All,
Here's your hint for our next product release. Happy guessing!
Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
LOCOS????
My Guess is more locomotives... Just in time for Christmas.
F units
@gunny posted:F units
An orange Ford Truck with yellow trim?
John
All NEW coil cars!!!
Train stuff.
Some thoughts:
- Seattle Union Station was Union Pacific's and later Milwaukee Road's terminal to the city. They shared the building for a while.
- In Seattle they shared a main line.
- They were both early adopters of TOFC service.
Anything else that they may have in common?
Well, the Milwaukee Road ran through UP passenger trains from 1955 to the start of Amtrak, so it’s not inconceivable that Menards might think about releasing their F-units with or without an accompanying passenger train in the Milwaukee Road’s post-1955 UP-inspired passenger paint scheme or perhaps just F’s in UP or the pre-1955 Milwaukee Road passenger paint scheme.
Of course I bet that I guessed wrong and it will be something else entirely.
😄
@Mister_Lee posted:Well, the Milwaukee Road ran through UP passenger trains from 1955 to the start of Amtrak, so it’s not inconceivable that Menards might think about releasing their F-units with or without an accompanying passenger train in the Milwaukee Road’s post-1955 UP-inspired passenger paint scheme or perhaps just F’s in UP or the pre-1955 Milwaukee Road passenger paint scheme.
Of course I bet that I guessed wrong and it will be something else entirely.
😄
I like your thinking. K-Line did these and they still sell well on the resale market.
My Dad used to take the Milwaukee Road in UP paint into Chicago everyday. I have fond memories of that engine.
How about two new engines just in time for Christmas! Two F units incorporating all the feedback received from their test size sample of the Santa Fe F units.
Decals
That would make for an excellent second F unit.
I hope its those FP units for a similar $200.00 price!
Get 2 units and strip em, err and railsounds them, detail them and paint them!
Definitely hoping for some F units. Although a string of coal hoppers in UP yellow would be an excellent companion to a Big Boy
FP engines with. $200.00 price tag🙏
Hmmm, maybe a few new freight cars or delivery trucks.
I don’t know about the Milwaukee road item, but I’m thinking that they are going to go into full scale O72 steam with a UP Big Boy. I expect nothing less than vision line like detailing.😁
The general consensus is the the Fs made it into production and Menards chose the Milwaukee Road in Up colors, but Cabinet Bob's hint along with the short time period since the trials makes me think rolling stock. Did the two roads share any freight cars like the Wabash/MoPac or UP/SP reefers?
It’s a Ski resort train station. 🤷🏻♂️
I expect nothing less than vision line like detailing.😁
A big ASK given the market that Menards is and has been successfully cultivating.
For example, the Woodland Scenics buildings set a high "detailed look" bar, BUT I find I can interweave Menards buildings alongside them without lowering the detailed appearance.
So all of my extensive Plasticville collection is back in their boxes.
@coach joe posted:The general consensus is the the Fs made it into production and Menards chose the Milwaukee Road in Up colors, but Cabinet Bob's hint along with the short time period since the trials makes me think rolling stock. Did the two roads share any freight cars like the Wabash/MoPac or UP/SP reefers?
They could have shot and decorated the shells a couple of months ago in anticipation of producing. So, assembly shouldn't ( 
) take to long. Menards has a history of using railroads that ran in the upper midwest. But, you could be right about the rolling stock as well.
Steve
Any more hints?
With the announcement of beta version 2.0 of the wip F units, highly unlikely that these are going to be locomotives. ☹️
And the clue train (pun?) seems to have dried up.
Steve
Ayyyyy...premium flatcars and a free load 
(anyone know what to use to simulate whatever you'd use to strap down a box truck? )
---PCJ
I have a couple of these flatcars and really like them, in fact I repainted and letter one for the Milwaukee. My opinion is these flatcars and the ore cars are the best cars Menards offers.
Always can use flat cars.
It would be great if they came out with more PRR or N&W Flat Cars!
Disappointed.
@ScottyRR posted:Disappointed.
They serve a purpose, but they aren’t exciting. It would be nice to see more buildings. The only thing they put out in the in months was the dealership. Again, they are fighting the COVID and policy related issues, but it’s frustrating seeing fewer new products.
Awesome!!! Thanks Menards!! gonna get a couple just gonna wait for the 11% rebate to start again 😆
How does it handle O-27 switches?
Reason: historically curves aren't the issue (you just insert a straight between every 2 curves), but O-31 cars tend to rub/scrape on K-Line/Lionel O-27 switches. At least one of our cars has a "nice" white scratch through the green paint--because of the automatic switch's motor housing.
Are these considered "Scale" cars?
You made these flat cars in the The Milwaukee Road scheme.
It means that the next time you can produce the 14-3/4" flat cars in the SOO LINE 1960's and 1970's era paint scheme.
Andrew
@RailRide posted:Ayyyyy...premium flatcars and a free load
(anyone know what to use to simulate whatever you'd use to strap down a box truck? )
---PCJ
You can use inexpensive chain necklaces from the Jewelry Department in a large multi-department store, as a way to secure the box trucks.
Andrew
@BenLMaggi posted:Are these considered "Scale" cars?
They are 60 scale feet so yeah they’d be a scale 60’ flat car. They also ride only 1” or 4 scale feet off the rails.
@Micro posted:How does it handle O-27 switches?
Reason: historically curves aren't the issue (you just insert a straight between every 2 curves), but O-31 cars tend to rub/scrape on K-Line/Lionel O-27 switches. At least one of our cars has a "nice" white scratch through the green pain--because of the automatic switch's motor.
It says they have a “swing-type draw bar” that allows them to do it. My dad has some K-Line by Lionel passenger cars with such a feature that allows them to handle 0-31 despite being 18” long.
Wondering how these cars to compare to MTH Premier? I have a railroad full of MTH premier and wonder how they would fit in? Someone earlier commented on the scale size....just wonder if they have a sturdy feel to them?
Very nice cars if the earlier versions I have are any indication. I'd roll them up beside the MTH cars without any embarrassment.
