I too hope that the SD40-2 is not cancelled; however, I think that the issue is that for these $7xx price point models to get done, 3rd rail is looking for “knock it out of the park” type reservations, e.g. in the 1000 reservations range versus say a more muted number as required by the recent Virginian Electrics (note that the Virginian Electrics are at a significantly higher price point, e.g. ~$2000 for a pair of plastic ABS body/brass details locomotives). I don’t think that the SD40-2 reservations have been really “that bad”, as every time you turn around you hear someone new chime in that they reserved (usually more than one). However, I don’t think the reservation number approaches the 1K mark (or whatever that magic number that 3rd rail is looking to hit). Same goes for the GP40-2. Unfortunately, the way that the 2-Rail O scale demographics lines up (steam/first generation diesel dominance), it is not likely that reservation numbers that the F-units / E-units have garnered will be achievable in the more modern era motive power classes. Couple that with the sheer quantity of decent 3-Rail motive power coming out of Lionel and MTH at lower prices, so you are not going to steal a lot of 3-Rail guys to fill in the reservation numbers, especially for a fixed pilot model requiring wider radius curves. Modern era motive power via 3rd Rail may only be achievable by bumping up the price point to something similar to the Virginian Electrics. Now… how many modern era folks will belly up for a $1K model similar in class to the Virginian Electrics versus a $7xx model but at a lower minimum reservation count is the big unknown.
Scott Kay
