New Williams GE 70 Ton Scale Diesel and Amtrak F59PHI Locomotive Announcements (Preorder Now)

Charlie with the scoop. 

Stu

I'm gonna have to pick up a 70 ton Loco 

Now THAT is interesting...I'll bet the 70 tonner uses the 44 ton switcher frame/powertrain. 

Any suggestions for passenger cars to go with the Amtrak California locomotive?   

MTH should time a release of another run of Amtrak California bi-levels.  

Love the Tropicana switcher!  Great idea.  The 44 ton ought to be painted in Cargill,  Morton Salt, etc.

There is smoke at Williams afterall...hopefully this means fire with more new products and some missing items.

VistaDomeScott posted:

Any suggestions for passenger cars to go with the Amtrak California locomotive?  

Wait and hope WBB issues matching cars. Makes sense that they would.

MTH should time a release of another run of Amtrak California bi-levels.  

In all likelihood, the colors wouldn't match the WBB engines.

Looks like it might be a nice model. Is there anywhere to get more details, or to see what it looks like, besides that tiny photo on the preorder page?

YES!!  A 70 tonner!  I used to run one back in the 70's.  I'll take it!  

One 70 tonner for me. Washington and Old Dominion would be great....

Well I see the link. Juice Train for me. The Rutland one looks good though. 

Any idea how soon the F59PHI's will be available for purchase??

Fred 

I wish the 70 toner was 2 rail. SP looks good to me.

I can see one repainted for the Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad!

Charlie 

What does "999 in stock" mean when it also says "*Pre-Order*"??

Does that mean when they are in stock you will have 999 of them?

That sounds like FAKE NEWS or ALTERNATE FACTS?? LOL

it is a default for preorders it goes to 1000 units 

I hope they eventually make the 70-Tonners in the original Norfolk Southern Railway and Southern Railway schemes for us modelers below the Mason-Dixon Line!

Last I saw you could pick up a Bachmann HO scale 70 tonner for around $59. But they want almost $500 list for this Williams O scale model???  Sheeesh, no wonder this hobby is in danger of receding, what with these millionaire-hobbiers' prices!!

Nahhh Williams, I'll stick with the older K-Line S2 diesel switchers you can obtain from ebay, usually for $75 to $125. These K-Line S2's may not have sound or DCC, but on my 3-rail 027 layout they operate very well, and they look just like the 70 tonners. {-Which IMO have a plain and simple [and somewhat boring?] body style anyway..!}

Skip

Greywoulf posted:

Last I saw you could pick up a Bachmann HO scale 70 tonner for around $59. But they want almost $500 list for this Williams O scale model???  Sheeesh, no wonder this hobby is in danger of receding, what with these millionaire-hobbiers' prices!!

Nahhh Williams, I'll stick with the older K-Line S2 diesel switchers you can obtain from ebay, usually for $75 to $125. These K-Line S2's may not have sound or DCC, but on my 3-rail 027 layout they operate very well, and they look just like the 70 tonners. {-Which IMO have a plain and simple [and somewhat boring?] body style anyway..!}

Skip

It's been said that historically, Bachmann sets MSRP's high to give its dealers more room to discount. This was known all the way to the beginning of Bachmann's involvement with Williams. 

In this particular announcement, the pre-order price for the Bachmann 70-tonner is half of what you quoted for the list.

---PCJ

Why oh why won't Bachmann or MTH make a steeple cab out of these or their 44 ton locos. Don