Sunset/3rd Rail F7's Going Into Production

I didn't order one, but I'm sure the 3rd Rail models of this popular diesel will be one of the best F7s ever made.  I really hope all who ordered one will enjoy their new toy!

 

Like I've said before, the problem with 3rd Rail stuff is once you buy it, you want more!

 

Enjoy!  Don't forget pictures for those of us who didn't buy!

I am excited about this news. Got my notice as well. I have passenger sets just waiting for these beauties. Also anxious about the Yellow Warbonnets.

Just out of curiosity, it would be interesting to see the breakdown (in percentage) of the road names chosen. While the offerings were broad, were the orders/commitment’s even close to the road names actually offered?

 

Charlie

I believe the minimum was 20 reservations for any particular rr name[with appropriate details].I read the FT had a production run of 450 units.

I received notice too.  Have 2 Wabash on order.  Looking forward to them!

 

Received my notice today.  I have a Canadian Pacific F7B unit coming.  This is to go along with the 3RD RAIL Canadian Pacific powered FP7AA units that I purchased last year.  These will power the GGD 10 car,  21" aluminum Canadian set.   As discussed in previous threads,  the original 3RD RAIL FP7AB,  with only the A being powered,  did not have the guts to pull this heavy passenger consist.  Thankfully,  Scott Mann actually listens to suggestions and was able to build these F7B units with full power and independent electronics,  so they don't have to be "slaved" to the A units.  Thanks,  Scott,  I appreciate it!!!  

Hope some day Third Rail will do an ALCO RS3 or FA2 locomotive

I had a conversation with Jonathan (who does the styling for the various road name diesels for Sunset/3rd Rail) and he told me that the Santa Fe warbonnet had by far the most orders.  No surprise there.

I am in the same boat as the comments above on the Cdn set, looking forward to a powered B unit so I can run my Cdn set. What I am really disappointed in is that I had asked my hobby shop and 3rd rail before ordering would the one powered A unit be able to pull the dummy B and full train 10 cars, and was told it would. I had asked if they might consider a powered B unit at the time when ordering the original set and told no was not being built the A should pull the train. Very disappointed on paying so much and not being able to run the full consist as the A unit just spins its wheels without a helper.

Do not want an ABB set had asked if one could just buy a replacement powered B bottom end. So looking forward to the powered B but now have a dummy B for sale.

Will never get my $ back on what I paid for it!

 

For now have a Lionel ABBA Santa Fe set looks nice 2 powered units now pull the Cdn set.

 

The 3rd Rail A unit is the one engine in my fleet that does not make it through my longer high speed turnouts without dieing out so will have to MU the power pickups from the A and B unit when it comes out for it to make it around the layout.

 

Great job on the sets glad they were made and well detailed engines, sharp paint.

Looking forward to the powered B so I can run the train as a full set!

 

 

How long ago did you pre order?  I pre order the Chicago South Shore and South Bend 
700 Series Electric and wondering on long it takes? Or how can you find out when it's being produced?

These look great; but as I am looking to increase my LCS IR equipped stable; these would not work for that purpose.

Ask Scott at 3rd Rail. 

 

Something that gets a lot of reservations quickly will get produced sooner before something that is slow on reservations.

 

Rusty

Ms. Shani, doesn't love me anymore! Well maybe she never did in the first place, except as a customer.  I pre order and never seem to get the updates anyplace but here.  I know Passenger Train Collector ordered the same or close as I did NP passenger. I ordered an ABA set cause you know you wont see them again and I'll be able to pull a proto consist for the Northcoast Limited. Now we just have to band together and get Scott to produce one, or at least the domes. I really don't want to build 4

Thought I would compare the Lionel engines with 3rd Rail.

 

My ABBA Santa Fe Lionel set 1 sound unit in the 1 powered A and 1 powered B, other 2 dummies. Cost me the same price as a 3rd Rail powered A and dummy B CP engine set.

Both have TMCC. So Lionel twice as much engine for same price.

 

Lionel has a great sound system good sounds, multiple engine reeving levels and idle sounds.

3rd rail seems to be only 2 engine sound levels and speaker rattles so much just leave the sound off. Different bell and horn sounds, prefer the Lionel sounds.

 

As for details, can see the mounting points for the 3rd rail side screens, Lionel screens cannot see the mounting points.

 

Lionel engines sit a little high on the trucks, 3rd Rail look much better more realistic.

 

3rd Rail has very nice extra detail prototypical and mu cables etc. Lionel is well detailed just not to the fine point of 3rd rail.

 

Overall I am happy with both. Do like the Lionel unit sounds.

