Future suggestions/predictions thread

[Chaz]

Maybe a pipe dream, but I'd love to see Bachmann announce Edward in both N and G scale next year.
I don't collect G scale due to space, aside from a Bachmann Thomas and 1994 Lionel James, but would preorder an Edward immediately.

Maybe a wild suggestion, but after N scale Edward, I think Oliver should be next. Having both Scruffy and Toad in the range is like having Henrietta without Toby or Annie and Clarabel without Thomas.

Also, I love the Talyllyn I just got (maybe we can get a 2024 blue livery too). Please plan on doing Dolgoch, Edward Thomas, etc. I'd also like to see the Talyllyn's bogie coaches too!

I second of this Oliver should happen next however I do not see him next over characters like duck or Rosie who are way more popular than him.
But Oliver is popular and he would sell. They are bound to do him eventually, and I think it is about time that they do him, considering that his brake van  and his rival are in the range. He could possibly reuse a lot of parts from Edward once they do him so I would love to see Oliver after they finishthe steam team

Not sure about Rosie, but I think both Edward and Duck are a lot more likely to happen before Oliver, but I think Oliver is going to remain very firmly as one of the more popular requests because of Toad's inclusion.  I say give it a few years from now and I'm sure Oliver will receive his introduction in N scale soon.  And I don't think it's a matter of "if", based on how things have been going with the N scale line as of late.

[Awesometrain77]

A line that is a matter of if is the large scale line now there are some popular characters they have yet to make in the line that could warrant a tooling .
Edward is a main character thus is well known and could happen
Rosie is a female engine that could sell pretty well
Finally is Duck who is super popular with fans
As for rolling stock

12 ton circus vans and the Christmas reef van I could see being good sellers
And as someone who has seen large scale railways I do feel the blue open coach could be a very good seller
For other tankers bringing back the milk and oil tanker would be nice . And a pink 7 plank wagon that is seen all around in the CGI series .
Hannah and Henrietta could also be nice to go with Toby .

I doubt Mavis is popular enough to be in large scale honestly I feel like people just keep suggesting her because she is an Awdry character but tbh she would not sell well enough. Maybe 10 years ago you could argue she was more relevant then duck or Rosie much the show and merch forgot about her compare that to duck and roise who appeared till the very end .

[Mulfred100]

So with Sir Handel's model being shown at Trainfest and seeing all that extra detailing I'm currently of the mindset Sir Hayden could be the next Talyllyn loco in that range given Sir Handel has all the extra parts already existing on his model where as, Rheneas, Peter Sam and Rusty (if midlander is ever made) all need work. In fact out of the three Rheneas is the only one I can see happening (at least in the near future) given Peter Sam's funnel will need to be remould to represent Edward Thomas more and have that variety.

So my money is firmly in Sir Hayden's corner for the next Talyllyn loco, which leads me into my idea. Now I honestly don't know where the rights to make someone like this would lie, weather it's Mattel or Talyllyn but what about a Sir Hayden variation wearing Sir Handel's name plates and face to represent either Awdry Extravagansa



Or possibly the eye patch variation



Now ultimately with this idea I honestly don't know where the rights would be weather it's Talyllyn or if there's something in the contract that says any merchandise produced with a named character falls under Mattel or with a likeness to a Thomas character creates a loop hole. Even as a limited run I think this would be a home run with fans and even non fans who just want something that represents Talyllyn history. I mean every fan who has attended Awdry Extravagansa will want to own one no doubt. Who wouldn't want a little representative of a weekend or a day like that, and what better representative then a 009 model of an engine that was there running around your layout. I know it's a very out there idea and probably one that riddled with legal stuff and but I thought I'd throw it out there. Just an idea.

[DustyMarie53!]

A potential work around could be with the eyepatch face specifically. At this year's event it was worn by Sir Hayden, and from my understanding the TR has complete control over that. It's only the Thomas show characters that need official approval which is likely why it was only Sir Handel and Rusty this year while everyone else was just the TR engines. They also reuse the faces for children's days; they're just not dressed up as the Thomas characters. In theory they may be able to do multiple like that. Blue Talyllyn with the Nicholas Cage face like she wore for Awdry Ex 4, Dolgoch with the old lady like face, so on. Might be disappointing to not necessarily have the Thomas names on them, but that is a potential work around if the licensing proved troublesome. I know I'd personally buy some like that. I went to Awdry Ex 4, any of the real engines with those specific faces is a sure-fire sale from me.

In terms of the newer Sir Handel face, it was used for the Corris No. 10 so far. I've actually been thinking about her, since she's the new build and having a model for her this soon would be really cool. It would be nice if they could make a model of her as well alongside Hayden, but based on the prototype of Sir Handel looks like some of the parts that would need to be switched out are part of the diecast body. It's mainly the coal bunkers that appear to be metal and No. 10 doesn't have them in the same way. So that might be a hard sell. I'd definitely like it, but I'd understand if Bachmann would be cautious on pursuing it. Same reason I imagine they're cautious about making Midlander or Edward Thomas. I figured it was at least worth mentioning her as a possibility because I imagine she would be popular for 009 modelers

[Awesometrain77]

Peter Sam would need heavy mods but it's worth it as not only can they make Edward Thomas but also other tatoo  class locomotives they will need more mods but there were a class of locomotives used by narrow gauge railways all over not just the UK but the world and they were not even all narrow gauge but also standard gauge .

As for a new tool TR locomotive I would really like to see Douglas as Duncan has been cancelled also if there were to a TR  Thomas character Duncan could be that as Douglas and Duncan don't look alike .also Duncan had a whole event on the TR called Duncan days . But idk if this could happen but it would be super cool .

Anyway I doubt either will happen next year .

But what I do think could happen next year is a new engine for the HO range now as they are likely still waiting to see how Rebecca does Ik they can't do Diesel 10 or Hiro . Nia is the character who replaced Edward at tidmoth sheds so Idk if that would be an ideal choice for the anniversary year . Harvey despite having the attachment is not impossible so maybe him but the most likely canadate is whiff
Here is how the rest of the decade could play out in terms on characters
2025 whiff
2026 Nia
2027 Hiro
2028 Iron arry and Bert catch up year
2029 Havery
2030 Diesel 10
Now without getting too ahead of myself I like this list and I feel this could happen but who knows   

[Cheeky_ULP]

Personally I would put Hiro above any other (solo tooling) newbies... I feel like he's one of the most popular characters of the CGI era, and him having a RTR model feels just as long overdue as Stanley's.