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 Posted - October 26 2006 : 11:19:02 AM
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could someone tell me why gp 20 models are scare on the ground apart from tyco/mantua,ken
this model is a delprado n gauge
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 Posted - October 26 2006 : 8:24:12 PM
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EMD GP-20s were pitched to the major American common carriers as "unit reduction" engines, whereby railroads were encouraged to upgrade and teased with trade-in incentives, having advertised with a "two will do the work of three" mantra. It worked very well. That EMD GP20 no. 5628 demonstrator team sold a lot of units and precipitated a load of trade-ins and power truck refitting. It also set the pattern for subsequent replacement rollouts and incentive programs by EMD that gave the 20 a rather short road life, soon superseded and replaced as it had done to Geep 7s and 9s. Model train tooling is bloody expensive, so as the "new best thing" superseded the 20, Athearn, Atlas, AHM, Bachmann and company moved on to the GP-30, 35, 50 and so on.
MagAc
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jlong
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Posted - October 26 2006 : 9:22:46 PM
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GP-20's.....Pure power, form, and function. CB&Q and ATSF loved them.
When I first got into N scale, Life Like was blowing out N scale UP GP-20's on the net for $17.00 each. I bought two. They were a bargain at that price for they are silky smooth powerful runners and the detail and paint is imaculate down to the microscopic handrails. I went back to buy three more and they were sold out.....F! F! F!.....Now that Walthers owns Life Like they are like $75.00 MSRP.[xx(]
John Long
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Posted - October 26 2006 : 9:41:03 PM
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John:
$75 msrp!
I don't think there is a master-boxed Tyco GP-20 redbox set (with a couple exceptions) you couldn't score for less than $75. Man I'm glad I abandoned the N-scale trackage.
MagAc
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jlong
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Posted - October 26 2006 : 10:44:32 PM
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Walthers rides a high horse as though their name means something to the model railroading community. Their post Life Like N scale engines are very difficult to convert to DCC as the frames have to be milled and insulated. They want Kato and Atlas money for them. Dream on Walthers. They are begining to wise up as they dropped the price of their catalog to $10.00 which is still $9.75 more than what I'm willing to pay.
John Long
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Posted - October 26 2006 : 11:07:24 PM
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Eh, Walthers ain't at all wising up charitable.
So they dropped their retail prices... but they raised wholesale. Which means that dealer margins are smaller, and those of us fortunate to have wholesale connections (or even MB Klein) still pay more in the end.
I did bite on the $10 catalog though. Looking through a 10-year-old one where half the stuff is out of stock just gets aggravating after a while.
Edited by - GoingInCirclez on October 26 2006 11:07:51 PM
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Posted - October 26 2006 : 11:14:30 PM
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I've heard tell of this DCC...
Does this mean my Astrac system is outmoded?
friend o' bill (William K. that is)
MagAc
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jlong
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 07:34:57 AM
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Maybe I'm spoiled with three rail as MTH and Lionel sends out a pile of catalogs every year for free. Astrac. Yea, I remember that. Too much for my wallet in its day. DCC and sound equipped engines start reaching O scale prices as an Athearn F7 AB set sells for $280.00. Not saying it's a bad deal. Would rather spend another $100.00 on a Lionel command/sound equipped diesel. On the other hand, Broadway Limited DCC and sound equipped steam engines seem like a good deal. I think they killed the brass market.
John Long
Edited by - jlong on October 27 2006 07:37:13 AM
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 1:10:31 PM
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Just kidding about the DCC, John. I'm just glad my Tyco escaped the digital "revolution." I have too much money invested in those little tan plastic insulated rail joiners to mess with this modern junk.
MagAc
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jlong
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 1:26:46 PM
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quote:Just kidding about the DCC, John. I'm just glad my Tyco escaped the digital "revolution." I have too much money invested in those little tan plastic insulated rail joiners to mess with this modern junk.
MagAc
Originally posted by MagnoliaAcademy - October 27 2006 : 5:10:31 PM
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Although I have Lionel's basic TMCC outfit, I don't care for complete walkaround command control systems. I prefer to sit on a stooll and move levers.
John Long
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 1:38:27 PM
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John:
I prefer to sit on a stool, crack open a Leinenkugel Oktoberfest, dive into a good book and pray nobody interrupts "my time" by needing to use the facility.
MagAc
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 2:18:11 PM
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Uh... wow. That's the best double-entendre of the word "stool" I've ever seen. [V]
[:D]
*goes back to third grade*
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 2:37:42 PM
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Circlez:
It was pure venting (how's that for further spiralling?)
My "reading" is yet another favorite hobby frowned-upon by the old balln'chain.
Can't a guy have any fun?
MagAc
Now the question is whether I remember the cardinal rule of the Coriolis effect... do they spiral clockwise or counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere?
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 5:47:54 PM
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Circles,
MB Kleins won't carry Life Like stuff anymore because of the price increase.
I asked about where all the cheapo LL stuff was and was told they won't stock it no more.
Carl T.
President of the Cape James Terminal RR.
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jlong
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Posted - October 27 2006 : 9:48:52 PM
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Holy cow!! I stopped at the model railroad shop tonight and he had a Walthers Lifelike N scale SW switcher marked $75 discount. Other than the knuckle couplers, they are no different than the older Rapido coupler equipped models that sold for $25.00 discount. Life Like SW switchers are nice but they aint $75.00 engines....period. Atlas VO-1000's do circles around them for the same money and are DCC ready.
John Long
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Posted - October 28 2006 : 12:06:14 AM
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MagAc - Way I see it, if "they" are the type that can "spin", it's all good in the end.
Oops.
*back to second grade*
Re: prices (JLong) - Yeah, the ever-upward climb is truly something to behold. And you just KNEW the big "W" was itching to snag someone after the whole Athearn-Roundhouse-Horizon shakeout. Unfortunately exclusive distribution deals make it worse for everyone. At least Athearn, while a little pricier, has made noticeable (and often downright amazing) strides in quality from details and running gear right down to the paint jobs. They're still the value leader even if they charge twice the price China-RTR for what you could have assembled yourself two years ago...
Their new 2970 hoppers, though... wow. I built three of them. Cost the same as the RTR variety, and I lost all that time to boot. What a rip. But I just HAD to freelance... [B)]
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jlong
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Posted - October 28 2006 : 04:53:35 AM
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Well at least they are still offering stuff made the old way. I did pick up an Atlas "Classic" RS-1 for $56.00 and an Athearn blue box caboose kit for $7.00. I remember when Athearn blue box kits dominated the shelves. Not so anymore. They are in a small pile in a far corner. "New" stuff isn't high on my list but the Atlas GN RS-1 is major eye candy.
John Long
Edited by - jlong on October 28 2006 04:56:07 AM
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