If you would be so kind as to fabricate in O gauge the TGV (Eurostar or Duplex, specifically) I would certainly purchase it and believe others would, as well. Please have this model made traditional in size, 031 minimum curve compatible, and with proportions and detailing that make for a good representation of the real thing. Design it as a deluxe train; this showy set would target those avid hobbyists who enjoy, even prefer, smaller-than-scale-size or those who may be limited by space constraints, yet value well detailed model rail equipment. This sleek and exotic outfit could prove to be simply irresistible.
A suggested list price in the *$600.00-$700.00 range for the set, including four cars, could earn it a “must have” from me and, I would think, a sufficient number of people to make it a feasible venture.
Sincerely,
D.P.
Pricing loosely based upon:
MTH Rail King Imperial Hiawatha Hudson Passenger Set @ $499.95
Lionel Flying Yankee Set @ $599.99
MTH Premier Zephyr Set @ $699.95
Anyone else up for this, or do I have my wires crossed?
I think someone had a family member ride on one of these just recently over in France? I don’t know if I would buy it, but I’ll bet they would sell a lot of them!
That might be my daughter who took it a few weeks ago from Paris to Nice. Bought me back an ‘inflight’ mag. As long as we’re dreaming, some of the latest Japanese hi-speed trains sure look nice.
The TGV Duplex is as attractive a train as I have ever seen–perhaps the best looking TGV, and much, much nicer looking than an Acela, IMO.
Mehano (a Slovenian company) manufactures it in HO, as a powered A-coach-coach-dummy A setup, and it is something to behold.
Sorry I can’t post a pic or link, but if anyone is interested, Mehano has a website (too long an address to post here–just Google mehano trains, and you’ll see Mehano’s site at the top of the page. Also Eurolokshop (eurolokshop.com) in New York, is a dealer for Mehano, and a pcture of the Duplex can be found on their site, if anyone is interested.
Foreign train…? Don’t care! French design…? Don’t care! Just want it made by an American company (in China) [:D]
This is an earlier design of TGV, and would be a “TGV Reseau” or “TGV Atlantique”. The TGV Duplex has double deck (hence “duplex”) trailer cars, and slightly reshaped nose ends.
This illustration is very useful in that it points out a problem with TGV models. The end passenger carrying cars are different from the intermediate cars, owing to the articulation. As supplied in the set the two end cars have one truck each and one shared truck. If the train is to be expanded at all, an intermediate car, which is shorter and has only one truck, is required.
So if a new TGV is to be made in O gauge, the set should have five cars (two power cars, two end passenger cars and one intermediate car). This would ensure the availibility of intermediate cars to expand the train.
I have four HO TGV sets, the original orange “Sud Est” set, a yellow postal TGV, a blue and silver “Atlantique” (like the picture) and a PBKA “Thalys” red and silver set. I also have a grey and yellow “Eurostar” set, which is basically a TGV. I only have intermediate cars for the Sud Est and Thalys sets (partly because the maker Lima (now Hornby) changed the design of the articulation, which is a bit frustrating).
The Acela power cars are basically the same as TGV Duplex power cars, so Lionel could make a TGV using the Acela mechanisms and with new power car bodies and new intermediate cars. A skilled modeller might be able to kitbash a single deck TGV from an Acela set.
However, I doubt there would be the demand in the US market for a TGV. I’m amazed that a scale model of a British steam locomotive has emerged from the “Harry Potter” movies, but the TGV has no such special interest (even if they appeared in “Mission Impossible” with Tom Cruise).
Brutus, thanks for posting the photo, though as M636c correctly pointed out, it is of a different, older model TGV.
The Duplex power cars have more aerodynamic “faces,” larger, dark-tinted windshields that are flush with their sloping, somewhat convex profiles. The double decker coaches have a similar height to the powered cars at each end, which makes for a very sleek looking consist, and the design of the blue and stainless paint scheme further adds to the ultra modern look of this train.
By the way, the TGV that holds the rail speed record of 357.2 mph is called the POS, a name not likely to garner it very many buyers if it were offered in the U.S. as an O gauge model. [;)] [(-D]
Hi! I was in France a few weeks ago and rode the TGV from Nice to Paris. Wow, it is fast and smooth! I would love to buy a TGV train set and use it as “conversation piece” to tell my stories about France and TGV.
Donna, it wouldn’t hurt to email Mike Wolf at MTH and make a suggestion. I once met him at Portland, Oregon for the National Toy Train show several years ago and asked if he would make the NYC Subways. I told him I would love to collect the subways where it gave me good memories as a kid growing up in NYC. A few years later, MTH sells the subways and I have collected 4 diferent sets and waiting for the 5th one to come out.
