The Everything Thomas Topic

[DustyMarie53!]

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I'm sorry but it sounds like your friend isn't asking the right questions.  It too me sounds like they asked "are you making Henry because you have Gordon's Chassis?" And not "will Henry share the same Chassis as Gordon?" Or "will Henry reuse Gordon's Chassis?" I mean what exactly was the question they asked? Because it does sound to me based on what you wrote that was "are you making Henry because you have Gordon's Chassis?"

However based on the CGI Orthos, the history of the model series and how Bachmann made the HO there's 0 reasons why Bachmann won't reuse it again for N Scale for not only a cost effective production but also keeping consistent with the show. Why spend extra money on producing a new chassis tooling when you already have the perfect one in your arsenal?

Arguing about it just sows seeds of doubt and isn't helpful.

For clarification, as I'm acting as my friend's surrogate because he doesn't particularly like to use this forum anymore, the exact question (or rather questions) asked were "Will Henry reuse Gordon's chassis?" followed up by "Was he chosen because it would be easier to reuse the chassis" You're actually pretty right on the money, but he was careful with his questions for that reason to get the best universal answer.  He may have also asked more to clarify further those are just the exact ones he forwarded to me, among other things.

Answer given by the rep: We chose Henry because he was a popular character, no design work has been looked into yet (to his knowledge). Whether we will reuse the chassis or not will come down to looking at the cgi references to see if they can be. If Gordon's chassis are deemed not accurate enough, they will just make a new one.

Given Toad is a new mold in N scale even though he could have been reused from the graham farish tooling I'm not particularly sure where cheapness and ease falls for N scale. Since his exact reasons outlined were the existing tooling wasn't accurate enough. Now not a one to one example. Him being rolling stock was a cheaper new mold justification then a new mechanism, he's just the only example in N so far. Don't think we'll have an answer regarding Henry until reveal. Personally, betting on chassis reuse though, looking at the CGI ortho sheets they're the exact same after all.

Didn't particularly want this to become an argument. Was just responding to person saying "it will definitely be recycled" to say we shouldn't use that kind of hard statement when we don't know for sure. Not trying to cause an argument or doubt, just trying to keep this place as informative as possible with the info we do have.  Not everyone was at the NMRA show, so figured any clarifications from said show would be helpful.

Not entirely related but that rep was really nice, asked Streak if there were any items he wanted to see unprompted, and that list would be forwarded to the design team. Let him hold the new Hannah sample as well, think the first in hand pictures we got of her came from him. Really shows how much this company respects the fans and their voices.

[Mulfred100]

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I'm sorry but it sounds like your friend isn't asking the right questions.  It too me sounds like they asked "are you making Henry because you have Gordon's Chassis?" And not "will Henry share the same Chassis as Gordon?" Or "will Henry reuse Gordon's Chassis?" I mean what exactly was the question they asked? Because it does sound to me based on what you wrote that was "are you making Henry because you have Gordon's Chassis?"

However based on the CGI Orthos, the history of the model series and how Bachmann made the HO there's 0 reasons why Bachmann won't reuse it again for N Scale for not only a cost effective production but also keeping consistent with the show. Why spend extra money on producing a new chassis tooling when you already have the perfect one in your arsenal?

Arguing about it just sows seeds of doubt and isn't helpful.

Exact question asked was "Will Henry reuse Gordon's chassis?" followed up by "Was he chosen because it would be easier to reuse the chassis" for clarification.

Answer given: We chose Henry because he was a popular character, no design work has been looked into yet (to his knowledge). Whether we will reuse the chassis or not will come down to looking at the cgi references to see if they can be. If Gordon's chassis are deemed not accurate enough, they will just make a new one.

Given Toad is a new mold in N scale even though he could have been reused from the graham farish tooling I'm not particularly sure where cheapness and ease falls for N scale. Since his exact reasons outlined were the existing tooling wasn't accurate enough. Don't think we'll have an answer until reveal. Personally, betting on chassis reuse though, looking at the CGI ortho sheets they're the exact same after all.

