InterMountain Railway Co makes changes to delivery announcements

[reinhardtjh]

Earlier today InterMountain posted on it's Facebook pages an open letter dated April 13th, 2018.  This letter talks about the challenges in manufaturing today and announces a different method of posting status of their various projects.

Pictures of the two pages are posted below (Sorry for the size. Not sure how to fix that and have them readable):






Their "Upcoming Products" page has been updated today, April 16th, 2018 with the new status descriptions.  So now all we know is if a project is viable or not and nothing about when they might show up - not that the dates have been very accurate anyway.

I haven't gotten the monthly IM newsletter yet, but it typically follows the update of the Upcoming Products page by a few days.  I imagine these letter will be included in that email.

[mu26aeh]

I like the new way they are updating status of projects.  The only thing I thought to suggest to them is add a date to the Pending Cancellation box as to when the status changed, giving the consumer an idea of when that project may get cancelled if sufficient reservations aren't reserved, given their 90 day notice.

I was rather discouraged to read thru the new update and see that the entire FP9 run has been cancelled, as I had ordered one of the Algoma Central units to patch out for a Gettysburg & Northern unit ( PREX #1755 )

[jagged ben]

I'm giving it a thumbs up.  Helps me plan my budget, among other positives I see.

[CBQ Fan]

I love the intent and the openness, but with no dates this some of this new information is less useful than their old system.  Unless I am missing something there is no framework around the definitions. Production scheduled, is that weeks, moths years out?  queued for production, again no time fame. These don’t add any value without dates. Now I think the In transit, and cancellations statuses are very helpful!   

[prr7161]

I think this is a positive development.  Once something is in the queue, one can assume it is about 8-9 months out if all goes smoothly.

What I would really like to see is a reservations-needed total for items in jeopardy.  I threw an order in for a half-dozen UTLX Type 27s a while back, and they haven't hit their number.  So is it two to go, or a hundred?  If two, I would probably reserve more just to push it over the top.  Can't do anything about 100!!!

[C855B]

... What I would really like to see is a reservations-needed total for items in jeopardy. ...

Agreed. I reserved 12 PFE mech reefers shortly after they were announced with my dealer indicating reservations were to be closed 2/26/18, but the new status page indicates "Needs Reservations". So what is it? Are reservations still open or not?

[thomasjmdavis]

While I agree, it would be nice to have MORE info (additional number needed to make the cut, approx production or delivery dates, etc), I see this as a positive step.  In terms of the way I look at things, this is much more informative than the old system, where things might be "TBA" for years, then either "March" or "September" (but what year?) or cancelled.

[Mark5]

Not looking good for the ACF 2927 Covered Hoppers (pending cancellation) or the 4785 PS2-CD Covered Hoppers - all versions (needs reservations) 

Mark

[peteski]

So "needs reservations" and "needs more reservations" means the same thing?   

[reinhardtjh]

So "needs reservations" and "needs more reservations" means the same thing?   

I don't see any items labeled "Needs More Reservations".  Only:

1) Taking Reservations - The project has been announced, and is available for Advance Reservations to be placed. If a reservation is placed within the first 90 days and the project is produced, the customer can be guaranteed their choice of road and number.

2) Needs Reservations (in red background) - Projects that have been Taking Reservations for more than 90 days and have not met the required minimum reservations will be moved to this status, and the status box colored red. Advance Reservations are encouraged to help this project proceed.

I think the definitions are pretty self explanatory.

[peteski]

I don't see any items labeled "Needs More Reservations".  Only:

1) Taking Reservations - The project has been announced, and is available for Advance Reservations to be placed. If a reservation is placed within the first 90 days and the project is produced, the customer can be guaranteed their choice of road and number.

2) Needs Reservations (in red background) - Projects that have been Taking Reservations for more than 90 days and have not met the required minimum reservations will be moved to this status, and the status box colored red. Advance Reservations are encouraged to help this project proceed.

I think the definitions are pretty self explanatory.

If you look at the 2nd page of the document you posted (titled Product Status Definitions), you will see "Taking Reservation" and  "Needs More Reservations" (in red text).  That was the source of my confusion.  That page doesn't have a "Needs Reservations" status defined.

[learmoia]

Love it!!!

When did they announce the GP10?..

Gives a much better picture of what's really going on over there..  (it's like the BLI reservation gauge but not as hokey..)

[Tom L]

Eh, if they want me to start reserving their stuff, they need to improve their quality. As they say in their own letter, the reservation system forces you to buy sight unseen and depend on the manufactures reputation. With the exception of their passenger cars, I've had nothing but problems with the finish, fidelity and overall durability of their products and they are being surpassed in these categories by many other companies (Atlas, Kato, FVM, Trainworx, Bluford, ESM, etc.), who I often reserve product from.

Tom L
Wellington CO

[GaryHinshaw]

The only IM models I am watching closely right now are the 3281 hoppers.  Last November they were listed as due in "April" (this April?), now they are listed as Confirmed for Production, which means "...will be produced but have not been entered into the Production Schedule yet."   Sigh.

[Kentuckian]

Well, I am disappointed but not surprised that the Deco end C&O boxcar is cancelled. Guess I'll have to go to Shapeways.