Mike Caddell posted:This came up in the Tier 4 Locomotive discussion yesterday so I'm opening it up as a new topic. While I don't know the whole story, it would seem that SD40-2 reservations were sluggish so there will be a new announcement after the holidays. What will it be? The decision has already been made, obviously, or else no announcement, right? So as we, as a collective group, love to ponder and speculate, here's your chance to put in your twenty five cents (I'm allowing for inflation and a weak dollar). Maybe somebody actually knows and will let the truth slip! Remember, the decision's been most likely made so this is more about guessing what Scott is thinking rather than your "hoped" for production. As for myself, after thinking about all the 3 rail releases in the last 5 years and what hasn't been produced (remember, I'm a confessed loud mouthed 2 rail advocate), I've come up with my short list of what Scott might have decided to do. Any project is going to be a shared 2 rail/3 rail project that would be of moderate to high interest. So here is my guess....what about yours?
F-9/FP-9, GP20, GP40-2/GP40P/GP40X, SD24/SD26 SD40T-2/SD45T-2/SD45-2 (can you ever have enough Tunnel motors?)/SD45B, F45/FP45, Amtrak AMD103/P40/P42
My money would be on the F-9/FP-9 just because seems a natural follow-on to Scott's F-7/FP-7 project, and I confess that a lot of people model that time period. What ever it's going to be, if you want it, don't hang back, support your local importer with reservations!
If a P42 was done by them, that would mean Superliners beyond the quality of K-Line which would be something to see.
Since they already have access to Santa Fe Hi-Levels, I could see a Coast Starlight set release with 2 P42s in Phase V, and cars in IVb. Would be a very long set though with a baggage, 4 sleepers, the Parlour car, a diner, the Sightseer Lounge, and 4 coaches.
Now sure, MTH is sort of doing this already, but the quality is nowhere near what this would offer. The cars would probably sell for ludicrous prices on the second hand market after a couple years if they were to be made.
