This also opens up another concern of mine and it is simply that I am not sure how much more product we are going to see from SHS,AM or S Scale America....at all. I've seen all the forum posts and whatnot staing the contrary, but they simply are not very motivated to bring out new stuff. I think this track is a very good example of that fact. There is currently a strong debate over on the Yahoo forum about how Lionel is moving S away from the small-close knit community it has always been and towards a more informal, product driven market. I think their concerns have merit and I too enjoy being able to talk with manufacturers personally, but at the end of the day, Lionel is the only one standing here with something new actually on the shelf. Personally, I think it will be a small miracle if we see the SCA SD45 or the SHS E7 at all, while Lionel seems willing to offer at least 2 new locos a year for the time being.
If you're talking about the bloodbath on S Scale last weekend, I know, I was there in the middle of it.
Actually, the SHS E7 was put on hold because of the 2-8-0 project "sucking up all air" so to speak, then Sanda Kan happened.
Last I heard was AM has their tooling back in Michigan and SHS has theirs finally at another builder. SSA is still progressing on their SD45, although slowly. All three have been hurt by the Sanda Kan shuffle. It will still take time.
I'm pretty sure all are motivated to bring out new product, but it ain't easy makin' trains. We must remember AM SHS or SSA have the resources of Lionel. All three are practically "cottage industries" by comparison.
I think our patience will be rewarded.
Rusty
