you know what would be awesome in N scale...

[sirenwerks]

No, you don't currently see overlap in switchers. 

Not completely true, as Con-Cor claims a N scale SW1200 and MP15. Atlas and Life-Like had these respectively. Of course, I don't know about CC's angular cab on the SW or what an MP15 is exactly (AC or DC?), but CC has 'em.

There's no accounting for quality, but we do have two manufacturers of GP7s now, several F7 manufacturers, two SD45s... who knows what's next, but why not another S2 seeing as though Arnold no longer exists? It's a popular unit. WP had numerous, so I need 'em soon.

[asciibaron]

if you had a rabbit with a waffle on it's head, i'd be impressed. 

[Sokramiketes]

If you had a rabbit with a waffle on its head, I'd be impressed. 

Fixed.

[Chulvis]

WP had numerous, so I need 'em soon.

Me too!

[Dave V]

I'm just sayin', if I were Atlas and considering tooling up a new switcher body style, I'm going to expect much bigger sales from an SW1500 than an S2.  The internet chatter certainly would support that assertion, but the modern-day appeal plus the huge variety of roadnames almost seals the deal.

I agree, an S2 would be cool.  From my corner of Nebraska, I need a CR SW1500 more than I need a PRR S2.  But if it were made, I'd buy a PRR S2.

How's that for non-commital?

[Mr. G]

No, you don't currently see overlap in switchers. 

Not completely true, as Con-Cor claims a N scale SW1200 and MP15. Atlas and Life-Like had these respectively. Of course, I don't know about CC's angular cab on the SW or what an MP15 is exactly (AC or DC?), but CC has 'em.

There's no accounting for quality, but we do have two manufacturers of GP7s now, several F7 manufacturers, two SD45s... who knows what's next, but why not another S2 seeing as though Arnold no longer exists? It's a popular unit. WP had numerous, so I need 'em soon.

Damn.  I had assumed that the Con-Cor and Atlas MP15s were the same with different packaging, since they came out around the same time and I'd never seen the Con-Cor model.  The SW1200?  I really can't explain how I forgot that one.  

the sd40 is a nice locomotive, why make any other ones?

I've argued that there should be another S-2.  I'm just saying that it doesn't make sense to make one that serves as motive power for train sets when that already exists.  I just think it would be better to make one to the standard of the Master line, especially if we're only going to see a new model released every 20 years.

[sirenwerks]

I'm just saying that it doesn't make sense to make one that serves as motive power for train sets when that already exists.  I just think it would be better to make one to the standard of the Master line, especially if we're only going to see a new model released every 20 years.

Agreed!

And as for the Con Cor SW1200, I remember them actually marketing it as a SW1500 early on. Maybe it was a slightly different model then, or my memory's screwy, but I remember that funky cab roof being around for almost as long as I have been interested in N scale. I'm sure it has an obscure prototype, but IT always struck me as one of the strangest choices for a model.

[Hyperion]

Damn.  I had assumed that the Con-Cor and Atlas MP15s were the same with different packaging, since they came out around the same time and I'd never seen the Con-Cor model.  The SW1200?  I really can't explain how I forgot that one.  

Hm?

The Con-Cor MP15's been around for a long, long time.  I think since the '80s, certainly the early 90's.   The Atlas model is newer by a couple decades.

[Mr. G]

Damn.  I had assumed that the Con-Cor and Atlas MP15s were the same with different packaging, since they came out around the same time and I'd never seen the Con-Cor model.  The SW1200?  I really can't explain how I forgot that one.  

Hm?

The Con-Cor MP15's been around for a long, long time.  I think since the '80s, certainly the early 90's.   The Atlas model is newer by a couple decades.

Spookshow's site confirms my own fuzzy recollections: http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/ccmp15.html 

I certainly can't claim to be any sort of expert on locomotive releases, though.  A few years ago I went on a wild goose chase for updated SP SD40s from Kato, since I'd somehow gotten the idea that they must have been released again.  Go figure.

[Hyperion]

Damn.  I had assumed that the Con-Cor and Atlas MP15s were the same with different packaging, since they came out around the same time and I'd never seen the Con-Cor model.  The SW1200?  I really can't explain how I forgot that one.  

Hm?

The Con-Cor MP15's been around for a long, long time.  I think since the '80s, certainly the early 90's.   The Atlas model is newer by a couple decades.

Spookshow's site confirms my own fuzzy recollections: http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/ccmp15.html 

I certainly can't claim to be any sort of expert on locomotive releases, though.  A few years ago I went on a wild goose chase for updated SP SD40s from Kato, since I'd somehow gotten the idea that they must have been released again.  Go figure.

Hm.  Must've been thinking about an HO model or something since that's what I was doing back then.  Either way, Con-Cor's version pales in comparison to Atlas' if for no other reason (and there are plenty others) than it's not even DCC-ready.

[bbussey]

The GP7 is considered a road unit and not a switcher.

Yes, you have one example in the half-century history of N scale of a switcher duplication that was done many decades apart, the MP15.  The SW1200/1500 doesn't count since for decades the Con-Cor model has been marketed as a 1500 and looks very different juxtaposed with the correctly-proportioned Life-Like model.  In general, you will not see duplication in the switchers.  The manufacturers ALWAYS have been leery about offering switchers anyway , as the MSRP is the same as a road unit and historically they don't sell as well because consumers overall (not you diehards) believe yard switchers that are half the size of road units should not be as expensive - regardless of the fact that there are enough roads to justify the models.  We're seeing more switchers in recent decades because quality models of most road units have been done (and redone) by this point.  The FM H-660 would be very nice to see in N scale, but the ancient Minitrix H12-44 looks and operates well enough to put the brakes on that.

Couple that with Atlas having the S2 (and S4) in HO for nearly twenty years, ironically similar in design to the Arnold N unit with a metal body if I remember correctly.  I have a New Haven unit on my bookcase.  Atlas usually produces a model in both scales - they haven't done it because of the Arnold unit, and no one else has done it because they figure Atlas might do it.

If you want to see a new S2/S4, I would start lobbying Atlas.  I was a regular visitor in Hillside during the time the HO model was being developed, but that was years ago now and I don't remember the specifics at this point.  I suspect that:
* the demand hasn't been that strong for the N scale model
* the HO model never sold as well as expected, or it's currently too expensive to import (I remember it being of Austrian manufacture)

[sirenwerks]

I think that, since we're calling for a re-release of the Arnold S2, perhaps we should be concurrently asking for a re-release of a (re-engineered) Minitrix H12-44. Maybe Wally could step to the plate and give us one. Probably not, considering they're spineless when it comes to N scale.

The GP7 is considered a road unit and not a switcher.

As is the SD45 and F7 I referred to, Mr. Smarty Pants.

[FrankCampagna]

I think that, since we're calling for a re-release of the Arnold S2, perhaps we should be concurrently asking for a re-release of a (re-engineered) Minitrix H12-44. Maybe Wally could step to the plate and give us one. Probably not, considering they're spineless when it comes to N scale.

Who do you think imported the S-2?

Frank

[bbussey]

The N scale S2 is Arnolds.  I believe Roco tooled the HO version for Atlas.  Minitrix appears to be focusing on the European prototypes currently.

[Ryan87]

The N scale S2 is Arnolds.

Yes, but Walthers was the North American importer.

As for the HO S2 Atlas has a S series switcher from China as recently as 2007...