Well here it is. Late July...... - July 29, 2008

Probably the biggest news for July is the NMRA Anaheim Convention and the National Train Show. Model Railroaders from all parts of the world come to this event to visit layouts, attend clinics, and see what's new at the National Train Show.

This years attendance was rather light. It's no surprise; the economy and the price of gasoline are having a very real effect. But for those of us who did attend, it was a very good convention. Everything went off smoothly, the host hotel was excellent and the NMRA volunteers did a great job making sure that everything ran efficiently.

The convention starts on Sunday (a bit early for my personal tastes) and ends the following Saturday. Friday, the National Train Show opens and the NMRA attendees are given the first opportunity to see what the manufacturers will be offering this fall.

To be fair, the show lacked some of the big names, and the manufacturers who did attend had modest displays. That is not to say they were skimpy, bit not as big or lavish as I have seen in the past.

Nonetheless, there were some great new products introduced, so here goes:

Athearn was showing an HO scale UP turbine, an HO Harriman 4-8-2, a re-release of the HO MDC Palace cars with a lot of new detail, and a 30's era long distance bus in HO and N scale.

Bachmann had several new items in every scale they produce (For a complete list of all new Bachmann products click here.). New for Bachmann is O gauge 3 rail. They entered this market by purchasing Williams Electric Trains and bringing out a large selection of models that will be priced to attract the newcomer to the hobby. They could have just marketed the existing Williams line, but they have introduced the Baldwin RF-16 Sharks as a completely new addition to the line. There was a very attractive A-B-A set in the Baldwin Demo paint scheme and it didn't look toy like.

For the large-scale folks there was a beautiful 2-6-6-2T and a D&RGW long caboose with full interior.

The On30 fans had some really nice new items. There are the new gas mechanical buses with trailers in several of the traditional Bachmann road names, and a beautiful (and heavy) 4-6-0 with a variety of stacks, domes, cabs, etc. The detail is what you have come to expect for Bachmann. Well made, scale size and made from durable plastics and diecast materials.

For the HO crowd there was a lot to get excited about. The GE 44 tonner has been in the Spectrum product line for several years and has been priced above the GE 70 tonner, which is for all intents and purposes, the same product. So... Bachmann has moved the 44 tonner into the standard line and dropped the price ! When was the last time you saw something like that?

In the standard HO line there will be a DD-40 (this will also be made in N scale), and an HO Santa Fe 2-10-4 (no, it will NOT go around 18in radius curves!).

In the Spectrum HO line there will be a GE 45 tonner that is a jewel. I've had the model in my hand and it is really well thought out. Want to put sound in it? Snap off the air tanks on the bottom and there is a place to put the speaker. No, Bachmann does not have a sound decoder for it..... We will be selling the first 100 units for $64.95. List price is $ 125.95. Order now, you KNOW these will sell out in a 'New York Minute'.

But probably the biggest news is the smallest item. An N Scale GE 44 tonner. This is remarkable. Small diesel switchers in N scale are tough to make and up until now they have been rigid frame 6 wheel units. It was just too tough to make the tiny 4 wheel trucks work independently and get a tiny double-ended motor and gear train all under a scale size body. This model is so small that it ought to be gold plated, have an eyelet in the roof and be mounted on a gold chain. That way it could be N Scalers 'Bling'. However you look at it, it is a jewel. List Price is $100.00. PCS Price is $59.40

Check the web page for a complete listing of all of the new Bachmann products with prices and due dates.

Walthers was showing their new HO transfer table and associated buildings, and they were quietly admitting that yes, there would be an HO NYC 20th Century train. But not a word about any steel mill stuff. Rumors are that they have some new products for the steel modeler in the pipeline but they just aren't ready to announce what and when. We may hear more in time for the Steel Mill Modeler's Meet.

Kadee was showing a prototype for a large-scale DCC operable knuckle coupler. I didn't get a chance to learn much about it but there will be info in the popular train press in the near future.

STEEL MILL MODELER'S MEET Sept 11-14,2008

Don't forget to register for our 4th Annual Meet. If you are a steel mill enthusiast, here is you opportunity to see several great layouts with steel as a primary theme, attend seminars by some of the best steel mill modelers in the country, bring you models for display, run your equipment on a steel mill modular layout, compete for the Dean Freytag Award, enjoy our Saturday night 'Steel Worker's Banquet', buy, sell and swap models and products for the steel mill modeler, and just plain have a good time! Check the web page under 'Steel Mill Modeler's Meet' for more details.

One of our local modelers and fellow NMRA member, Bill Day entered his superdetailed and animated N Scale Walthers blast furnace in the NMRA National Contest and walked away with a ton of awards! Congratulations are definitely in order. Bill has some other commitments for the weekend of the meet, but he has agreed to break away for a while and bring his model to the meet. Thanks, Bill!

Subscribe to our newsletter (click here) to stay in touch!

Can't Find It?

If you don't see it on our web site, just ask. We probably have it, and if we don't we can get it and sell it to you at a discount!

voice: 301-498-9071
fax: 301-498-9302
email: peachcreek@aol.com