Trainfest 2010 Report

[lashedup]

Ok. First off, there wasn't a lot of new announcements this outside of FVM. Most of what we saw was painted samples of stuff that has either just hit the hobbies stores or will be available in the next couple months. Also I apologize (again) in advance for the depth of field issues in the photos. I just need to shoot this informal stuff with a point and shoot as opposed to the nicer camera where I'd need a tripod to do it right. Anyhoo...

Soundtraxx

Soundtraxx had their new Surroudtraxx system on display at the show. This is a DCC compatible system that allows you to mount speakers around a layout and as trains move through different parts of the layout, the sound travels with it. The nice thing is that you could use a subwoofer and actually get a more realistic sound. Bad news is that I don't see how you can localize the sound as much. Either way it worked well...

They also have some new non-sound decoders available in n-scale sizes.








Bachman

Bachman had numerous samples on display in their booth of forthcoming releases...


GE 70 Tonner -




Peter Witt Streetcars -




4-6-0 painted samples -






And GP7 samples -





Atlas


Atlas had no specific new announcements, but they did have most of their next couple months of releases on display:















Digitrax

No new announcements, but they had their latest stuff on display. We asked about a next generation version of the DT400 and got a smile and confirmation that they are working on something all-new that will utilize the latest technologies. Should be interesting.





Athearn

I gave my annual appeal for more new steam in n-scale (UP FEF units in particular) and the current story is that nothing is planned right now. The people at the booth would like to offer it, but it sounds like the decisions are out of their hands. Makes me wonder if the new owners (Horizon) might not be the easiest to work with. Latest/forthcoming releases on display as well:











Intermountain

Intermountain had a handful of new/newer releases on display on their tables. Included off to the side were shell prototypes of the new modern reefers they are working on.









Deluxe Innovations

Similar story - mostly newer releases on display. They did have a new variation of their building kit that was pretty cool and had nice detail.









Kato

Kato had their latest releases on display and nothing new to announce - yet. They smiled about a new big project for next year but weren't talking. We've heard rumors of Milwaukee Road Little Joe and Olympian Hiawatha. Who knows with Kato though.

American Freedom train sample was on display -





Walthers/Lifelike

No new announcements and some samples of forthcoming stuff.





Fox Valley Models

As announced earlier, FVM will have Milwaukee Road rib-side caboose units, different paint schemes of their Hiawatha coaches and a new GP60M/GP60B project. They had a pre-production sample of their Hiawatha set on display and it looked very good. I only have one semi-blurry photo to offer:







The rest of the photos can be found HERE. I got a late start up to Milwaukee (on top of only being able to make it up for one day) and wasn't able to spend much time up there this year looking around at other stuff. I believe they set a record for attendance this year with Saturday alone drawing more than 15,000 people.

- jamie

[amato1969]

Good pictures!  Thanks for sharing.

[James Costello]

Thanks Jamie!

Glad I am passing on the Atlas Cal Northern SD9 - the green still looks off to me. One day I'll get my undecs into the paint shop.

[wazzou]

Thanks Jamie.

I'm sure there will be quite an uproar over the UP paint on that Bachmann GP-7 sample.  The UNION PACIFIC lettering looks a trifle off.

[sizemore]

Bachman

Bachman had numerous samples on display in their booth of forthcoming releases...

Peter Witt Streetcars -


4-6-0 painted samples -


And GP7 samples -


- jamie

The streetcar is looking sexy! The GP-7 looks to be shaping up almost as hot. The Ten Wheeler doesnt look bad either but I dont like the tender selection. Quite impressed by Bachmann.

The S.

[atsf_arizona]

That's a fantastic photo report, *thx* for doing it for all of us.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks!

Why on earth is Bachmann putting winterization hatches on their GPs? I really hope those aren't cast on.

I agree 100% on the ten wheeler assessment. The locomotive itself looks gorgeous, but the tender choice just seems so dumb.

[mcjaco]

Glad I am passing on the Atlas Cal Northern SD9 - the green still looks off to me. One day I'll get my undecs into the paint shop.

I felt the same way, but I have the two on pre-order and will go with it.  They're close, but seem a bit too light.  They had the Wisconsin Nothern GP15 a models few down, and it almost looked like they used the same green.  I really hope they didn't.  Kind of frustrating, as Microscale lists Reading Green as being a good match, and from my previous attempts and painting Cal Northern units, I'd say Microscale is right on.

They did at least go with the two units that weren't DM&IR wth the funky fuel tanks.    

[John]

Thanks .. were you able to get a close look at the all new jewel case?

[93cram]

Soundtraxx had their new Surroudtraxx system on display at the show. This is a DCC compatible system that allows you to mount speakers around a layout and as trains move through different parts of the layout, the sound travels with it. The nice thing is that you could use a subwoofer and actually get a more realistic sound. Bad news is that I don't see how you can localize the sound as much. Either way it worked well...

Thanks for the report and nice photographs Jamie !

I've experimented a bit with one of their steam sound decoder, a Bachman consol and a couple of PC speakers 'under the table' (and this was REALLY a table  ;D) and found the trick worked for me.
I'd suppose the 'sound blocks' would have to be only a few feet apart though, like 4 or 5 feet.
Beside, I'm not versed in occupancy detection matters for DCC (Digitraxx transponding ?), so I don't know
how it could work in details, but that sounds (sorry for the pun !) promising 

[Sokramiketes]

Thanks!

Why on earth is Bachmann putting winterization hatches on their GPs? I really hope those aren't cast on.

Not all units had them installed, so I presume they are separate parts.  Lots of railroads had them?

[Sokramiketes]

How did I miss this, and what the heck did you climb?

[lock4244]

Deluxe Innovations

Agh! Do the CN and MILW chipracks really have rapido couplers on them?!

[93cram]

The rest of the photos can be found HERE.

Jamie,
While looking at your gallery, I noticed an apparently fully scenicked 'Franksville' on the Modutrak set-up.
Any chance there would be other photographs of this module in 'finished' state ?

Marc

[Puddington]

Does the plastic walkway on those new Atlas hoppers leave anyone as cold as it does me ? I mean really Atlas....ever heard of etched brass ? Sigh