Broadway Limited N Scale NW2

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The real question is when are we getting an NW5?

[Point353]

The real question is when are we getting an NW5?

Are you changing to modeling GN/BN (or maybe Southern), or do you just want one of these:

[jagged ben]

Oh, the irony...  

To expand on this some, the NW-2 was sold for 10 years and 1145 units were produced whereas the SDP-45 was sold for only 3 years with 52 units produced.
Which one is more niche?

Okay I'll concede the point, to a point. 

Admittedly most NW-2s were probably scrapped before I was born.  And perhaps most photographers in the 50s focused more on mainline trains than switchers in yards, so I just wasn't so aware that EMD built (two!) more NW-2s than GP40-2s.   My ignorance.  And poor wording to suggest that it's comparable to an SDP45.
 
But the main point was that if your logic isn't 'there were so many prototypes that the market could use more models', then why not do something more niche?  It's not like BLI doesn't ever do niche.  A T1 is niche.   The GP40-2 comparison is instructive.  Why not do that, when there are two NW-2s to compete with and only one GP40-2 that Atlas hasn't updated to sound yet?  And a thousand units is about the minimum bar for a locomotive not being 'niche'.  The NW-2 doesn't stand out above many other prototypes in that respect (unlike SD40-2s or C44-9Ws.)   And it's been done, twice.

I think it comes down to BLI viewing the N scale market as a toy train market and just not considering prototype modelers.  Or at any rate, they're just all over the place.  You can almost imagine the internal conversation:
"We haven't done a switcher! A switcher is a classic locomotive type! Let's do a switcher!"
"Okay, what's the best switcher candidate?"
"Well the NW-2 had lots of roadnames and it looks about as children's book as switchers come."
"An NW-2 it is! Start designing!"
(several weeks later)
"I just realized Kato did this really well, and Bachmann did it too."
"Too late!  We're already committed!"

For folks hoping for correct 'phases' from BLI, I wouldn't get hopes up based on the SD40-2.

To be clear, I'm just being a bit of blowhard here because I can be.  I like my BLI PAs, and the AC6000W is pretty good too (decoder failure and replacement notwithstanding).  But I can't believe they put ditchlights on Chessie SD40-2s, the F unit debacle on grills and gears, the ES44 just looks all wrong next to Kato's and FVM's...   It seems like they got way too ambitious recently with the number of different models they're trying to churn out, and need to slow down and work more on getting things more right.  Or else they are just writing off the section of the market that's best represented on this forum.

[cjm413]

Okay I'll concede the point, to a point. 

Admittedly most NW-2s were probably scrapped before I was born.  And perhaps most photographers in the 50s focused more on mainline trains than switchers in yards, so I just wasn't so aware that EMD built (two!) more NW-2s than GP40-2s.   My ignorance.  And poor wording to suggest that it's comparable to an SDP45.
 
But the main point was that if your logic isn't 'there were so many prototypes that the market could use more models', then why not do something more niche?  It's not like BLI doesn't ever do niche.  A T1 is niche.   The GP40-2 comparison is instructive.  Why not do that, when there are two NW-2s to compete with and only one GP40-2 that Atlas hasn't updated to sound yet?  And a thousand units is about the minimum bar for a locomotive not being 'niche'.  The NW-2 doesn't stand out above many other prototypes in that respect (unlike SD40-2s or C44-9Ws.)   And it's been done, twice.

I think it comes down to BLI viewing the N scale market as a toy train market and just not considering prototype modelers.  Or at any rate, they're just all over the place.  You can almost imagine the internal conversation:
"We haven't done a switcher! A switcher is a classic locomotive type! Let's do a switcher!"
"Okay, what's the best switcher candidate?"
"Well the NW-2 had lots of roadnames and it looks about as children's book as switchers come."
"An NW-2 it is! Start designing!"
(several weeks later)
"I just realized Kato did this really well, and Bachmann did it too."
"Too late!  We're already committed!"

For folks hoping for correct 'phases' from BLI, I wouldn't get hopes up based on the SD40-2.

To be clear, I'm just being a bit of blowhard here because I can be.  I like my BLI PAs, and the AC6000W is pretty good too (decoder failure and replacement notwithstanding).  But I can't believe they put ditchlights on Chessie SD40-2s, the F unit debacle on grills and gears, the ES44 just looks all wrong next to Kato's and FVM's...   It seems like they got way too ambitious recently with the number of different models they're trying to churn out, and need to slow down and work more on getting things more right.  Or else they are just writing off the section of the market that's best represented on this forum.

The picture shows a Phase V NW2 that neither Kato nor Bachmann don't offer.   Only the toy train market would think that they are offering the "same" NW2.

[kiwi_bnsf]

Okay I'll concede the point, to a point. 

Admittedly most NW-2s were probably scrapped before I was born.  And perhaps most photographers in the 50s focused more on mainline trains than switchers in yards, so I just wasn't so aware that EMD built (two!) more NW-2s than GP40-2s.   My ignorance.  And poor wording to suggest that it's comparable to an SDP45.
 