Didn't particularly want this to become an argument. Was just responding to person saying "it will definitely be recycled" and say we shouldn't use that kind of hard statement when we don't know for sure. Not trying to cause an argument or doubt, just trying to keep this place as informative as possible with the info we do have. 

So again you've no proof that it won't happen, so stop putting doubt into peoples minds based on someone else asking someone else a question.

What possible reason would Bachmann have for not reusing the chassis? It'll be more expensive to produce, take more time to get the product on the market so meaning a longer return on the items production. They are the exact same throughout the entire history of the show and history of Bachmann making these engines. Seriously just think about it. There's 0 reason for Bachmann to differ from what they have done in the past and it's not like Henry suddenly became a 4-4-0 or something in the CGI era

Yes but again which we have had this exact conversation before Toad is a brakevan and cheaper and easier too tool then a big tender engine.  they can afford to be less focused on costs when it comes to something that costs $25.99 to buy.

There's no reason why Bachmann wouldn't recycle Gordon's Chassis.

And no one wants it to be an argument lol but consider the facts and read how sometimes if you say something out loud it plants the doubt in people's minds when there doesn't need to be any

If you want clarification ask in the stream or something, but honestly this feels like we are arguing over something that's obvious, like just as obvious as will Henry have a number 3 and be painted green.

Lastly look at what was said earlier in the year. 2024 was a catch up year, and everything new that was announced in NMRA 2024 has all used existing tooling, Sidney and Mainland uses Diesels, the Tar tanker uses the tanker tooling, Flatbed with oil drums uses the old paint pot tooling with the Flatbed tooling used in that and the logging company Flatbed. China clay wagon uses the open wagon tooling, Hannah uses Henrietta's tooling. There's only the brake-van and Henry's body and tender that's really new tooling which lines up with a company saying "we are having a catchup year"

[DustyMarie53!]

Everything on the air shipment has arrived with Bachmann today. Trainworld will have them at the latest next week.  As a refresher this is Emily in N, her coaches, N Gordon, N Henrietta, the 12 ton vans, Rebecca, and the Topham car. 
 
The slate trucks, Emily set, and Hannah are set to arrive in stock around post-Christmas, between new years, may potentially be pushed back to 2025 but will be very early.

Human figure packs are in box, Doug is unsure when they'll release. Early 2025 at some point. Really cool to see all of these in box products right now. They all look so good.

Also shown off is painted Stanley. Literally perfect I have no notes. He is so good love how the paint finish comes off on camera.  That's it for Thomas Tuesday Bachmann wise.  However, the guest Knowah does some really awesome stuff. I got to see some of their stuff in person in January. They are so much like the show highly recommend going to see them at a train show if you are ever able to.

[RailsByRick]

So glad to hear about the items that made it to warehouse. I was getting nervous as Doug was showing off which ones arrived and which ones didn't lol. Hopefully we'll have these items in hand by the end of the month.

[Awesometrain77]

So glad to see all the samples on to 2025 . Idk if a painted sir Handel will make the catouge hopefully he does .
Just as a review everything that has yet to be released that won't be out by the end of the year are the following
DCC Thomas set
Figure packs
Stanley
High side wagons
Sir Handel
TR coaches

Not shown yet
Gondolas
Gunpowder vans
Open coach
Tar tanker
Oil flatbed
China clay wagon
Sidney
Mainland diesel
DCC Thomas
DCC Percy
salty (updated mechanism)
Bulgy
N scale express composite
N scale express brake
n scale diesel
N scale Paxton
N scale Henry
N scale brakevan

 

[DustyMarie53!]

Think you're just missing the china clay wagon and TR coaches if you want to count those for the shown category. The coaches are already confirmed for early next year.

