Organizing the vendors is always a challenge. This year we'll go alphabetically (with occasional digressions.) So to begin at the beginning..
Here's Cliff Luscher at Accucraft. On the table in front of him are three of Accucraft's newest offerings: the PRR T1 designed by Raymond Loewy, a Southern Pacific GS-5 in Daylight colors (both in 1/32 scale) and in the foreground is the narrow gauge D&RGW T-12.
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SWMTP snapped this as Cliff was explaining to me why their new T1 is an alcohol burner (I was complaining about it, frankly!) The logic starts with the prototype -- this beautiful Raymond Loewy skinned streamliner was the last steamer built for the Pennsylvania Railroad, which of course runs in the East. So it follows that the majority of this engine's fans are also on the east coast. (Maybe that's true? I just like the looks of the engine!)
And what do eastern live-steamers like to do? They like to run in the snow, the silly children!. And even us dyed-in-the-SPF30 west coastal steamers know that gas-fired engines, while generally a lot more convenient than alcohol beasties, do get a bit cranky in cold weather! And that's why Accucraft made the T1 an alcohol burner. (Maybe next time I'll ask Cliff how many strawberries fit in a 5-gallon can [abstruse reference])
Here's a closer shot of the T1. It's a little soft here, but note the coal load in the tender.
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Voila! Pick up the coal, and there's the alcohol (& water?) inlet.
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A closer shot of the T-12. These all came over the water pre-ordered, supposedly. Accucraft's web site shows them as being 'sold out.' I asked Jonathan of Electric Steam Modelworks, who thought it might still be possible to get one -- but you'd better hurry!
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The T-12 is available in an electric powered version. I don't see any plans on Accucraft's web site to release the T1 or GS-5 in electric versions, however.
Here's a shot of a 'pre-release' electric Accucraft. These are two 1/20th scale Whitcomb 45 ton side rod diesel caterpillars. Cliff told SWMTP that the prototype was a logging engine, but this Whitcomb became an industrial mainstay in everything from foundries to shipyards to paper mills. I'm not usually a diesel fan, but I like all those louvers, and I think it would be fun to see these side rods cranking around a layout. Besides the yellow and green shown, the Whitcombs will be available in blue and gray.
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This Southern Pacific M--6 is another new addition to the line-up. 1/32 scale, live steam or electric. The steamer will have an optional axle pump.
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Finally, here's the Pennsy K-4, 1/29th live steam, in the 'pre-war' Tuscan colors.
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I couldn't see much new to report from the Bachmann booth. Their Large Scale offerings occupied a dominant position, particularly the Spectrum line.
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But if there was a theme, it was "we are a multi-scale company" -- which is totally appropriate for a multi-gauge show. In the smaller scales, they're making a big showing of their "EZ-Command" DCC systems, and even in Large Scale, their Shay and Climax engines are now available optionally "DCC-Equipped", rather than simply "DCC-Ready".
I was surprised that, at least in my quick scan of the Bachmann booth, I saw no mention of their new brass track! You'd think that this would be a killer place to show it off. Yes, they were using it as their 'G' display track... but not a word about it.
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And btw, looking at their new catalog, the new 2-4-2 'Lyn', based on the old 'Lyn', is advertised as being 1/20.3, but not 'Spectrum'.
Finally, to repeat myself from an earlier thread, Bachmann says that they'll be making "two big announcements" at the upcoming NMRA show in Grand Rapids that will please Large Scalers. Any guesses?
Comstock Construction was there, showing their line of redwood buildings in 1/20.3 and 1/24 scales. (I'm not sure if this means they change window & door sizes, or simply feel their dimensions represent a reasonable compromise.)
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I especially like their new mine head, and these skid buildings, which were used for logging operations and carried around on flat cars. If you're tired of seeing your logging train just drag along log after log after log...?
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Comstock Construction only sells directly & at shows. Their web site is at comstockcc.net.
What can I say about Eaglewings Ironcraft? Dan & Priscilla Hoag not only sell great stuff, they're great supporters of the hobby. They organize local garden railroad tours to benefit charity, and they've been supplying the 'live steam' track at the BTS & SWGRS for several years now. (For more about that, read Howard Macusay's thread at: Large Scale Events Forum/Topic: BTS Live Steam[/b])
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This "O'Malley's Mercantile" limited edition is the newest thing I've seen from Eaglewings. SWMTP is in love with it; she says the tin roof reminds her of 'swamp shacks' she's seen down in Mississippi and Lousiana!
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As the sign says, Econobridge made the great wooden overhead track that surrounds the booth of Upland Trains, a local area retailer (and one of the few train stores left that focuses on G.)
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Besides retailing, Upland makes a great inexpensive resin building -- I bought one last year, so no pics this time.. but here's part of their display.
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Here's Jonathan & Laura Bliese of Electric Steam Modelworks. Jonathan's looking skeptically at some bearded old hobo who's pawing through the stuff on his table. Jonathan specializes in 1/20th and in radio control.
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For those of us who've always wanted to build our own Devil's Gate Bridge (like the one on the Georgetown Loop R.R.!) Empire Rail Works may have a solution at hand! Marc Horovitz did a very positive review of this startup's steel truss bents in last April's Garden Railways, and since then Neil Blosch, the proprietor, has been producing girder plates to create a full bridge solution.
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The bridges can be built as a single-track 'deck' style, widened to become a mainline double-track 'thru' style, or anything in between. Blosch has also figured out the support and joint mechanics to make you an all metal curved bridge. Georgetown Loop, here we come! (Or, for those who's tastes run more to the urban, Blosch is also designing a "Chicago EL" style raised system using these components.)
