Oh My GOSH! Not a "Berk" but a true Kanawha!

[High Hood]

Let's not forget the Virginian BA 2-8-4s!

[u18b]

If bachmann makes the domes as individual parts....

Then another kitbashing possibility would be the Big Emma's of L&N.
2-8-4 arrangement, but once again, not exactly like a Berk.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunter1828/6354790257/in/set-72157601107760230

http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/15931049888200070/filePointer/15931049890630208/fodoid/15931049890630204/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/2-8-4%20L%26N%201962.jpg

[asarge]

While I welcome the news for the 2-8-4 in N scale. I'd be more excited if they did the Mikado in N, especially a C&O version of a Heavy Mike.

Sound will be good too, It's about time sound started really start expanding more into N scale. That is good for N scale in general as it might help get more people into the scale, especially newbies.

[Mark5]

Let's not forget the Virginian BA 2-8-4s!

The C&O version is identical - except for the tender. 

[Cumbo2000]

I now believe its all new tooling... comparing the shot of the Life-Like Berk on Spookshow's website shows some differences in the detail, specifically some of the boiler bands are different (which one accurate or not???) and the Bachmann bell sits higher so I feel a little better but whether the boiler differences will be addressed still remains to be seen.  Call me crazy but I would like to have a correct C&O boiler in as much because it might allow for a C&O Greenbrier to be modeled, though I would still have some detail differences as would be possible.

The differences in the placement of the domes was purely a mechanical issue.  On the NKP and PM Berks the placement was good for running on fairly flat geography but for the C&O the mountain territories were a major problem (can't exactly remember the exact issue) which was addressed by the moving of the domes.

Lets hope that two boilers will be done.  And, if the sand dome is a separate detail, that even more possibilities (maybe a VGN engine) can be gained.

Recall that Bachmann produced two versions of the EM-1 in N scale the same ones they did a year earlier in HO scale so there is hope!

Bob Witt

[sizemore]

I've gotten email updates from a few choice e-Tailers and looks like the street price for the Berkshire is going to be right in the $220-$240 mark.

The S.

[Chris333]

Up at N Scale Supply:
https://www.nscalesupply.com/BAC/BAC-2-8-4.html

Once again I'll bitch about DCC and sound being forced down my throat. This means if I want to keep the sound I have to also keep the DCC.  What is next, cannot buy locomotive without a Google+ account 

[Kev1340]

Once again I'll bitch about DCC and sound being forced down my throat. This means if I want to keep the sound I have to also keep the DCC.  What is next, cannot buy locomotive without a Google+ account 

Agreed. If Bachmann did DC versions of their locos (with or without sound) they would get a lot of dollars from me.

Cheers,

Kev

[Rich_S]

Up at N Scale Supply:
https://www.nscalesupply.com/BAC/BAC-2-8-4.html

Once again I'll bitch about DCC and sound being forced down my throat. This means if I want to keep the sound I have to also keep the DCC.  What is next, cannot buy locomotive without a Google+ account 

Chris, I agree 100%, so much so that I emailed Bachmann and ask if a DC version was being offered. Their reply, not on this run. I'm in favor of a DCC equipped locomotive, but I do not want sound. Thanks to the sound that 12" to the foot models of diesel electric locomotives make, my ears ring constantly.     

[spookshow]

Up at N Scale Supply:
https://www.nscalesupply.com/BAC/BAC-2-8-4.html

Once again I'll bitch about DCC and sound being forced down my throat. This means if I want to keep the sound I have to also keep the DCC.  What is next, cannot buy locomotive without a Google+ account 

I'm curious - how would you keep the sound without keeping the DCC?

Cheers,
-Mark

[Chris333]

I wouldn't and that was my point. I'm forced to keep it.

This means if I want to keep the sound I have to also keep the DCC

I have a Walther's 2-8-8-2 with sound that I run on DCC. The whole speed range of the loco is about 1/10 the speed dial. There is very little control. Plus it must have momentum programed into it. I have nothing to re-program it. I'm sure it would run much better on DC if I yanked the DCC out of it, but I need the DCC for the sound.

Like the 44T many DCC people re-program the speed step thingie so it runs better. With DC I have no way to program it so I just yank all that stuff out and it runs better.

[jmlaboda]

Let's not forget the Virginian BA 2-8-4s!

The C&O version is identical - except for the tender.

WOW!!!  Hold your horses... IF you are saying what I think you are saying, that simply is not true...

The VGN BA's were a very unique creature, like no other 2-8-4 ever built.  Among the variations made for this small order (5 locos built, 505 - 509, 1946) was the combining of both the steam and sand domes into one single structure, which was set further back than what was used on the C&O engines.  Shots at the Norfolk & Western Historical Society show the placement of this combined dome...

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=1330
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=1348

Here is a good shot of C&O 2707 and NKP for comparison...

http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/9/6/1/3961.1054243140.jpg
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3278251

I do hope that the Bachmann steamers will have separate domes because it could provide for opportunities to kitbash other steamers and not necessarily just 2-8-4s.  Heck... I might just have to look at what might be possible for my freelanced line running to the Carolina coast... a smaller Berkshire like what the DT&I had could prove to be greatly of value...

[Mark5]

WOW!!!  Hold your horses... IF you are saying what I think you are saying, that simply is not true...

The VGN BA's were a very unique creature, like no other 2-8-4 ever built.  Among the variations made for this small order (5 locos built, 505 - 509, 1946) was the combining of both the steam and sand domes into one single structure, which was set further back than what was used on the C&O engines.  Shots at the Norfolk & Western Historical Society show the placement of this combined dome...

Hmm, I stand corrected. I stupidly believed this years back when I read " Due to war time restrictions, the design was frozen so the Virginian's "Berkshires were made identical to the C&O's."

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/berkshire/?page=virginian

I guess that page needs some fixin!

Mark

[tom mann]

What is next, cannot buy locomotive without a Google+ account 

without a porters account

[jdcolombo]

Word from someone who was at the show is that the boilers are metal, not plastic.   I don't know whether this makes the possibility that the domes are separate parts more or less likely, but the metal shell will add considerable weight.

This person, who is also an NKP expert, said that the NKP version was a very good rendition of an NKP S-1 class.  Technically, the 765/759 numbers would be incorrect for the S-1's (they would be S-2's), but I'm certainly not complaining.  I just want a good-running loco that will pull a decent-length consist and the signature NKP Mars light!

As for sound/DCC vs. DC . . . time marches on.  Personally, I'd rather that the engine be wired for DCC (e.g., wires going back to the tender), but use a shorting plug that could be replaced with your choice of DCC-only or DCC/Sound decoders.  I have so far not heard a factory sound installation that I found satisfactory, and end up replacing something (usually the speaker, but sometimes the whole decoder/speaker combo) even in factory sound units.

But . . .   It used to be that automatic transmissions were costly options in automobiles.  Try buying a car today with a manual transmission - often, you can't.   The dual-mode decoders work on both DC and DCC; they allow the manufacturers to satisfy everyone, and at the end of the day if they buy the decoders in quantity, they probably don't add that much to the manufacturing cost.  If the engine runs well, pulls well, and is well enough detailed, I can swap electronics parts as I wish.

John C.