@AlanRail posted:None.
As I will NOT be purchasing engines from Menards.
No one cares Alan.
New York Central
No matter what we post here, they will only produce ones that are popular with the Christmas train crowd; that is their intended market, not us.
Milwaukee Road and Soo Line. Also the Milwaukee influenced paint scheme recently done by the 261 group.
How about Amtrak as a non-powered? That way I can put PS3 in it. This would be an excellent candidate for a command FP7
@PRRMP54 posted:No matter what we post here, they will only produce ones that are popular with the Christmas train crowd; that is their intended market, not us.
Says who?
Amtrak,green Southern Railway and CSX in the 80s gray/blue.
@cabinet Bob posted:Stay tuned this week for a GREAT SURPRISE !!!
Milwaukee and Pennsy? And they must finally be individually or multiple unit controlled.
have not seen a good review of them yet , so road name is irrelevant . if what's under the hood is no good what does a paint job matter.
Metal gears, Pennsylvania Tuscan red and I would buy.
Marty
Would like them to move on from Santa Fe F3's to other styles of diesels (GP's, switchers, or more modern stock) that can support a variety of road names. Candidly, since this will never by a true prototype engine desired by the more sophisticated operators , they could put a variety of regional names on a new design even if it is not appropriate and it will sell well at a price point under $200. I agree with the previous comments, metal gears for a longer life even if it costs $20 more and a switch for conventional so we still have a functional engine when the WiFi dies. Menards has a chance to capture the entry market.
Looks like Union Pacific is the winner! How about some passenger cars for Christmas Menards.
Although I doubt they will do it I'd love to see BNSF as they are the principal railroad here in Spokane.
Amtrak and/or Conrail (blue) 
@Rick Rubino posted:have not seen a good review of them yet , so road name is irrelevant . if what's under the hood is no good what does a paint job matter.
Odd, because there are many!
New York Central, Jade Green and or New York Central, Black Cigar Band scheme.
Penn Central, Jade Green.
New Haven and I’m in without any hesitation. Thanks again Menards for all that you’re doing for the hobby!
Being a West Coast guy, I like the 2 roads we have now. How about a SP Black Widow or SP Bloody Nose.
Steve
@Rick Rubino posted:have not seen a good review of them yet , so road name is irrelevant . if what's under the hood is no good what does a paint job matter.
I stopped reading any because there were so many, including one recent one covering all the beta versions. 
Erie Lackawanna or Texas Special 
I am just glad to see Menard's offering the trains for people to buy without spending the mortgage payment. It is a nice alternative to the very expensive trains most of us on the forum buy (I said most of us) Menard's is a class operation, I visit my local store every morning to buy the supplies I will need for the day for my maintenance business. The store is always clean and fully staffed and NO SELF CHECKOUTS!! I wonder how long before my comments will be complained about!!!!
Jeff
@jjames9641 posted:Erie Lackawanna or Texas Special
Jeff
Jeff, my only time in a Menards store was with you and the Northeast Ohio modelers at the Warren store before going to see your layout. I was impressed with the store for reasons you cited. I only wish they would open a store near me, even New Castle would work. I guess the other two big box stores and another chain of more traditional lumber yards have business locked up in Western Pennsylvania. Triadelphia, WV, the next closest, is about 15 minutes farther from me than the Warren store.
@jjames9641 posted:The store is always clean and fully staffed and NO SELF CHECKOUTS!! I wonder how long before my comments will be complained about!!!!
Jeff
Have to agree, the stores are always very clean, including the outdoor areas.
@paulp575 posted:Although I doubt they will do it I'd love to see BNSF as they are the principal railroad here in Spokane.
How about SP&S. I would also like to see a blank shell so one can do what one wishes.
@Bill Grafmiller posted:How about SP&S. I would also like to see a blank shell so one can do what one wishes.
SP&S wouldn't be bad as long as it's complete, i.e., loco, rolling stock, and caboose.