![Image]()
Look for more alphabet soup to come...
Here's Cliff Luscher at Accucraft. On the table in front of him are three of Accucraft's newest offerings: the PRR T1 designed by Raymond Loewy, a Southern Pacific GS-5 in Daylight colors (both in 1/32 scale) and in the foreground is the narrow gauge D&RGW T-12.
SWMTP snapped this as Cliff was explaining to me why their new T1 is an alcohol burner (I was complaining about it, frankly!) The logic starts with the prototype -- this beautiful Raymond Loewy skinned streamliner was the last steamer built for the Pennsylvania Railroad, which of course runs in the East. So it follows that the majority of this engine's fans are also on the east coast. (Maybe that's true? I just like the looks of the engine!)
And what do eastern live-steamers like to do? They like to run in the snow, the silly children!. And even us dyed-in-the-SPF30 west coastal steamers know that gas-fired engines, while generally a lot more convenient than alcohol beasties, do get a bit cranky in cold weather! And that's why Accucraft made the T1 an alcohol burner. (Maybe next time I'll ask Cliff how many strawberries fit in a 5-gallon can [abstruse reference])
Here's a closer shot of the T1. It's a little soft here, but note the coal load in the tender.
Voila! Pick up the coal, and there's the alcohol (& water?) inlet.
A closer shot of the T-12. These all came over the water pre-ordered, supposedly. Accucraft's web site shows them as being 'sold out.' I asked Jonathan of Electric Steam Modelworks, who thought it might still be possible to get one -- but you'd better hurry!
The T-12 is available in an electric powered version. I don't see any plans on Accucraft's web site to release the T1 or GS-5 in electric versions, however.
Here's a shot of a 'pre-release' electric Accucraft. These are two 1/20th scale Whitcomb 45 ton side rod diesel caterpillars. Cliff told SWMTP that the prototype was a logging engine, but this Whitcomb became an industrial mainstay in everything from foundries to shipyards to paper mills. I'm not usually a diesel fan, but I like all those louvers, and I think it would be fun to see these side rods cranking around a layout. Besides the yellow and green shown, the Whitcombs will be available in blue and gray.
This Southern Pacific M--6 is another new addition to the line-up. 1/32 scale, live steam or electric. The steamer will have an optional axle pump.
Finally, here's the Pennsy K-4, 1/29th live steam, in the 'pre-war' Tuscan colors.
I couldn't see much new to report from the Bachmann booth. Their Large Scale offerings occupied a dominant position, particularly the Spectrum line.
But if there was a theme, it was "we are a multi-scale company" -- which is totally appropriate for a multi-gauge show. In the smaller scales, they're making a big showing of their "EZ-Command" DCC systems, and even in Large Scale, their Shay and Climax engines are now available optionally "DCC-Equipped", rather than simply "DCC-Ready".
I was surprised that, at least in my quick scan of the Bachmann booth, I saw no mention of their new brass track! You'd think that this would be a killer place to show it off. Yes, they were using it as their 'G' display track... but not a word about it.
And btw, looking at their new catalog, the new 2-4-2 'Lyn', based on the old 'Lyn', is advertised as being 1/20.3, but not 'Spectrum'.
Finally, to repeat myself from an earlier thread, Bachmann says that they'll be making "two big announcements" at the upcoming NMRA show in Grand Rapids that will please Large Scalers. Any guesses?
Comstock Construction was there, showing their line of redwood buildings in 1/20.3 and 1/24 scales. (I'm not sure if this means they change window & door sizes, or simply feel their dimensions represent a reasonable compromise.)
I especially like their new mine head, and these skid buildings, which were used for logging operations and carried around on flat cars. If you're tired of seeing your logging train just drag along log after log after log...?
Comstock Construction only sells directly & at shows. Their web site is at comstockcc.net.
What can I say about Eaglewings Ironcraft? Dan & Priscilla Hoag not only sell great stuff, they're great supporters of the hobby. They organize local garden railroad tours to benefit charity, and they've been supplying the 'live steam' track at the BTS & SWGRS for several years now. (For more about that, read Howard Macusay's thread at: Large Scale Events Forum/Topic: BTS Live Steam[/b])
This "O'Malley's Mercantile" limited edition is the newest thing I've seen from Eaglewings. SWMTP is in love with it; she says the tin roof reminds her of 'swamp shacks' she's seen down in Mississippi and Lousiana!
As the sign says, Econobridge made the great wooden overhead track that surrounds the booth of Upland Trains, a local area retailer (and one of the few train stores left that focuses on G.)
Besides retailing, Upland makes a great inexpensive resin building -- I bought one last year, so no pics this time.. but here's part of their display.
Here's Jonathan & Laura Bliese of Electric Steam Modelworks. Jonathan's looking skeptically at some bearded old hobo who's pawing through the stuff on his table. Jonathan specializes in 1/20th and in radio control.
For those of us who've always wanted to build our own Devil's Gate Bridge (like the one on the Georgetown Loop R.R.!) Empire Rail Works may have a solution at hand! Marc Horovitz did a very positive review of this startup's steel truss bents in last April's Garden Railways, and since then Neil Blosch, the proprietor, has been producing girder plates to create a full bridge solution.
The bridges can be built as a single-track 'deck' style, widened to become a mainline double-track 'thru' style, or anything in between. Blosch has also figured out the support and joint mechanics to make you an all metal curved bridge. Georgetown Loop, here we come! (Or, for those who's tastes run more to the urban, Blosch is also designing a "Chicago EL" style raised system using these components.)
Look for more alphabet soup to come...
