Guys and gals,
Scott needs to do a minimum run of 100 steam locomotives to satisfy the builder(s). The price would be $2000 or so for one of these. Since the exquisite Henry Bultmann model (Car and Locomotive Shop) is available from time to time for less than that in 2 rail I see virtually no sales in 2 rail. I paid $1600 for mine. The last one I saw at auction went for $850 plus the 10% buyers premium.
Before design and production on a steam locomotive begins there needs to be at least 70 -75 reservations. I just don't see that happening in 3 rail. We have several locomotives with 50 +/- reservations and nothing is being done on those models. I may be wrong but I have worked for Sunset / 3rd Rail for 25 years now and have a reasonable feel for what will sell. I have NEVER had a single person at the York TCA meets ask for a WM Potomac.
Now some might ask "why don't you advertise it"? Good question and here is the answer; advertising costs are not inexpensive so we attempt to advertise what we have received numerous requests for through e-mail and at the shows we attend.
I am not attempting to be negative folks - just realistic. It would be great if we could sell 100 of these locomotives. But we currently have a tough time selling 100 of any steam locomotive.