Boston & Maine (Bluebird)
As great as it would be to see a decent variety of lesser-known railroads, I can't see Menards making anything other than the typical Class 1 road names. Whatever they made their rolling stock in is what I expect their locomotives to be painted with, like Pennsylvania, NYC, C&O, all that stuff. Even the candy brands they made rolling stock in, I could see that being done for their locomotives too. Although I'd prefer that they get out of the beta phase first, I already want to eventually get the first 2 road names they made their diesel in. I think it's a nice looking locomotive, and they seem to be a good option for anyone with a lower budget.
@marxtin posted:With all the discussion about the Beta Engines, what road names would you like to see Menards make? Since lately they have been releasing different caboose road names: New Haven, Soo Line, Norfolk and Western. I would like to see them make a Milwaukee Road engine and bay window caboose.
EJ&E as long as it was any engine that that they used. The tracks are now used by CN.
Atlantic Coast Line in the purple scheme and maybe a Wild Mary in the speed-lettering scheme. Both in non-powered units.
@marxtin posted:With all the discussion about the Beta Engines, what road names would you like to see Menards make? Since lately they have been releasing different caboose road names: New Haven, Soo Line, Norfolk and Western. I would like to see them make a Milwaukee Road engine and bay window caboose.
EJ&E. I've requested it several times.
Also, Rio Grande, Southern, B&O
Amtrak phase 1, phase 2 or phase 3.
if I modeled the Milwaukee, I’d want the orange and brown passenger scheme the Milwaukee used before they adopted UP-style Armour yellow.
How about Ontario Northland? Love the color scheme.
@Michael Pags posted:How about Ontario Northland? Love the color scheme.
I’d be in for that.
If that is really an fp9, whoever proposed that tooling made a big marketing mistake. The Mexicans, Saudis, Canadians, and Chicago Northwestern were the only buyers. Pretty limited appeal unless your main criterion is a fantasy with pretty colors.
Terry
@tcripe posted:If that is really an fp9, whoever proposed that tooling made a big marketing mistake. The Mexicans, Saudis, Canadians, and Chicago Northwestern were the only buyers. Pretty limited appeal unless your main criterion is a fantasy with pretty colors.
Terry
The biggest outside deference between the FP7 and 9 are the positions of the portholes and venting , which varied from rail road to rail road. In the land of 3 rail trains , where a majority have been calling it an F3 , its kind of a mute point.
@PRRMP54 posted:They will only produce ones that are popular with the Christmas train crowd; that is their intended market, not us.
But the "Christmas train crowd" has not been involved in this never-ending testing process they've had going on. I think plenty of hobby level guys will be into this once they pick a final design and begin cranking out new paint schemes
@tcripe posted:If that is really an fp9, whoever proposed that tooling made a big marketing mistake. Mexicans, Saudis, Canadians, and Chicago Northwestern were the only buyers. Pretty limited appeal unless your main criterion is a fantasy with pretty colors. Terry
Perhaps, but I think its an issue of no importance to like 90% of all possible buyers.
What I don't want to see are all clones of the exact same design including all internals.
I'll wait until someone reviews the UP "Beta" they just released and compares it to the Santa Fe (Betas that weren't changed since Version 2.0). My guess is that it is basically a clone with a different shell which would beg the question, how many of the same model do you want to own?
But to be fair, both MTH and Lionel do that too. On the other hand most hobbyists don't mind because of how advanced the models are and the fact that they don't call them
Betas" endlessly.
John
@Craftech posted:What I don't want to see are all clones of the exact same design including all internals.
I'll wait until someone reviews the UP "Beta" they just released and compares it to the Santa Fe (Betas that weren't changed since Version 2.0). My guess is that it is basically a clone with a different shell which would beg the question, how many of the same model do you want to own?
But to be fair, both MTH and Lionel do that too. On the other hand most hobbyists don't mind because of how advanced the models are and the fact that they don't call them
Betas" endlessly.John
Your premise isn't true there have been upgrades made, but you would have to follow that!
Central Railroad of New Jersey in green though they never had F7/FP7s.
