A Surprise (to me) - Walthers Reissuing DL109

[wm3798]

Yes, we should all shout hosannas because Walthers throws N scale a bone.  An extremely limited appeal bone.

Great for New Haven modelers who focus on an extremely narrow time frame and a pretty limited operation.
Great for collectors who like to look at shiny objects in their new improved jewel boxes.

I guess it's more profitable to sell 1,000 units to a focus group, than to sell 10,000 units to a broad spectrum of modelers who just want a GP18 in any of a number of paint schemes to run over any of 5 or 6 decades worth of era... 

One day I'll figure out their business model...  but it doesn't do much to serve the model business...

Lee

[brokemoto]

Modellers who operate non-historic railroads could use them, as well as those who model roads that actually had these.  You could probably get away with using them into the 1970s on a non-historic.

The prototypes used the 539 prime mover, which was amoung the most reliable of any diesel engine produced.  The S-2, as well as others, used this prime mover.  The RS-1, which had the longest production run of any diesel locomotive in North America used it.  The Soviet Union built copies of the RSD-1 (an RS-1 with six motors and axles, instead of four-the export models also had different cabs), which used a copy of the 539 engine, into the 1970s.

They lasted a little more than twenty years on the NYNH&H, despite having the Dickens worked out of them during the war years.

The model is a good runner and puller.  I bought some for my non-historic railroad.  It is ugly, but I still like the prototype.

[bbussey]

... They lasted a little more than twenty years on the NYNH&H, despite having the Dickens worked out of them during the war years...

Yup, far from a limited time-frame and limited service.  They pulled heavyweights, PBLWs and the fluted cars; pulled troop trains, regular passenger service and freight during the war years; wore a number of paint schemes; and ran in the Dulmaine, McGinness and Alpert eras -- so that covers more than a few modeling periods.  DL109s pushed steam power toward retirement, and supplemented the PAs when they arrived.

How is the reissue of the DL109 any different than that of a Y6b Mallet, Big Boy, Challenger, AC-12, Atlantic, S-2 Northern, Class J Northern, J3a Hudson, IHB 0-6-0, B&O 0-6-0 and the overwhelming majority of steam models released over the years that essentially are one-road prototypes?  Why no carping about that?  And fewer roads had Erie-Builts (seven) than had DL109s (eight).
 

[CBQ Fan]

I am at the point where if Walthers announces anything I am interested in I will not pre-order.  If it gets produced and I still want it and have not spent too many other dollars on the hobby that month than I will buy it.  Either their products are going to sell or they are not, pre-order or no pre-order.  Maybe, hopefully, they have figured out their production run numbers to the point where they can make enough money to justify a run and not have the bottom fall out on the price (which is good for us if we wait, but bad for Walthers in that they aren't making enough profit) and have to clear out inventory.  It seems they have cancelled a couple of announcements and they have actually produced a couple  of announced runs, GP-20 and now the DL-109.  I will pre-order with those that have a more predictable interaction with our scale.

[wcfn100]

Can't wait to see when they release the PAs and E8s.  Heads will explode.

I heard they were going to do the Erie Builts but cancelled due to concerns over poor sales of the PRR units after talking to BLI and Kato. 

Jason

[peteski]

I'm also surprised about all the negativity.  I think this unusual locomotive is kind of pretty and I'm planning on buying the green NH model, even though I don't model NH.  I guess that makes me one of those people Walthers is supposedly targeting. 

Too bad they didn't issue this model in the NH "cranberry" paint scheme like Con-Cor used to do.  I think that was the prettiest livery.

[CBQ Fan]

Well, I just ordered my Rock Island unit from BLW, best price I have seen.  Hopefully here by the end of next week.

Interesting thing is with the way that Walthers tightened up their discount structure to retailers, it almost makes me wonder if they want to sell direct only...........

[cv_acr]

How many companies have made UP Challenegers and Big Boys?

How is the reissue of the DL109 any different than that of a Y6b Mallet, Big Boy, Challenger, AC-12, Atlantic, S-2 Northern, Class J Northern, J3a Hudson, IHB 0-6-0, B&O 0-6-0 and the overwhelming majority of steam models released over the years that essentially are one-road prototypes?  Why no carping about that?  And fewer roads had Erie-Builts (seven) than had DL109s (eight).

Exactly.

[chicken45]

Exactly.

Yeah, can't find those Pennsy Mallets anywhere. Especially the DCC/sound ones. I bet those would sell out again if they did a third run.
And the PRR didn't even have that many, yet we snatch them up!

[Kisatchie]

To all the DL109-haters:  the previous two runs sold out - the first under Life-Like and the second under Walthers.  With the exception of the New Haven "New Image" scheme they are re-issues of the previous runs, mostly with new road numbers.  The prototype works for modelers of the roads that had them, and all versions of the model have been good performers.  I have a pair and I will be getting the new New Haven scheme from this release.

Let's not ask for models of esoteric prototypes, and then get a hate-on when a manufacturer does exactly that and it happens to not be your preferred esoteric prototype.  There is nothing wrong with this prototype (a well-performing long-lived historic pioneer diesel that was a duel-service workhorse during WWII) or the model.

Yeah! I agree 100%. How come nobody is complaining about Athearn's recently re-released Big Boy? How many railroads had Big Boys? And where did the Big Boys run? Talk about being limited!


Hmm... I love my GM&O
Big Boy...

[Ntrainz1]

Have any of the prototype been preserved?

Bob.

[bbussey]

Definitely no New Haven units were preserved, and I don't believe any of the other units were either.

[DKS]

Yeah! I agree 100%. How come nobody is complaining about Athearn's recently re-released Big Boy? How many railroads had Big Boys? And where did the Big Boys run? Talk about being limited!

But would anyone put a DL109 on their mantle?

[wcfn100]

But would anyone put a DL109 on their mantle?

If they paid $500.00 for it they might.

Jason

[johnhale]

As a NH fan I am happy to see the new paint scheme and numbers.

It is a matter of perspective. When KATO releases some Sante Fe stuff, I say "meh".