Anyone Seen Winston?

James Day

James Day

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Every year Bachmann annonce what will be their new releases in the Large Scale TTE range and then we spend the rest of the year waiting for them. Sometimes they arrive around Christmas and sometimes they don't make it until early the following year.

I am frankly not that bothered about Winston, although I will buy one of course. What I am really looking forward to is the Ice Cream Truck, which is really what we would call a Van in the UK. That would look great in my TTE freight trains, especially if painted grey or brown.... Maybe one of each?

But I will continue to wait.

There was a Book and TV series many years ago called the 'Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' by a very funny author called David Nobbs. The trains in that story always arrived late, but were consistently 11 minutes late each day. Reggie wrote a letter to the 'Southern Region (as it was back in the 1970s), suggesting that they re-time the trains by 11 minutes, so they wouldn't be late.

I am wondering whether there is any point writing a similar missive to Bachmann? Perhaps they should add six to eight months, rather than 11 minutes?

James
 
Well the wait goes on. Usually the new Large Scale Thomas items are available in the USA ahead of the UK, but a check of the Bachmann.com website still describes the items as coming soon and price TBA.

I must check my dictionary for the meaning of the word soon. From previous experiences these items should already be on sale in the USA now. However, as it appears that they are not, we could be looking at then arriving in the UK March at the earliest.

Although as far as I know the price of Winston has yet to be announced anywhere, the Ice Cream Truck (van) in listed on the Bachmann UK website as being £62 when it reaches us, which is the same price as the tank wagons.

James
 
In case there is anyone out there besides me who did not know who or what is a Winston, I am posting a pic

Winston.jpg

David
 
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Winston Wickham sounds more like a caddish character from a Jane Austen novel than a track inspection car!

Having said that the TTE character closely resembles the real things, which I have read was a batch of the thirty made in the 1950s.... see here: http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/winston.htm

The next challenge will be to find a TTE figure to drive it. I can see some major surgery being required to one of my bootleg Lionel figures!!

I imagine that the eyes will move, as they do in all locos in this range, but up until now my chums and I have always managed to find a way to illuminate the headlamps. The ones here look a little tricky, although unlike the Ice Cream truck, this is not an image of the model, so some hope remains that a way will be open to us!
 
Drat I thought that you meant they were doing an Unrebuilt Bullied Pacific by the Name of Winston (Churchill). Still the Speeder does look nice, but I bet it will run like a Dog, or at least somewhat like the Gandy Dancers did/do.
JonD
 
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James Day said:
There was a Book and TV series many years ago called the 'Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' by a very funny author called David Nobbs. The trains in that story always arrived late, but were consistently 11 minutes late each day. Reggie wrote a letter to the 'Southern Region (as it was back in the 1970s), suggesting that they re-time the trains by 11 minutes, so they wouldn't be late.

I am wondering whether there is any point writing a similar missive to Bachmann? Perhaps they should add six to eight months, rather than 11 minutes?

James
Click to expand...

I can tell you their reply - excuse no 19, badgers on the line at New Malden :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
Last night I was sent a rather intesting image by a chum in the United States:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbIX8wXUkAAdc5a.jpg
New thomas stuff.jpg

It shows the Ice Cream wagon and without explanation, three new vans! Also everything is marked as new. He then very kindly sent me another link that makes sense of it all:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,31660.msg234795.html#msg234795

The above link is worth reading. My chum John also adds:

" from the US Bachmann forum site ... looks like the ice cream van prototype, and mock ups of the new three vans. Thomas loco must be the new DCC sound version. Whats interesting is that there is no new tooling for 2016, and they still are not giving a release date for the ice cream van. Doesn't look like they are investing in the range."

That is sad. I notice that in the 00/HO range they are introducing Rosie - a USA style tank. I would love a G Scale one of those!!

James
 
[QUOTEJust needs a GWR loco to go with it... :)[/QUOTE]

I think that Percy has the most potential to look GWish, as it reminds me of some of those locos that were taken into GW stock during take overs of smaller companies in South Wales.

It would be interesting to know what the van is actually modelled on though, as many companies have done the "let's paint it this colour and that colour too" stuff with high inappropriate stock over the years!

James
 
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So, it is 8th March 2016 and the two Bachmann Large Scale TTE 2015 'new releases' are still shown as 'coming soon', even on the US Bachmann Web Site. It will be at least another month after they arrive there before they reach the UK!

So unless there is a rapid change of gear, any 'new for 2016' re-liveried versions of the Ice Cream Van, or the Thomas and Percy with DCC sound are still a good 12 months away. On the plus side, at least I now know not to buy loads of the Ice Cream Vans to re-paint, although I still think that a plain brown one would look good....

I believe that the Reggie Perrin analysis stands firm. Bachmann need to time their TTE new releases so they make more sense!

The memory of these things do fog up after a few years, but I recall that Emily arrived just before Xmas the year it was released, as did the Brake Van and the S C Ruffy wagon. Toby was definitely late though and I think that the Red Open and Cream Tanker were too.

James
 
So it is 23rd April now. The situation remains unchanged. No Winston or Ice Cream Van, here or in USA. Come on Bachmann! This is a new record for lateness in this range!

James
 
If you live in America the Large Scale TTE Ice Cream 'Truck' is finally available now for $99, but Winston is still to follow. My guess is that in a month or so the Ice Cream 'Van' should be widely available here too

All the mystery vans I mentioned earlier in this thread are now listed on the Bachmann UK site and shown as on order:

New § 98015 Ice Cream Van £ 66.00

New § 98016 Sodor Fruit & Vegetable Co. Van £ 66.00

New § 98017 Explosives Box Van £ 66.00

New § 98018 Great Western Box Van £ 66.00

This will make up a nice train, eventually! I had been planning to buy several Ice Cream vans and paint then in assorted colours, but I guess that if I live long enough, I shouldn't need to do that!

Given the current exchange rates the listed prices for the TTE goods stock at least, it is now marginally cheaper in the UK than in USA!

James
 
I got my e-mail newsletter from Bachmann today. The Ice Cream 'van' is announced a new item. Just spoken to GRS who say that it will probably be in stock in around a week or so, if previous experience is anything to go by.

That just leaves Winston to folllow and Bachmann's 2015 release programme will be complete...... That said, I am expecting (hoping) that the 2016 releases - the other two vans and the DCC Thomas and Percy will arrive a whole lot more quickly.

James
 
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