But the main point was that if your logic isn't 'there were so many prototypes that the market could use more models', then why not do something more niche?  It's not like BLI doesn't ever do niche.  A T1 is niche.   The GP40-2 comparison is instructive.  Why not do that, when there are two NW-2s to compete with and only one GP40-2 that Atlas hasn't updated to sound yet?  And a thousand units is about the minimum bar for a locomotive not being 'niche'.  The NW-2 doesn't stand out above many other prototypes in that respect (unlike SD40-2s or C44-9Ws.)   And it's been done, twice.

I think it comes down to BLI viewing the N scale market as a toy train market and just not considering prototype modelers.  Or at any rate, they're just all over the place.  You can almost imagine the internal conversation:
"We haven't done a switcher! A switcher is a classic locomotive type! Let's do a switcher!"
"Okay, what's the best switcher candidate?"
"Well the NW-2 had lots of roadnames and it looks about as children's book as switchers come."
"An NW-2 it is! Start designing!"
(several weeks later)
"I just realized Kato did this really well, and Bachmann did it too."
"Too late!  We're already committed!"

For folks hoping for correct 'phases' from BLI, I wouldn't get hopes up based on the SD40-2.

To be clear, I'm just being a bit of blowhard here because I can be.  I like my BLI PAs, and the AC6000W is pretty good too (decoder failure and replacement notwithstanding).  But I can't believe they put ditchlights on Chessie SD40-2s, the F unit debacle on grills and gears, the ES44 just looks all wrong next to Kato's and FVM's...   It seems like they got way too ambitious recently with the number of different models they're trying to churn out, and need to slow down and work more on getting things more right.  Or else they are just writing off the section of the market that's best represented on this forum.

I could not have said/ranted it better myself. Add me to the "blowhard" club. I own a BLI AC6000CW and while I can overlook the slightly crude tooling, and I'm grateful for the loco, but I will be ripping out the failed Rolling Thunder sound decoder and replacing it with a Loksound and my own speaker enclosures (Modest Thunder™).

The BLI SD40-2s are simply not acceptable to me — they have made no effort with regard to the road-specific ditch light location and multiple other features. I dislike the Intermountain SD40-2s because of their lack of sub-frame and horrible trucks, but they at least have slightly road-specific details. Currently I'm sticking with my incorrect width Kato SD40-2s.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Wow.... What exactly is crude about the AC6K? I think the tooling on mine is really well done.

[rrjim1]

I'm sure glad I don't look at all my model railroad equipment under a microscope. It must be really frustrating and IMO not worth being in n-scale period.   

[jagged ben]

The picture shows a Phase V NW2 that neither Kato nor Bachmann don't offer.   Only the toy train market would think that they are offering the "same" NW2.

Good for them.  But the point was that, if the SD40-2 is any indication, BLI will likely put phase I paint schemes on their phase II model.

[SP-Wolf]

Add me to the blowhard crowd. My fleet of BLI products is small -- I have an ATSF E6 A nd B unit - and - an SP PA - ABA set. All of which have had the OEM sound decoders and speakers replaced with ESU units. Made a huge difference in both performance and sound quality. Until BLI produces their models without decoders -- (Analog/DCC ready) - I will not purchase their products.

Any way -- that is my 2 cents worth, - Y'all carry on
Wolf

[cjm413]

Good for them.  But the point was that, if the SD40-2 is any indication, BLI will likely put phase I paint schemes on their phase II model.

https://www.broadway-limited.com/discontinueditems.aspx

[mmagliaro]

A company that makes a PRR M1 and T1 is definitely paying attention to the prototype market and isn't just making "toy trains".

I think they do some of both.  Their mooing cars and other sound effect products definitely lean more toward the entertainment side of model trains.  But their PRR prototype engines are catering to rabid proto PRR fans.

Maybe they just figured that the NW2 was really popular, and that regardless of Kato and Bachmann's versions, if they put one out with their sound features in it, it would sell.    Who's to say they aren't right?  They've done a string of engines already produced by somebody else, and they are clearly making money at it or they wouldn't keep doing it.

[peteski]

A company that makes a PRR M1 and T1 is definitely paying attention to the prototype market and isn't just making "toy trains".

I think they do some of both. 

Animated water tower, stock car with animal sounds, children's sneakers?  I guess you have a point.
We should all just embrace the NW2 with open wallets, and hope they paint it in many different versions of PRR livery. 

[CodyO]

Hate on the shoe`s all you want but that was a cash cow for them.


I just love how every BLI thread eventually goes into "They suck and I`m not buying"

[Point353]

Animated water tower, stock car with animal sounds, children's sneakers?  I guess you have a point.
We should all just embrace the NW2 with open wallets, and hope they paint it in many different versions of PRR livery. 

Speaking of the PRR and animal sounds, would there be a market for a (limited edition) model of a PRR B60b baggage/express car made by BLI which was fitted with the sheep sound unit from their stock car?

[peteski]

Speaking of the PRR and animal sounds, would there be a market for a (limited edition) model of a PRR B60b baggage/express car made by BLI which was fitted with the sheep sound unit from their stock car?

Not a baaaaaaad idea.