, but this may be the last run of the NS units for a while unless the prototypes change somehow.
I guess it makes sense for the BLI modern Big Boy with PTC, but I don't see a reason for Athearn to be doing the coal-fired run
@@da-joe-trains The big boys runs for me is the equivalent of "...here we go again", but it seems like every year....manufactures should really lay off the Wasatch class for a decade or so with how many are out. We could use some more USRA engines, wider variety of Pacific's, decapods, Northern's, etc. I'm 'bout to start emailing them with wish lists of steam engines that are NOT from the Union Pacific, or active parts of the Union Pacific Steam Program. Know what, this issue should be brought up next week...so many Big Boy's that there should be public discourse and a letter signed by the community sent to all manufacture's telling them to stop making Big Boy's for a few years and focus on other steam engines. The new runs of the Wasatch wont move like older runs. A break needs to be had, and the manufactures need to HEAR/SEE us be fed up with the amount of Big Boys being announced & released.