 

Some pics on the ceiling loop of track;

 

 

Yes but no fixed pilots and ladders not on the body even weaver can do that. Ride height not so sure, And road specific details, Upgraded sound in new stuff. I think sir you have answered your own question!

There is NO comparison between the 3rd Rail units and Lionel F7s

Ms Shani loves me again, now I have to send her all my money..

I would of been a BIG buyer if the F7's had been made for the MOPAC and the Texas and Pacific. I would of ordered at least four ABBA consists.Also,3rd rail should of offered the E7 A and B units in MOPAC. I stomped and hollered about that oversight. I may very well have bought four or five ABA consists and extra B units to run between my MTH PA's (MOPAC had no PB's in real life).Oh well,I ended up spending that money of 1 gauge Marklin and Accucraft live steam.

When these hit the streets, they should be the best 3-rail F7's out there. We really need them to complete three outstanding passenger train sets.

Boomer, second the mopac, t&p ehhhh...  The Eagle Was a sweet passenger train.

You guys are getting the best F7 ever produced in 3R.

 

3rd Rail always builds an excellent product, no matter what they decide to make.

 

I can't wait to see the pictures.

Guys, you are not helping me calm down with these F7's! These will be my first 3rd rail purchase and I cannot wait. I got my invoice today for a 2rail ABBA in Rio Grande.

 

In your experience, when will we be getting these?

 

And, do you think 3rd rail will post production pictures as they did with the FT's?

 

 

SANTIAGOP23, been following your CB&Q build be patient and remember you won't have to change much if anything on the  3rd rail ones. Nice job on your project.

Thank you for the nice words, aterry11!

Did anyone order any ACL or Southern F7s? These were too pricey for me, but I hope there were enough orders to show continued interest in the southeast. 

 

 

In your experience, when will we be getting these?

 

I would say April for sure.

We really need them to complete three outstanding passenger train sets.

 

I'm not up on what's been made in the past 10 years or so; so, what are the three needed F7's to complete the trains.

May would be the earliest when the F7s will be arriving at Sunset Models/Third Rail's

facility. Scott will going to China once the models start coming off the assembly line for his inspection before being packaged and boxed and then a few weeks from the factory to his facility in California. All of the products that I have purchased from him,

4 FL9s, 2 FP7s, and 1 New York Central T-motor electric are the best available in 0 gauge 3 rail of the product on the market. Scott really listens to us in deciding what to have manufactured.

 

Super Chief

El Capitan

Last one, I assume is the additional powered units to actually make the Canadian set move without slipping.

 

 

I also got Santa Fe road numbers from Scott

 

Red Warbonnet

47 LABC

336 LAB

307 LAB

 

Yellow Bonnet

304L

315L

 

I would think 2 of the 3 passenger trains would be Northcoast limited in 2 tone loewy green and  any of the Eagles  all super nice and would get my money. I may not eat this year. Ms  Shani already gets all my money as it is.

Just got off the phone with Shani (wonderful lady, may I add) to confirm my reservation and payment. She suggested a late June, maybe early July delivery.

There are not sufficient reservations to do anything with the NYC R motors or the CSS&SB versions at this time. They are not cancelled and sre still open for reservations.

 

Once sufficient reservations are received to proceed with a project it generally takes about 4-6 months until delivery.

Hi Folks: I read your posts with great interest. I met with the factory manager yesterday, hashing out our production schedule. It usually changes moving forward into the future, project swapping based on availability of materials. He is a very optimistic and organized character.

 

We are now at our production limit for the F7s. Any further additions will have to be on stand by only. Thank you all for your enthusiasm, suggests and help in getting these projects off the ground.

 

Timken / RDC Run #1 / GGD Finish Sets: In a container docking on March 25th.

 

Add 1 month to these dates for arrival to our facility for shipping out.

 

B&O P7D (Streamlined) - Finished March 10th - Notices to be emailed this weekend.

GGD Modernized HW Passenger Cars: Finished March 30th

EL CAPITAN - Finished April 25th

CP P2 Mikado - Finished May 10th

F7 Diesel - Finished May 30th

Powhatan / Cincinnatian Cars - Finished June/July

Erie S3/S4 - June/July

 

Planned for later in 2015:

DRGW L-131

SD-7 / SD-9 Diesels

SP S-12 and CB&Q O-1a

HO CB&Q O5

RDC Run #2 (only 150 Units)

PRR FF-2 SE (only 40 Units)

 

Projects currently without enough reservations to Schedule:

CN H-6g 4-6-0

SF 2-6-2

Sierra #38

NYC R-2/ SSL #700

 

I hope this clears things up. Most of all, enjoy your hobby.