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Post by pboilermaker on Oct 10, 2015 11:33:34 GMT -8
The 1977 and 4444 as well as the WM units, for those that were patiently waiting.
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Post by curtmc on Oct 10, 2015 11:51:17 GMT -8
Other items in same Athearn shipment include the Vermont 50th anniversary GP40-2W, B&M and Frisco GP40-2s, and the BNSF Heritage Trinity hoppers...
BTW, the WM Chessie non-sound GP40-2s sold out at MBK earlier this afternoon in a little over an hour, and only a few of the B&O Chessie remain...
For those who do not know, B&O Chessie #4444 was the GP40-2 that led the Reagan "Heartland Special" whistle stop campaign train in Ohio in October 1984...
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Post by atsfan on Oct 10, 2015 14:23:41 GMT -8
Curt anout the BNSF Heritage Trinity Hoppers, are they The Colorado and Southern ones?
Those are the only ones I can find anywhere.
Thanks
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Post by curtmc on Oct 10, 2015 15:01:09 GMT -8
Those new CSX GP40-2s have the unique CSX front ditch lights and also rear pilot mount ditch lights...
The new, just released Athearn run has 3 BNSF Trinity hoppers - one Colorado & Southern (482825), one Santa Fe (484002) and one "Denver Road" (Fort Worth & Denver)(485233)... MBK is mistakenly showing the same photo for all three so be careful when you order. BTW, the prototypes are not all Trinity 5161s but I bet the Athearn models will still be popular.
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Post by atsfan on Oct 10, 2015 15:51:07 GMT -8
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Oct 10, 2015 17:58:33 GMT -8
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Post by atsfan on Oct 10, 2015 18:03:15 GMT -8
My link is to the Heritage Hopper. |
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Post by curtmc on Oct 10, 2015 18:27:38 GMT -8
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 10, 2015 18:32:02 GMT -8
My link is to the Heritage Hopper.
Yes, but the thread is not about Trinity hoppers, so let's stay on topic.
Donnell |
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Post by curtmc on Oct 10, 2015 18:46:51 GMT -8
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Post by atsfan on Oct 11, 2015 6:07:29 GMT -8
My link is to the Heritage Hopper.
Yes, but the thread is not about Trinity hoppers, so let's stay on topic.
DonnellThere are other comments on this thread mentioning things other than the Chessie engines. All are related to the point of the new Arhearn release, but I am chastised to stay on topic. Nothing negative in this thread. All modeling related. People bring up all manner of things in threads here like Star Wars, Cars, Cats, Divorce, Bills, Military, etc, etc. |
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Post by atsfan on Oct 11, 2015 6:08:56 GMT -8
I searched on the word Trinity and got 32 results. None these. Tried other words too. Thanks for the heads up though. |
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Post by railmodeltroy14 on Oct 11, 2015 7:12:55 GMT -8
I have a CSX Genesis GP-38-2 and it is an excellent HO scale model with outstanding detail, sound and drive train so the GP-40-2 will be just as nice.
I still see these on CSX district runs and in mainline service, on a daily basis, and look forward to using them on my layout for the grain elevator, switching industries, on locals plus shorter freight trains.
High Ball,
Lee
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Post by drolsen on Oct 11, 2015 7:18:26 GMT -8
Thanks for the heads up about the GP40-2s - I would have missed them if I hadn't seen this thread. I'm traveling overseas and haven't been checking the website regularly (I know Jim has experienced that). I was torn about buying these CSX units and ended up just getting three (I passed on the ex-RF&P unit since they are pretty rare). Even at a good discount, it cost me $400 for these three, and it's getting to where I can't drop that kind of money without warning anymore.
I have mixed feelings about the CSX units because I'll have to blank out the classlights on all of them and then try to match the paint. I recommended to Athearn that in the future, when doing newer paint schemes, they try to pick numbers that have classlight blanks (round metal disks or plates) instead of completely smooth, blanked hood ends (like 3 of the 4 CSX numbers they produced). That would be easier to fix, and they seemed to agree. Here's hoping...
I originally thought I would just build all my own units from undecorated models, but I'm not getting any younger and the extra Athearn parts don't seem to be readily available. I still plan to build a few, but I'll have to mix some RTR models into the fleet of I'm ever going to build a layout.
