The Everything Thomas Topic

[TrainFan97]

Tomorrow is the day the catalog gets released to the public. We shall see what products are announced if someone provides a link to any pictures, if the PDF is not up on the Bachmann website. I hope the PDF will be up so no one would have to share a link.

[JLK2707]

Can Emily's coaches just be taken apart?

[MrNormalDraws]

Can Emily's coaches just be taken apart?

The HO/OO ones? I think you can as I sold one of them with the Annie/Clarabel roof.

[thomasj219]

Today's the day.

Happy 2025 all. Hope we get some good news.

[DustyMarie53!]

Catalog new reveals are now live! https://x.com/DCCSodor/status/1883159689502089452 https://x.com/DCCSodor/status/1883159732556636451

I was right about a good few things, idk if I said it here but I was expecting a new train set.

But N scale black James, the milk tanker, and Troublesome truck #7 are big surprises, as are the anniversary vans. Admittedly not sure if I'm a van of them but since they'll be quick and easy turn arounds think they were the right call over something like a gold Thomas.

LBSC Thomas in all 3 scales is really cool, and I love the anniversary train set. Also love the china clay wagon is actually the RWS one after all, great attention to detail.

Also nice to see samples of the open carriage and gondolas wagons as well, showing Bachmann is making steady progress through their pipeline. Great catalog drop all around, look forward to seeing more news in the coming months.

Will update once the PDF is live and we can see what if anything beyond the lighthouse was discontinued. Looks like Winston and the last HO train set may be gone? But also page layout might just be changed

[thomasj219]

Not a bad start! I know people will whine about the Thomas model not being updated, but this I feel will get even better with the Mid Year announcements once some more of the already announced products release.

[MrNormalDraws]

Will update once the PDF is live and we can see what if anything beyond the lighthouse was discontinued. Looks like Winston and the last HO train set may be gone? But also page layout might just be changed

Yeah, I don't see Winston anymore on the website, and the first character to be off Large Scale market. Kinda sad as I thought he would be good for most layouts as you can put the crew in there, but I guess not. Also means an HO version is off the tables.

Also saw the square water towers are gone, so now it's only Tidmouth Sheds is the only building left.

[Chaz]

I don't think I've ever been more excited for a starter set than I am today with the 80th anniversary set especially with the inclusion of exclusive rolling stock and the Thomas model with silver buffers and updated decals to match the original illustration.  This one is a definite winner, and I might just have to pick it up.

The retro rolling stock decals are... intriguing. I've noticed Mattel has been incorporating these logos into much of their apparel this year, and Lionel seems to be following suit with one of their boxcars. However, I like how these decals are applied to the vans; they're a nice touch, and I might consider adding them to my collection.

Troublesome Truck #7 is a welcome addition too. While I'm not surprised they opted for a van with a face, I'll give credit where it's due—at least it's not another international rolling stock repaint like #6. For that reason alone, I can see this one performing better than its predecessor.

I'm a bit surprised it took Bachmann this long to update the HO milk tanker. It's interesting that the fuel tanker didn't receive a similar update at the same time.

The N scale LBSC Thomas and Origin James are fantastic additions, and I'm glad we're getting both rather than just one of them. I was hoping Edward might make an appearance, and while I'm optimistic he'll arrive this summer, it's understandable if that's not the case given the number of items we're still waiting on.

It's great to see some of the wagon repaints making their way into N scale as well. I'm a fan of the red one, not so much the Sodor Scrap Co wagon.  Hopefully, the original coal wagon with load isn't far behind! Maybe they want to wait before making the coal load mold in N first?  Still solid choices though.

Among this year's announcements, the large scale LBSC Thomas was probably the least surprising. This is one release that most people likely saw coming if large scale was going to feature a new engine. Still, credit to them for getting something out, especially given the limited offerings in large scale lately.

Finally, we now have updated images of the narrow-gauge gondolas and the blue open carriage. They look fantastic, and I'll definitely be picking these up. Holding off on new narrow-gauge product announcements this year was probably a smart move, considering Sir Handel and much of the previously announced rolling stock haven't been released yet.

The non-Thomas narrow gauge stock is quite exciting too.  Sir Haydn being next was a given once we had a better look at the sample and the Ffestinog wagons are a nice bonus too.

Overall, it's an adequate lineup. While there are no new tooling announcements, there's still plenty to be excited about. It's also great to see the anniversary year being acknowledged across all the scales, barring narrow gauge, and that alone makes this lineup all the more special.  I'm a fan!

[DustyMarie53!]

Not a bad start! I know people will whine about the Thomas model not being updated, but this I feel will get even better with the Mid Year announcements once some more of the already announced products release.

Actually, he is slightly updated which might not be immediately apparent in these images. He has the grey buffers, black paint between the splashers and tanks, and more gold accents around the windows. No face is a shame but makes sense given they're likely trying to push this out sooner rather than later. May be more changes we'll see later once the pdf goes live, but overall happy with it. I care more about the rolling stock anyway and the themed ones look great and love the addition of another brakevan. Probably my favorite announcement of the lot but there's a lot of really nice ones this time.

Edit: his number is also enlarged like the illustrations, and they added an extra boiler band at the front. Really good I think. Absolutely my favorite announcement

[thomasj219]

I only noticed the buffers so that's great to hear. I just wish they'd do something about that face....

[DustyMarie53!]

I'll make this a separate post the catalog itself is now live.

Sir Hayden and some Ffestiniog wagons were also announced.

