"To Be Phased Out"

[Santa Fe buff]

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-1311
A very nice train set, but I wonder why it's going to be "Phased out"?
It's a wonderful locomotive with a great train set, I wonder why, after all-
It's a very nice set.

[Jhanecker2]

The reason it is being phased out is that Bachmann is currently not manufacturing the heavyweight passenger cars. They are replacing their molds  .  Molds like any piece of precision machinery  has a limited  life after which  the tolerances on the parts becomes excessive and requires to much work to make functional parts .    Molds are made of tool steel  and the imprints   have to precisely ground in and or electrically discharge machined in to make the parts plus  the sprue holes and alignment pins have to be installed .  This has to be done for each  different part that has to be molded , and sometimes you have to make mutiple molds so that you have a back up in case a mold has to be repaired.  Sorry for the lecture , I was an q.c. inspector in manufacturing  since 1970 .  John II

[Santa Fe buff]

Thanks, it's okay for the lecture, more information always helps in a time of confusion. 

[Matthew Ginkel]

Actually is being phased out because there gonna replace it with basically the same set, but this time it says the loco is #611. And the price has been up to $400 i believe

[engine275]

Can you buy the locomotive after the set is discontinued? I hope so cause that class-J is a wonderful locomotive.

[Jhanecker2]

the  N&W  J - class is available in four different versions  # 603 , # 608 , #610 , and # 611  . Please see Product . The only phased out parts are the heavy-weight passenger Cars , at least till new Cars are manufactured.

[Santa Fe buff]

I TOO LOVE THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN J SERIES LOCOTMOTIVE. I'M GLAD THAT ONLY THE CARS ARE BEING CHANGED.