Dave
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Post by curtmc on Oct 11, 2015 7:44:30 GMT -8
Here's a little data for those who believe that a majority of units selling are sound equipped...
I saw the Athearn Genesis Chessie GP40-2s when first listed at MBK and I saw the initial stock numbers shown. In the first 6 hours they sold over 30 Chessie non-sound (leaving only 1 in stock, which sold shortly thereafter) while selling less than 10 sound equipped. (Discounts were 24% non-sound, 26% sound)
Today somebody wanting to buy a Genesis Chessie GP40-2 is going to have to settle for getting the sound equipped version (they still have 21 sound equipped Chessie units left after all non-sound Chessie have sold out) - which will slant the overall sales results.
Even though the non-sound units for all the roadnames and numbers had initial stock numbers equal to or higher than the sound units, most of the non-sound units will likely be sold out today (14 of the 18 non-sound SKUs are now either out of stock or down to 1 left) and most sound equipped units are still available (except the 2 Vermont).
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Post by pboilermaker on Oct 11, 2015 8:38:30 GMT -8
Here's a little data for those who believe that a majority of units selling are sound equipped... I saw the Athearn Genesis Chessie GP40-2s when first listed at MBK and I saw the initial stock numbers shown. In the first 6 hours they sold over 30 Chessie non-sound (leaving only 1 in stock, which sold shortly thereafter) while selling less than 10 sound equipped. (Discounts were 24% non-sound, 26% sound) Today somebody wanting to buy a Genesis Chessie GP40-2 is going to have to settle for getting the sound equipped version (they still have 21 sound equipped Chessie units left after all non-sound Chessie have sold out) - which will slant the overall sales results. Even though the non-sound units for all the roadnames and numbers had initial stock numbers equal to or higher than the sound units, most of the non-sound units will likely be sold out today (14 of the 18 non-sound SKUs are now either out of stock or down to 1 left) and most sound equipped units are still available (except the 2 Vermont). Yep, I noticed that as well. The 4444 is the only sound unit with a dent in sound stock levels relative to the rest. |
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Post by theengineshed on Oct 11, 2015 8:50:55 GMT -8
Here's a little data for those who believe that a majority of units selling are sound equipped... I saw the Athearn Genesis Chessie GP40-2s when first listed at MBK and I saw the initial stock numbers shown. In the first 6 hours they sold over 30 Chessie non-sound (leaving only 1 in stock, which sold shortly thereafter) while selling less than 10 sound equipped. (Discounts were 24% non-sound, 26% sound) How do you know that some of these weren't sold to folks planning on installing ESU sound decoders? I know folks that prefer LokSound over Tsunami, and buy the non sound equipped for that very reason... |
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Post by curtmc on Oct 11, 2015 9:22:20 GMT -8
I was speaking of factory installed sound equipped units... There were postings on the forum in past weeks saying that factory installed sound units make up a majority of sales now (reportedly at least one model importer now claims non-sound doesn't sell). My point is that there are still a lot of non-sound units being sold (I still think that to be a majority) and a part of that is indeed for those who would prefer different sound brands than the factory equipped units have. It is my opinion that those manufacturers who no longer do non-sound units are simply doing that trying to force buyers into buying a higher priced item from them equipped with their brand of sound whether the consumer wants that or not...
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Post by riogrande on Oct 11, 2015 9:24:16 GMT -8
I've noticed too from casual observations that the non-sound Genesis GP40-2's seem to sell out faster also. Certainly the D&RGW version, the last ones left were the sound only. The common sense reason would seem due to the much higher cost of the sound units - what with the much higher costs in general, add on sound and it's something many can't afford much of.
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Post by theengineshed on Oct 11, 2015 10:02:52 GMT -8
Curt, I realize that you were speaking of factory sound versus non in your original post.
There may be more going on here in regards to individuals purchasing non-sound units, i.e. they may prefer a different sound decoder than that offered. There's another issue too, if an individual only have so much to spend at a given period in time, you certainly want to get the models you need. They may not be around long. You have more buying power if you get the non sound units, you can always invest in sound decoders at a later date, at least you have the locomotives in the road name you need.
MBK seems to sell out rather quickly on a lot of items, their initial stock levels don't seem to be very high.
