@Conrail6358 posted:Not sure we covered all the questions on the FB post today so let me jump in on a few while I have a chance:
1. Metal side rods of course. Most will be "polished" but some will feature blackened rods for other roads to represent a more in-service appearance. (In service on a railroad that doesn't keep them as prim and proper as the SRC anyway!)
2. All of the catalog art is based off of our initial drawings which Dave helped render into an image format. There will be some detail differences between some of the Strasburg units and especially the Strasburg and other railroads. We will post updated images as we can. The art is correct for the current Strasburg scheme.
3. 1967/2020 - 90 was repainted in this 1967 paint scheme last year for a photo charter. It didn't last long (less than a week I think.) But we wanted to offer it anyway because it is such a striking paint scheme. A future run of these locomotives will include the extended smokebox. When we have that, we'll re-run this paint scheme with the appropriate details. (And of course the later GW paint as well.) So if you're looking for an accurate 1967-1980s #90, its in the works. Didn't want to drop another 27 loco run on all of you at once like we did with the GS locos! There are lots more Decapods in the future. (Hang in there KO&G fans!!!)
4. Likewise the details on the Great Western 90s shown here will both be different. One will be the loco as delivered on the GW. The other is the original paint with modern SRC details.
5. All will have builders plates.
6. We're working with the SRC every step of the way on these and we'll match graphite colors as closely as possible to the different eras as shown in the catalog.
7. Not asked here but bears repeating. This locomotive is all new tooling. Unlike past hybrids where we started with an existing drive/frame, this one required new tooling for all of those parts. Most of you already know because I've certainly dropped enough hints that this project has been in development for quite a few years. It is not an MTH Russian Decapod with Strasburg paint.
8. We are working with the SRC on sounds - including loco and dialog recordings.
9. Don't think it was mentioned in the catalog but like other brass hybrids, these will be individually numbered.
10. Swinging bell - we tried. Won't fit! Really, we tried! I still owe Dave a dinner for that...
I'll be on a live Facebook and YouTube broadcast with the Strasburg on August 2. So hopefully I'll be able to catch any questions I've missed or any new ones which come up then! Please join us. And we hope to have a first sample on hand by October - I want the photo op of our 90 with 90!
I am not an expert by any means and dont know all of the fine details about #90. That said I have been to Strasburg many years ago and #90 was at the front end of the train my family took during our visit. I did have one other opportunity to be behind #90 and it was a very special and once in a life time experience at that . On January 10th 1981 my wife and I were invited quests of the cars owner to ride on the last trip of the the Lotos Club Heavyweight Pullman Car which was being donated to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The Lotos Club left New York and was pulled by a GG1 to Leaman Place. At that point #90 came out and picked up the car and brought it to the Museum. A small switcher did the final move into the Museum where it resides today. So I am thinking about buying this engine but looking at the pictures I took I dont see the paint scheme from that January day in 1981. The attached photo shows a white "egg" logo on the tender. (I cant tell if there is a color inside the egg logo) I am also not sure if at that time 90 had the extended smoke box or not but the smoke box looks black not silver. Can anyone elaborate on what this picture suggests to them and in what time frame was this paint scheme used? I realize there might never be an exact replica from that specific paint and detail scheme, however maybe there is something close in the Lionel Catalogue or will be down the road. One way or another I am really would like on one these engines with the associated cars. It is really great that this engine is being produced in O Scale. I would also like to make the suggestion of producing the Lotos Club Heavyweight Pullman. I realize that is a big ask for maybe a very limited audience however this did happen as the picture I took demonstrates. Maybe I could have someone custom paint and detal a heavyweight Pullman as the Lotos Club. Any suggestions?
