SteamPower4ever

F7s bumped to August/September. Mine (ATSF) are in the September lot, of course. Sigh! I'm not cancelling my order, but I'm also not preordering anything from MTH ever again ... Jens

Here and here are more pics of the combined El Cap/Super Chief. Even more obvious on these.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=450993&nseq=22 They ran El Capitan and Super Chief together during off-season and as two trains in peak season. Long train or shorter, always El Cap at the front (at least in all the pics I've seen). I've read somewhere that 18 coaches were the max. You can see the Super Chief dome on the last half of the train in your picture. Compare with this picture where it is more obvious. I know some German gauge 1'ers are into US modeling, so with the new batch of F7s coming out there may be some interest. But then it must be absolutely true to 1:32 scale. And yes, talk is cheap. That's why I'll try to fit together a reasonable project that doesn't require a substantial investment for a limited run. Jens

Thanks Bob. Nice cars. The hi-level in the lower right picture appears way too short, but maybe that's just an optical illusion. Anyway, I do have the original Budd drawings, and they are very good - even for the interior. So far I have only tracked down the drawing for the chair coach, but my source is still looking for the sky lounge and the diner. Succesful or not, that one drawing will keep me busy for quite some time, and I may be able to make a sky lounge by extrapolation. The chair and sky lounge cars had the same trucks. I've been investigating the economics, and while the starting fee for extrusion is reasonable, I can't swing it on the household budget. I need to talk to manufacturers or do something cheap "on the kitchen table". I do have one or two manufacturers in mind, but I'd like to have a design ready before I approach them. I'm not in a rush. It's a long term project and there are others ahead of it in the pipeline. Jens

Lovely It also appears to be the combined El Cap/Super Chief, in which case I've seen many pictures with 6 units at the front. Mostly ABABBA, but this is cool. I think they set out from Chicago as ABBA or ABBBA and got helpers in Pueblo or something like that. Before the mountains anyway. My all time favourite is this ABBAABBBA consist at Cajon Pass (Sullivans Curve?), but a consist like that would almost fill a platform track on the club layout Jens

Nice Is that DCS/ProtoSound or DCC ?

Yep - they have a lot going on, which is why I really appreciate you posting the bi-weekly lists, Ray.

Okay, things are happening according to Rays post with imminent shipments. Thanks for posting those, by the way G scale is up. Still trying to figure out what they mean, though: Santa Fe Dash-8 within the next two weeks - listed for May on the MTH site. CSX Dash-8 within the next two weeks - listed for July on the MTH site. Santa Fe and SP F7s MIA, but listed for June on the MTH site. Other F7s bumped to August. Since the shipping dates on the MTH site are being changed, surely there is some logic behind, but I can't follow it. Anyway, since the Santa Fe F7 date is unchanged, I still hope it's right around the corner. Can't bring'em to the club summer party on July 4th though. That's a pity. It's going to be a full operating day at the layout followed by a barbeque at one of the guys' home. Lots of fun will surely be had. Jens

Soon? Cool !! I've settled all down about it, but I'm sorta hoping they'll announce ATSF and/or Amtrak 1956 hi-levels. Super Chief coaches would do also, but looking at the current catalog, they're most likely going for stuff that can be made in many liveries, which of course makes sense in a relatively small market.

If they sent out the 2015 catalog now, they'd probably get flamed for not having shipped the 2013 stuff, so that does make sense. Maybe a 2015-16 catalog as I seem to recall Andy mentioned for one of the other scales? Jens

Dash 8 BNSF and CSX versions now scheduled for July. Santa Fe version still listed for May, but not shipped ??? F7s still scheduled for June and July. Looks like the F7s could be next Jens

Piko G scale is 1:22.5. "Normal gauge" for G is also known as gauge one which is 1:32 scale. Piko and LGB run on the same track as gauge one (45mm), but basically they're scaled for metre-gauge. An LGB model of a Harzen narrow gauge steamer is right on the money since the Harz lines are metre gauge. A normal gauge engine like a camelback is not prototypically correct, since the model is narrow gauge and the prototype was normal gauge. ... but if you're happy with your locomotive, that doesn't matter one bit, and you can tell nitpickers like myself to shove off I noticed there was a previous discussion here on the site, but I'm afraid I don't know much else about that model. Hopefully the other guys here can chip in ... Welcome to large scale. I switched from H0 to 1:32 myself and I haven't regretted it for a second. Jens

<cough cough !!!>

No no no - you forgot the 4-car addition that takes you to a total of 12,380,- Euro or 14,045,12 USD

@Chuck: You've mentioned the Piko TEE a few times. KM-1 has announced a limited re-run of the TEE set. This time as BR602 and Intercity markings, the difference from the BR601 being that the 602 was gas turbine powered. You will have to sell most of your body parts to get one, but they're coming, they're 1:32 scale and they are candy on rails Jens

That certainly looks Rheingold-ish. Very cool. Thanks for the tip I'm thinking that maybe eventually I can find a pair of old M&M units that are gathering dust somewhere. They don't have to be runners, as I'll repower them anyway. The paint scheme would ideally be something like the BR103 above or maybe the E10/BR112: Emmerich - TEE Rheingold by Roger W, on Flickr ... but I would also like the TEE logo on the front, so maybe the livery of the BR601/602 is better: 601 019 by wd3203, on Flickr Still - they've gotta be mighty cheap for me to pounce right now. Jens

The frames are gorgeous, Bob. Very real looking. Jens

Here ya go: https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/garden-railroading/magazines/back-issues/GRW070601__Garden-Railways-June-2007 https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/garden-railroading/magazines/back-issues/grw070801__Garden-Railways-August-2007 Jens

My friend Stefan is expanding his indoor layout into the garden. He's just released a video of the first stage of the outdoor build, the lead from the house to the open part of the garden. This will be the second home for my F7s The indoor layout is absolutely gorgeous, by the way. You can see it from 2:48 to 4:03 in this video: https://youtu.be/nD8AhbR5fTE?t=2m48s Jens

Geez, they have a lot of stuff coming in ...

Probably right. My wallet tells me to hold that thought for a while

Well, it's certainly within reach. I do have a lot of things to buy first, though. If it comes along at the right time - or even the wrong time (like the N scale 4449) ... well ... If anyone spots one on the market, I would like a heads up, please. Jens

Wishful thinking: ... the holdup is due to all our wishes - and then some - being included in the 2015 catalog lineup Jens

Thanks ... rub it in, will you I wonder if it's my eyes getting weaker, but the problem may lie an inch or two behind the eyes

Oooooh ... shiny !!! ... and I've been combing through your site looking for it Gotta keep a lookout for it. I've had quite a bit of luck on the 'bay lately. Thanks Jens