Trainworld seems to keep their stock for longer, granted they charge about 5% more than MBK. It is interesting that lately they don't seem to be offering the non-sound equipped Genesis models, if you run the stock numbers for the latest run of GP40-2s, they only have the sound equipped units. Same for the GP9/GPBs, which by the way they still have in stock, unlike MBK. Since Trainworld allows you to preorder, it may be that they've sold their allotment of non-sound units, but the non-sound stock numbers simply aren't in their system.
Factory Direct Trains is the same, they appear to be only stocking sound equipped Genesis units.
If the preorders were there, you would think that Athearn would produce more non-sound equipped Genesis units.
Nothing worse from my point of view than having to buy a sound equipped unit with sound you don't like, BLI comes to mind here. I can certainly see the irritation for those who don't want sound period, and only having sound equipped models available...
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Post by wmrdgfan on Oct 11, 2015 10:36:51 GMT -8
I am one of those people who doesn't want sound period. I am also one of those people who is done with pre-orders. I would have liked to have gotten the Chessie GP40-2s, but right at the moment finances don't allow it,much less pre-ordering a year in advance not knowing what my finances will be a year from now. I had a conversation with Shane Wilson when he was still with Athearn about all of this. I just don't understand why there can't be some kind of middle ground in this market. So, for now, I and many others are out of luck. But as time goes by it will affect the manufacturers also.
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Post by riogrande on Oct 11, 2015 10:56:03 GMT -8
I simply can't afford sound on every engine and it hasn't been terribly important to me to have sound either. I still plan on buying engines as they fit my goals but it would definitely affect my purchases if the only engines offered were sound. I haven't pre-ordered in years - don't because I don't know what my finances will be when the products hit the stores, but I do try to plan for items I am interested in and am hopeful that I will be able to purchase them. It certainly is a challenge these days with items I like tending to sell out very fast.
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Post by theengineshed on Oct 11, 2015 10:57:02 GMT -8
I am one of those people who doesn't want sound period. I am also one of those people who is done with pre-orders. I would have liked to have gotten the Chessie GP40-2s, but right at the moment finances don't allow it,much less pre-ordering a year in advance not knowing what my finances will be a year from now. I had a conversation with Shane Wilson when he was still with Athearn about all of this. I just don't understand why there can't be some kind of middle ground in this market. So, for now, I and many others are out of luck. But as time goes by it will affect the manufacturers also. A pre-order with MBK carries no obligation. You are supposed to get an Email from them a day or so before the items show up on their new stock lists. You have to act quickly to get what you want. That would not have helped you in this case, but if more individuals had pre-ordered non-sound units from MBK a year back, there might well have been more Chessie non-sound units on their website. Makes me wonder if the 30 non-sound Chessie units that sold so quickly were in fact people who pre-ordered... |
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Post by wmrdgfan on Oct 11, 2015 11:05:54 GMT -8
I was on the MBK website yesterday every 30 min watching for another item from Athearn. They didn't start out with 30 non-sound units. They started with 2 each of non sound, and 7 each of sound units, which brings up another point. It is absurd to have to "camp out" on a website or a store to get some thing you want!!!
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Post by riogrande on Oct 11, 2015 11:07:25 GMT -8
I've talked to MBK and they have told me they do not do pre-orders. Or have they changed their policies in recent months? The only thing I am aware of that you can do is try to use the email notification system, which I have found is unreliable in my experiences and appears to be broken. The last couple times I tried to use it, I got no email notifications so I have learned I can't rely on it.
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Post by wmrdgfan on Oct 11, 2015 11:10:49 GMT -8
I have pre-ordered with MBK before, and never recieved the notice that the product was in, more than once. So I gave up.
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Post by curtmc on Oct 11, 2015 11:25:52 GMT -8
Okay... It has now been 1 day since MBK listed the new Athearn GP40-2s...
As for the initial stock levels not being very high, they were significant. They had 60+ Chessie GP40-2s listed initially. They now have 21 and all those are the factory sound equipped. They are now also sold out of all of the Frisco non-sound too (24 of those if I recall correctly). They had 40 B&M (24/16 I think), 10 are left (2 non-sound, 8 sound).