[TrainFan97]

Just about to arrive in stock are HO Scale Rebecca, 12-Ton Vans, Sir Topham Hatt's Car, N Scale Gordon, Emily, Emily's Coaches, and Henrietta. Products that will arrive between late December and early 2025 include the N Scale Emily set, Hannah, and the Narrow Gauge Slate Wagon repaints. All of those products were shown in the package. Even the HO Scale figures were shown packaged, but those will arrive sometime in 2025.

No painted sample of Sir Handel just yet. If he does not show up on the webstore by the end of the year, then we can hope for him to be shown in the January stream, or the 2025 catalog. We did get a better look at HO Scale Stanley, who had already been fully painted. Not yet shown in the package, but will be a 2025 product.

That's it for Trainworld for this year, and we'll see them again in January 2025.

[DustyMarie53!]

I don't think there's been a release date confirmed for the Gondolas and Stanley yet but if I were to guess would be early Spring Human figures and G scale set will likely be sometime before that since they are already in package and Doug made it clear he wants the human figures out ASAP. Not really sure where the TR coaches will fall, might drop separately like Talyllyn herself.

2025 is already looking bright in terms of new releases for the line, last year before this big November (and potential December, may also be pushed back to January) drop we only had Beau and the museum coaches. We're already on track to beat that. Can't wait to see what people do with all of these releases. The human figures especially are going to help bring this world alive.

Also, really can't wait to see Sir Handel. Already have friends who are big fans of the character and are debating caving on the narrow-gauge line for him. He is going to be a huge hit I can already feel it. I saw Sir Hayden in person this summer and this Sir Handel model looks nearly dead on while also being so faithful to the character. Is it too early to say I think he is the best of the line? I cannot wait to see him fully painted

[DustyMarie53!]

Going to add the remainder of the items in the pipeline bar what was on Thomas Tuesday this week as a follow up to my last post here, just for a reference point for myself and anyone else who may find it useful.

Sir Handel is now the only item with an unpainted sample, and also the only item with a sample right now without an early 2025 release date. We also know DCC Thomas and Percy are "making good progress" but hard to say where they are beyond that. Exactly when the stuff will drop that was said to drop in early 2025 is hard to gauge as well, my best guess is in the post above but it's still ultimately a best guess.

Some of the existing announcements are stuff that are simply prexisting models recolored. The LMS brakevan in N (reused from Farish), the tar tanker, and the diesel flatbed are all existing tools, just redecod. So, the release of them should hopefully be rather quick. Which I imagine was deliberate for the NMRA 2024 and 2024 as a whole. Get some other rolling stock out in all scales where there were holds in production with new molds. Slate trucks in narrow gauge, some simpler wagons for HO, and Hannah and the brakevan for N. Push something easier out while development on other stuff is worked on in the background, a smart move in my opinion.

Then there are items that are primarily reused but have one small thing that'll be changed. Sidney and Mainland Diesel fall here, they only need a new face presumably. The China Clay wagon also falls here because the load is said to be new via New Model Monday. Salty also falls here, but he's a little more complicated. He likely needs a new mechanism based on the comment of what parts of the mold have degraded. He's still on indefinite hold, but my hope is he is the priority for HO development for most of next year to get that highly demanded character out for the market.

Everything else is primarily new. This includes the open carriage blue, the gondolas, the gunpowder wagons, N Paxton, N Diesel, N Henry, Bulgy, and the N express coaches. All of these bar Henry have prices and are up for preorder, so if nothing else price from the factory for manufacturing has been decided for most of these. Also worth noting some of these (the 08's and narrow gauge wagons) will have multiple products delivered from one mold, so that'll help clear up the pipeline even more once all are finished. They did a pretty good job getting a large chunk of the backlog done, and here's hoping that can continue into 2025. Now that the high side wagons are mostly finalized, imagine work is starting on the Gondolas. Same with the NMRA 2023 N announcements now that everything prior to that is about to be released. Same with Bulgy now that the car is done, and so on.

