Thinking about the price of HO scale engines got me wondering, what does a new SD70 for example, cost a real railroad like BNSF or CSX?
Per the latest issue of Trains magazine, a current six-axle road locomotive with DC traction motors costs about $1 million. AC traction used to cost roughly twice as much, but that difference has been cut significantly in recent years. An HO locomotive looks like a bargain, figuring that 1/87th of $1 million is about $11,480!
So long,
Andy
But, Andy, you’ve got to price it by volume not scale. An HO locomotive occupies 1/658503 of the volume of the full sized unit. By that criteria, an HO locomotive should only cost $1.52 [(-D]
Andre
Andre
I like your style! The volume also enters into the picture on weight and HP.
$1.52 seems about right.
CZ
Mike, once again you beat me to the punch.
Mark
It’s kind of hard to argue with that kind of philosophy.[:P]
haha I was going to post the same thing, then took it back. Based on the volume factor, a Z scale loco should cost about 9 cents then.
–Randy
And who says those MR guys ain’t got a sense of humor… that was a classic answer.
Mark, that’s my reason for living. [(-D]
That, and having the building inspector give us the final OK on the new roof we put on the house.
Man, am I glad that’s done.
Mike
“Andrechapelon” wrote: “you’ve got to price it by volume not scale.”
I disagree, Andre. I was taking a fraction of the price tag, not of the locomotive. In this age of electronic fund transfers, dollars, even a million of them, have no volume!
So long,
Andy
Perhaps, but you’re still only buying 1/658503 of a 1:1 locomotive. It should be priced accordingly.[swg]
Cheers,
Andre
That puts my N scale at like a quarter. I wish!!! I’d have like a 1000 engines by now. Good thing I’m not the only one to respond, my guess’s were 150-200% higher than Andy’s figure. I was thinking at least 1.5 mill. Now the question is how much does a new car cost?