Announcements were made by MMI and RichardsJohnson for a 3 truck Shay that turned out to be vapourware, but I think the interest is there for a much larger Shay than the pocket sized 14 ton model currently offered by Bachmann in On30. The climax was a nice size at close to 30 tons, but the Shay and Heisler were both among the smallest prototypes ever built. The climax was fantastic in that it could be converted to On3 in less than 30 minutes, using all of the original parts. I can see that a nice sized Shay like Westside #12 would be very much welcomed to those of us who like their engines "chunky" instead of dinky. Have a look at the Sn3 offerings from PBL and tell me you wouldn't want one
http://www.p-b-l.com/Gallery/Shays/Shay_Production_Samples_10-10-2012.html

I put the original medium steam tsunami into my 2-8-0 and it has never had a single issue. It is rated for 1 amp, well within the stall voltage of the engine...not sure what kind of decoders you are burning up.

Ok, so why exactly does every engine have to be able to negotiate 18" radius curves? If you've built your layout to accommodate MMI engines and cars by San Juan, you can't possibly operate on 18", you've built your layout to 30" or better. Mine is actually 40", so this insistence on being able to negotiate impossibly tight curves is actually hampering the production of models that a lot is us want to see produced. Anyone for a 3 truck Shay? I'm in!

Honestly I haven't heard any MRC steam decoders that I would consider decent. (before you call me a hater, I have the MRC 1922 diesel decoder in a proto E-8, and the 567 sound is really well done). My climax has a micro-tsunami logging decoder in it, and I'm quite happy with that combination.

still waiting on a decent sized 3 truck shay. If a 30-50 ton Heisler ever comes out, I would be interested in that too. I think the climax is a good size, its too bad that the shay and heisler chosen were "pocket sized".

I simply stopped buying On30 as the offerings were just too small for my liking. In G scale they made a wonderful Shay, 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 as well as a fabulous 2-8-0...but we got nothing equivalent in On30. Had they made these same engines in On30, I would have bought one of each, but unfortunately the 2cyl shay, "park engine" 4-4-0 and diminutive heisler just don't fit in with the rest of my rolling stock. I think Bachmann missed the boat with models, they could have done a westside #3 heisler and a Uintah 2-6-6-2 and had great success with them. Just my two cents worth

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this engine looks to me like someone took an O scale cab and stuck it on an HO locomotive. When I heard that bachmann was doing an 2-6-6-2 in O scale I was hoping for the same nicely proportioned engine that they had announced for 1:20.3 Oh well.

Highly unlikely, as San Juan Car Company already makes these in both kit form and RTR versions.  Bachmann is better served working on tooling for rolling stock that is not currently being produced (like a heisler....)

Umm, did any of you notice the title of the thread was "Brass", I think that might be a clue. That being said, I've been asking for a 30 ton 3 cyl shay for a while now, and that would be a really nice size to go with my climax!

Be prepared for a long wait if you send it in for repairs, mine was returned after 3 phone calls and 7 weeks of waiting, and this was for a brand new out of the box engine that died after 2 minutes of running.

Brian

I think a D&RGW T-12 4-6-0 would be just dandy! This one is by accucraft in large scale, but I think you will get the idea.



http://www.accucraft.com/image/accucraft/products/AL88-251-PS.jpg

I have a tsunami micro light logging in my climax, a light steam in my 2-6-0 and a medium steam in my 2-8-0. All of the components and decoders came from G-M-E.com and all are cam equipped.

the 1629 steam decoder was and still is a first generation steam sound decoder.

the sheer brilliance steam decoders, 0001630 and 0001656 are going to be discontinued.

our newest steam decoder is the 0001823 sheer brilliance decoder, this decoder has improved motor control and back emf, plus has many chuffs, whistles and bells to choose from.

it also incorporates CV 65- kick Start and CV's 67 to 94 for setting up custom speed tables.

Frank-Model Rectifier

MMI has also announced the intent to produce a 3 truck shay as well, so you will be covered there too, if you are patient enough. However I still hope that Bachmann will come to their senses and make a 2 truck 30 ton heisler.

Don't know where he gets his information from, but the current sheer brilliance decoders DO have back-emf, all you have to do is enter 1 into CV 123, and no, they are not wired backwards. This is for the new 1823 decoder, not the earlier 1629 decoders.