Going to end this off on a question, what is everyone most excited for from the remaining items yet to release? Stanley is definitely the big one for me, but the open carriage, figures, and Bulgy are ones I am also very excited for.

[TrainFan97]

So HO Scale Rebecca, 12-Ton Vans, Sir Topham Hatt's Car, N Scale Gordon, Emily, Henrietta, and Emily's Coaches have shipped from Trainworld, but are now completely gone from the site.

[RailsByRick]

So HO Scale Rebecca, 12-Ton Vans, Sir Topham Hatt's Car, N Scale Gordon, Emily, Henrietta, and Emily's Coaches have shipped from Trainworld, but are now completely gone from the site.

This happens when pre-order items arrive in stock. They are removed from the website to process the orders they already have. Once all pre-orders have been processed, the remaining stock will go up as "New Arrival" Should be within the next day or so.

[Awesometrain77]

So I just saw the Rebecca video from Bachmann they released today and Salty is heavily featured in the video . Pulling the brand new LNER 12 ton van gray . Good news for salty however, this is the older model so idk how to feel about this . Hopefully we see salty come back to the line next year .

[Cheeky_ULP]

So I just saw the Rebecca video from Bachmann they released today and Salty is heavily featured in the video . Pulling the brand new LNER 12 ton van gray . Good news for salty however, this is the older model so idk how to feel about this . Hopefully we see salty come back to the line next year .

Salty is probably his older model because that's the model they have running on the Thomas layout.

[DustyMarie53!]

Watching the New Model Monday stream from yesterday and a few big takeaways.

Firstly, Sir Handel. They are making steady progress on his painted sample. They implied heavily it would be revealed during the first trainworld stream of 2025 in January. Which segways nicely into the other big point they made. The catalog is currently being worked on and will drop online in the later half of January. They are hoping to have physical copies ready for the Amherst show which is specifically on January 25th-26th. They did not say if the digital catalog would drop that exact weekend or be a little earlier. I might be slightly off base with this claim, but it makes sense they're trying to sink up with that big trainshow now. Before they have tried to sink it up with the New York toy fair, reps have gone on record to say that, but since that has become less and less big especially during and post covid it makes sense they're moving the trajectory to better align with the hobby.

They also briefly touched on Salty. That his issue was his motor was too noisy, and they are trying to trouble shoot that. They are hoping to have an update for 2025.

They also commented on potential future HOn30 non-Thomas products. Talyllyn is specifically an experiment to see if it's viable to make more by testing the waters using an existing tooling and well. She's already sold out on trainworld in green, red and black only having one left. I'll let that speak for itself. (note added on December 7th, 2024: all 3 are back in stock. Unclear if more have come in or if previous orders were simply cancelled. So therefore stock levels mentioned here are from when comment was originally posted) Not sure about any other websites.  Question was more so geared to HOn30 as a whole and demand for American designs, not just the Talyllyn but I do think it's intriguing. What that could potentially mean for future products, especially a potential Douglas to throw those disappointed over Duncan a bone. Or even potentially try to swing another Beau scenario with it.

[Awesometrain77]

So it seems Thomas will be gone from the New York toy fair for good Mattel stopped after COVID . I remember New York toy fair 2020 which was the last one where we found out about LBSC Thomas and Busy bee James and the motorized rebrand of the trackmaster range .
I except to see painted sir Handel some time in Jan .
Glad to finally get an update on salty.

They have been testing out the waters for not just welsh NG stuff but HOn30 in general mainly for America the wording at the very end of the live stream makes me think Tallynn was more of a test for HOn30 as a whole for Bachmann I definitely could see them do more Welsh designs but also American stuff and this become a part of their huge offerings of scales I could see them doing a American design  before we get something like sir Hayden. I do think the Baldwin 2-6-2 is likely to be the next HOn30 product for them .

Salty is being worked on very glad to get an update on him . I hope he gets released by the end of next year