Another Pull From The "Dark Side"....

dkdkrd posted:

Am I alone in this 'agony'???

KD

Absolutely not! I feel this "pull" on occasion. The only reason I do not "give in" is that my preferred control system's electronics will not squeeze into "the dark forces."

Why don't you just roll your own? Seriously, If you want one that bad, back date the E6 or order the E4 from 3rd rail and start from there.

I have been working on a GP40-2 phase II cause I doubt anyone else will make one. Same goes for the U25c , sdp40f and the pooch!

dkdkrd posted:

Long time on my wish list has been the iconic E1's (ATSF) and EA's (B&O) in O3R.  I'd take one AB set of each. 

But, no bites, no light at the end of the tunnel on this one.  I left HO about 20 years ago....but, maybe not entirely in my mind. 

Along comes Broadway Limited (HO) and their recent delivery of GORGEOUS Santa Fe E1's.   Immaculate.  Couldn't resist....even if they were probably destined for the shelf.

And, now this....in the latest edition of Model Railroad News...."This (ATSF E1) awesome early E-unit appeared to be a fast mover with respect to its sales.  There is a new production delivery soon with more Santa Fe examples, as well as Alton Railroad, Baltimore and Ohio, and Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio versions."

And, the B&O EA's are apparently heavily pre-sold to sold-out ahead of delivery at several distributors.  So, I may have missed out on this 'shelf-queen', but the voracious demand for these sweethearts, and a manufacturer stepping up to the plate so definitively is pulling me to......THE "DARK SIDE"!!!!.......AGAIN!!!

Am I alone in this 'agony'???

KD

I'd bet at the rate 3rd rail is cranking out diesels as of late, your E1's and EA's may come sooner than you think! Consider in roughly 1 year's time, Scott will have completed 2 runs of E8's, a run of F7's, and a run of PA's. Currently E6/5's and F3's are available for preorder. Also consider E1's and EA's both would be roadnames (Santa Fe and B&O) with large followings. It's gotta happen sooner or later, hang in there.

Hopefully Scott will give us this gift along with correct passenger cars to go with them.

If your desires in this hobby revolve around specific railroads, rolling stock, or motive power then I suggest you run (don't walk) to the Dark side... HO is the place to be if those are your priorities.

KD, have you taken a look at the Rock Island Rocket train 3rd Rail is offering? Scott is doing the engine in brass and it should be a fantastic train. The TA shares some cosmetic similarities to the E1, plus we get a train to go with it. If we support projects like this, I'm sure a E1 with a 5 car San Diegan would be more feasible in importers´ eyes

My Key Model Imports E1

IMO the TA is just as legendary as the E1.

"Hear one side and you will be in the dark. Hear both and all will be clear"

I think alright you will be

dkdkrd posted:

..... Am I alone in this 'agony'???

KD

No, man ..... you're not alone.

I've been wanting to completely leave HO for years, but I just can't do it. With HO .... the world is your oyster.

Still ... it ain't O scale. 

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

IMO the TA is just as legendary as the E1.

Well, considering the TA + train was part of the Strombecker wooden trains kits I loved to build many moons, ago, I'll accept that.

OTOH, the ATSF E1 was celebrated on a USPS stamp in 1998...along with the NYC Dreyfus Hudson, PRR GG1, Daylight 4449, Milwaukee Hiawatha Hudson...all truly icons of their transitional age.  AND, the Beano EA resides at the Baltimore museum.  

I don't know....something tells me that, by the time everyone exhausts the various and sundry prototype offerings for the later versions of this slope-nosed beauty (E3's, E6's, Lionel, MTH, 3rd Rail, et al), regardless of accuracy/fidelity, there won't be sufficient residual demand for the E1/EA predecessors...in their limited original flags.   And, of course, there's always the well-documented attrition of us old pharts who really experienced the first-hand view of these on the point of the roads' finest.  You know....out of sight, out of mind?

Of course, this is a subset of the world of 'Toy Trains', so cranking out a bunch of fantasy paints would probably fall within the realm of some of the manufacturing possibilities.  And, then, there's always the more interesting possibility of finding some artwork from the EMD design studios of yore that created possible schemes for some of the possible customers of the late 30's.   Now wouldn't THAT be a hoot-and-a-half????

Thanks to all for your commiseration.  But, human mortality and one's own age can have a profound effect on patience-in-waiting for something like this.....in O3R.  Thus the angst....not much...but stirred by such accounts as in my OP.

KD

I love those slanted nosed, alas, my PRR was never a purchaser of that model. The best I can hope for is a E1(looks more like an E3) demonstrator model in kcs colors.

jonnyspeed posted:

If your desires in this hobby revolve around specific railroads, rolling stock, or motive power then I suggest you run (don't walk) to the Dark side... HO is the place to be if those are your priorities.

Good advice, that is why I am now back to exclusively HO. 

Just picked up four Rapido FPA-2 A units.  ESU Lok-Sound, and detailed exactly how the GN had them equipped.  Unfortunately, about as expensive as an O scale three rail locomotive, but oh so much nicer.   Great low speed performance, better sound than my MTH FA-2, and oh so much better looking. 

And not a single "Loco not on track", or "Engine not found" fault.    

Regards,

Jerry