HO narrow gauge please?

[Gunslinger_Fur]

Dear Mr. Bach Man,

This is a though I wished to share with you, for I think it deserves serious consideration. Although modeling narrow gauge is not as wide spread as those who model standard gauge, but it is still a rather large percentage of modelers. I myself toyed with the idea of modeling HOn3 because I am quite fond of narrow gauge and Colorado narrow gauge in particular. However as I explored what was available in terms of motive power for HOn3 I discovered that the choices are quite limited from a financial aspect.

Most locomotives are made of brass and thus cost a pretty penny. Some of the older brass models can be found for reasonable prices, but to my knowledge many of these models are either rare, out of production, or just plain hard to find. New brass models are often quite expensive. Also most brass HOn3 locomotives are DC and not intended for DCC operation. Thus the only option here is to hard wire a decoder into a relatively small model. This is not a huge limitation, however there are those who lack the knowledge or the time and materials to make the conversion.

What I am proposing is for you to consider production of an HOn3 portion of you already renowned Spectrum line. I have had the privilege of owning and operating both HO and On30 locomotives that are Bachmann products and have found little or no reason to be disappointed. As a side not I eagerly await the release of the improved On30 Porters.

Currently the newest locomotives in HOn3 are the new Blackstone models. They are very nice and I greatly enjoy their detail, but their price tag is a little too high for my comfort zone. For any HOn3 modeling I wish to partake in I have to look for the old MDC kits, which sadly are no longer in production. This is where I think that Bachmann Trains can fill a niche. You have already proven yourself to one of the leading model train manufacturers and are always pushing the bar for higher standards.

An HOn3 line would be wonderful because it would rest somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. If you were to release such a product line the models would no doubt be beautifully detailed and, at the same time, wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.

One locomotive I would love to see a model of is the Death Valley Railroad #2.



A Baldwin narrow gauge 2-8-0, inside frame, builders number 42864. (If I'm correct)
Perhaps an HOn3 version of the On30 Porter as well, just to give you a challenge!

And then there are the traditional Colorado narrow gauge prototypes, such as C-16s, C-18s, C-19s, C-21s, and C-25. K-27s, K-28s, K-36s, and K-37s. Or the Colorado & Southern narrow gauge locomotives. Or the Denver South Park & Pacific. Perhaps even the Denver Boulder & Western, the list goes on. And even with Eastern Narrow Gauge, there's the ET&WNC (Tweetsie) or the East Broad Top, the Quincy & Torch Lake, the Argent Lumber Co., ect... There are endless possibilities!!

I know that I am a single voice amongst thousands, but I do not speak for myself alone; but for many narrow gauge modelers who feel the same way. Again, this is just a though I wish to pitch to you and for your consideration. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter.

Sincerely, Andrew J. Davis.

[simkon]

Here is a quote from Jack Lynch, General Manager Special Projects, Bachmann Industries, Inc. regarding Bachmann producing HOn3:

Check out: http://www.blackstonemodels.com/index.php

He went on to agree with my comment:

"Unique/specialized and cheap/affordable do not go together."

On a second occasion Jack Lynch suggested Blackstone:

I would suggest checking into Blackstone Models made by our friends at Soundtraxx.

You already have your answer, sorry that it won't happen, the only thing to do now is save up for a Blackstone loco.

[ebtnut]

FWIW, Blackstone is doing the East Broad Top 3-bay hoppers in HOn3.  They are going to be in about the $50 range r-t-r.  No, they're not $19.95, but considering the quality of their previous offerings, that's a pretty fair price.  Maybe if they sell well, Blackstone might be tempted to do one of the EBT Mikes.  Again, if the price point is similar to what the K-27's were, that's still a good price in today's market. 

I might note also that a bunch of those EBT hoppers were sold over the years to a number of other railroads, including the WP&Y and the Durango and Silverton. 

[hawaiiho]

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