3rd Rail Santa Fe Prairie - Still in there

It doesn't matter to me which Class it is, I really need this one.

 

ChipR

I'm with you Chip.  I'm praying to the train Gods.

I placed an order for one last week or the week before so maybe that will help.....

Order posted some time ago. 

 

Preference: 1800 Class.  (Most 'Baldwinesque' in final pedigree appearance...)

 

Reality: Any class of ATSF 2-6-2 will make me

 

....And we WILL be stopping by "The Booth" in Orange Hall in a few short weeks to encourage/support/appreciate/greet!!!  Can WE say 'Amen, Brother and Sister!'??

 

KD

A-men, KD.  Fight your way in there among those who are drooling about another 4-8-4 or articulated, and make a case for the little engine who did the everyday work in the steam era.  And you can speak for me while you're there.  I also ordered one as soon as they were announced, because I know that, whichever class of ATSF 2-6-2 is produced will be a good one.

Thought I'd add an update to this topic...   Unfortunately, the news is not good.

 

Talked with Bob Heil at the 3rd Rail booth, Orange Hall, York this past week...

 

Per Scott's comments updating everyone in another thread on the status of projects while he was visiting the builder overseas, the Santa Fe Prairie project is in deep, deep trouble....for lack of reservations.

 

How 'deep' is the problem?...according to Bob, they're about 40 units short of a reservation quantity that would put this on a track to proceed.

 

Not good!

 

It seems that there is a small-engine phobia out there when it comes to 3rd Rail's customer base.  BIG engines, L - O - N - G passenger cars/trains...no problem, Joe.

Small stuff?.....not so well received.

 

I'm mortified, to say the least.  I cannot understand how in either O2R or O3R realms of this hobby that a 2-6-2 Whyte arrangement wouldn't appeal to basement hobbyists.  I mean, given the typical space most of us have in the home for a 1:48 layout, a Vision Line Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 in comparison to a Santa Fe 2-6-2 (were it as available!!) would be a no brainer.  2-10-2's, 2-10-4's, even 4-8-4's.....they demand up-sizing of everything....engine yard facilities, larger radii, swing clearance on curves/portals, longer trains, etc., etc..  A Prairie pulling a peddler freight or mixed local?....everything seems to fit the available space better!

 

R.I.P.

 

KD

You are right. Small stuff may not be well received. However, when Sunset/ 3rd Rail made the S.P. M class 2-6-0s they sold out fairly quick in both 3rl and 2rl. I was hoping Scott would make the S.P. T class 4-6-0s. The small steam fits in everywhere.

For me I didn't order one because the version Scott had pictured was too early for me. If I KNEW which version he was going to make, preferably a late/modern version, I would order one. I do prefer the bigger engines, but would gladly take a smaller model, as long as it was a later version.

OK, that's a fair comment!  In fact part of the discussion I had with Bob was about this very topic....indecision on which class of ATSF 2-6-2 to build.  Bob concurred that it could be part of 'the problem'.

 

Now, I'm with you....I'd very much prefer the later version of the 1800 Class Prairies, for much the same reason as you've stated.  (see my earlier comment in this thread above.)  There are even some choices among the several tenders that were married to these; choices that could be offered as separate-sale tenders.

 

I notice that an appeal to O2R/O3R hobbyist members of the Santa Fe Historical & Modeling Society was included in the last issue of "Running Extra", their supplement to the quarterly issue of Warbonnet.  The need for reservations for several 3rd Rail Santa Fe projects was presented.  Sadly, it doesn't seem to have helped a whole lot re this project, in particular.

 

Were they just one engine away from a Go!, I'd have even doubled my own reservation!  But 40!????,,,,

 

Poopie.

 

KD

 

I believe it is quite accurate  to say that a potential problem with this project is the indecision of which version of SF prairie to make. Sunset has done so much larger Santa Fe steam that it seemed guys (gals) would jump on the 2-6-2 since it served in so many roles for the SF.

 

Typical minimum runs for steam require 125 units total (2 and 3 rail) to be made. Projects usually move from the potential to the planning stage at about 75 or so reservations. The 125 total can include variations of loco and tender such as the CB&Q 2-10-4 with Elesco or Worthington FW heaters and the B&O T-3 4-8-2 with vanderbilt or rectangular tenders.

 

Help us out here SF modelers. What change in the potential project would get you to move from non reservation to reservation status ? That is the real key.

 

My opinion (which may be incorrect) is that those who have already reserved will be satisfied with whatever variation is offered. How do we get more folks to reserve?

 

If a change would get you to reserve please e-mail Scott with that information.