The slowest moving (if you can call only having sold half in first day "slow") are the CSX and Dave may have hit upon the issues on those in his comments above (I model CSX too and did not buy any of the CSX GP40-2s this run because none done were later phase units, one was the oddball ex-RF&P non-dynamic, one ex-SCL small tank, and one got white roof shortly after YN2 paint)
Why didn't MBK order more? One of the last Chessie GP40-2 runs had a paint issue and they didn't sell as well... And Chessie units by other manufacturers (like Walthers and MTH) haven't been selling well...
As for why Trainworld has stock longer? As noted the prices are a little higher, but I think equal differences may be in the shipping and handling charges and how fast the stock status is updated. The MBK web site immediately changes to show a unit out of stock, and shipping charges from MBK are (at least to here in Virginia) significantly less.
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Post by curtmc on Oct 11, 2015 11:32:23 GMT -8
I was on the MBK website yesterday every 30 min watching for another item from Athearn. They didn't start out with 30 non-sound units. They started with 2 each of non sound, and 7 each of sound units, which brings up another point. It is absurd to have to "camp out" on a website or a store to get some thing you want!!! I agree that it is absurd, but it is where the limited production, past people backing out of reservations, and shops not wanting excess stock has gotten us... What is more ridiculous is when you have to place an order on Saturday to get the new Athearn stuff, and then another order on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to get a couple new Atlas or Walthers items as soon as they are listed. Thankfully the shipping is reasonable. I got lucky and just happened to check as the pages were new about 2:10... At the point when the Genesis GP40-2 listings (and ES44AC listings too) went live each of the non-sound were available in higher quantities than the sound units. I noted that as I quickly went through the 4 pages of new Athearn items just listed. (By the way, you can tell when the MBK listings are new because the quantities for each roadnumber are usually the same for all the numbers in that roadname - and either 4, 6, 8, or 12 for most items and occasionally 18, 24 or 36) (The latter being for items they know they are going to sell like JB Hunt and Schneider container packs) What units were you getting? I can probably tell you how many they started with. Each of the Chessie non-sound started at about 8 (one was at 7 when I first saw page) so they had 30+ total. When I completed my order (which took about 15 minutes) the Chessie non-sound quantities were between 2 and 5 per unit. That is just how fast they sold. Other roadnames had 6 (CSX 12) per number to start. |
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Post by wmrdgfan on Oct 11, 2015 12:42:07 GMT -8
I was looking at the WM units. I guess I just hit the timming wrong as far as checking every 30 min. Then again...This is a hobby, and I just think there has to be some middle ground on making product available when economic times are what they are. I get the needing to make profit, not wanting inventory, etc. It goes both ways though.I also agree with the fact that Saturday you want something from Manufacturer #1 then come Tues you want something from manufacturer #2. This is another problem... It seems that most products come out between now and Christmas. This is a byproduct of targeting seasonal modelers. I don't think it is as much the retailers as it is the manufacturers. As I said... My tough luck, and just my opinion, which in the grand scheme of things doesn't really count for much
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Post by stottman on Oct 11, 2015 12:54:33 GMT -8
Thanks for the heads up about the GP40-2s - I would have missed them if I hadn't seen this thread. I'm traveling overseas and haven't been checking the website regularly (I know Jim has experienced that). I was torn about buying these CSX units and ended up just getting three (I passed on the ex-RF&P unit since they are pretty rare). Even at a good discount, it cost me $400 for these three, and it's getting to where I can't drop that kind of money without warning anymore. I have mixed feelings about the CSX units because I'll have to blank out the classlights on all of them and then try to match the paint. I recommended to Athearn that in the future, when doing newer paint schemes, they try to pick numbers that have classlight blanks (round metal disks or plates) instead of completely smooth, blanked hood ends (like 3 of the 4 CSX numbers they produced). That would be easier to fix, and they seemed to agree. Here's hoping... I originally thought I would just build all my own units from undecorated models, but I'm not getting any younger and the extra Athearn parts don't seem to be readily available. I still plan to build a few, but I'll have to mix some RTR models into the fleet of I'm ever going to build a layout. Dave The parts dept had all the GP40-2/GP38-2 parts I needed when I asked this week... The only parts they did not have (that I asked for) were boxcar bodies that have not been in production for years... I figured it was a shot in the dark for those anyway. |
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