Seems only the light house, water tower, and winston are discontinued. Tidmouth milk is not being replaced by the cgi one which is good

Correction! The unnumbed slate truck is also discontinued I didn't clock it initially because I forgot it was still produced. Makes sense though. Also all the flatbeds with crates are gone as well. Guess they weren't popular

[MrNormalDraws]

11 EST AM Update: So yeah, they only discontinued G Scale Winston, the red water tower and the lighthouse. I saw that the new Milk tanker will be alongside the Tidmouth one, so I don't know if Bachmann would still make the old one alongside the current one, or they'll end the old one for next year (as unlike the Raspberry Tanker and Mail Vans, this is another product number).

11:30 Update: The other flatbeds with the crates are gone. Looks like they hadn't sold well for Bachmann despite only being in the market for 4-5years.

I might get the 80th set just for the brake van/caboose. Glad to see they reused the Brown Cargo wagon.

It's not Thomas,  but I'm surprised they jumped ahead to do a real life version of Sir Handel's basis just as they finished him instead of doing a real life Rheneas.

Seems only the light house, water tower, and winston are discontinued. Tidmouth milk is not being replaced by the cgi one which is good

Correction, the two other flatbeds with the crates are gone. Noticed it when I relooked the website.

[Mulfred100]

I don't think I've ever been more excited for a starter set than I am today with the 80th anniversary set especially with the inclusion of exclusive rolling stock and the Thomas model with silver buffers.  This one is a definite winner, and I might just have to pick it up.

The retro rolling stock decals are... intriguing. I've noticed Mattel has been incorporating these logos into much of their apparel this year, and Lionel seems to be following suit with one of their boxcars. However, I like how these decals are applied to the vans; they're a nice touch, and I might consider adding them to my collection.

Troublesome Truck #7 is a welcome addition too. While I'm not surprised they opted for a van with a face, I'll give credit where it's due—at least it's not another international rolling stock repaint like #6. For that reason alone, I can see this one performing better than its predecessor.

I'm a bit surprised it took Bachmann this long to update the HO milk tanker. It's interesting that the fuel tanker didn't receive a similar update at the same time.

The N scale LBSC Thomas and Origin James are fantastic additions, and I'm glad we're getting both rather than just one of them. I was hoping Edward might make an appearance, and while I'm optimistic he'll arrive this summer, it's understandable if that's not the case given the number of items we're still waiting on.

It's great to see some of the wagon repaints making their way into N scale as well. I'm a fan of the red one, not so much the Sodor Scrap Co wagon.  Hopefully, the original coal wagon with load isn't far behind! Maybe they want to wait before making the coal load mold in N first?  Still solid choices though.

Among this year's announcements, the large scale LBSC Thomas was probably the least surprising. This is one release that most people likely saw coming if large scale was going to feature a new engine. Still, credit to them for getting something out, especially given the limited offerings in large scale lately.

Finally, we now have updated images of the narrow-gauge gondolas and the blue open carriage. They look fantastic, and I'll definitely be picking these up. Holding off on new narrow-gauge product announcements this year was probably a smart move, considering Sir Handel and much of the previously announced rolling stock haven't been released yet.

Overall, it's an adequate lineup. While there are no new tooling announcements, there's still plenty to be excited about. It's also great to see the anniversary year being acknowledged across all the scales, barring narrow gauge, and that alone makes this lineup all the more special.  I'm a fan!

I'd just like to echo this really. Very solid line up. Nice to see some product images for the Open Carriage, Sir Handel, the Gondolas as well as the new mock up of the SCC wagon.
I will definitely be grabbing the 80th anniversary vans and set. Very impressed with both.
There's one niggle I have with TT7. It's nothing major it's more of a worry I guess. Given that we have a Grey 12 van and now we are getting another with a face, I do worry in a year or 12 the Grey van maybe discontinued, maybe given hindsight it would have been better to announce a different colour variation originally and save the grey for TT7 but I'm happy to be proven wrong.
Nice to see the new milk tanker. However that does open a door slightly if they are keeping the original tanker around aswell as the new if that would be possible for other items. Maybe a reintroduction of the OG Sodor Mail car called (Sodor Mail car) and the current CGI as Red mail car. Speaking of those I'm noticing the lobster car has gone too.
Glad there's more in N scale. My theory is we might get a wagon with a load at NMRA. Easier to just throw out two 7 plank wagons while they are working on the load.
Lastly HOn30 which no one is talking about. Sir Hayden is officially being made along with 2 FFESTINIOG RAILWAY wagons. Which makes me very happy.
Overall really solid start to 2025.
Very solid announcements and I'm sure more to come with NMRA. Lots to look forward to

[MrNormalDraws]

Speaking of those I'm noticing the lobster car has gone too.

Yeah, that's been gone for a year.

[TrainFan97]

The 2025 catalog announcements are now here.

HO Scale is getting an 80th Anniversary set, two special vans to mark the occasion, a CGI Milk Tanker, and Troublesome Truck #7, which is a 12-Ton Van. The China Clay wagon now has a logo. N Scale is getting LBSC Thomas and Origin James, as well as the Sodor Scrap and Red Open Wagons. Edward still wasn't announced yet, but they're still catching up on Diesel, Paxton and Henry. Edward should for sure get announced in the NMRA. Lastly, one announcement for Large Scale was LBSC Thomas.

The HO Scale Open Carriage and Narrow Gauge Gondolas actually have images with painted samples shown, so they're not far off from going into shipment. This isn't a Thomas announcement, but Sir Haydn was announced for Narrow Gauge, along with Ffestiniog Railway wagons. I saw that coming once we saw how accurate Sir Handel's tooling was. Speaking of Sir Handel, his official image IS in the catalog.