NOTE: RMT was ‘off-line’ from about 12 noon on Tuesday, October 1 until about 4:30PM today/Thursday October 3rd due to a telephone company switching station ‘melt-down’ in my area. Sorry I could not contact anyone online, but those that called, I tried to answer their questions the best I could.
First of all, I am not planning to close RMT. The Polk’s are closing their business. I (and my wife Susie) still own RMT 100%. As our product line grew, especially after much of the former Kline train molds became available to RMT, it became necessary to partner with Polk’s/Aristo to utilize their resources to continue RMT’s expansion. For this I have no regrets as the Polk Family was great to work with.
Secondly, and of the same importance…I want to thank all the ‘train guys (and gals)’ who expressed support for RMT through their informative OGR (and CTT) Forum posts, comments and purchases of RMT products.
But now it’s time for some background from Walter…
Going direct was a hard decision to make in November 2010 but ‘the writing was on the wall’. That month I personally called over 100 local hobbyshop dealers throughout the USA and Canada to talk about RMT ( and toy trains in general). A few did hear of RMT, I had already been in business for 7 years by then, and the others were still unaware of the RMT product line. But what really surprised and shocked me was, that, even though it was pre-Thanksgiving Week 2010, many hobbyshop dealers had not placed ANY toy train orders with manufacturers or hobby distributors for the upcoming Christmas Holiday Season. Were they waiting for Christmas Eve to order?
To the dealers (you know who you are) that continually trash RMT on the Forums and in their stores…for years I tried to support YOU by raising MSRP (at YOUR request) to allow YOU your 40%+ markup, made roadnames (again at YOUR request) tailored to fit particular market areas (and then
Walter, if you haven’t read my other posts, since having gotten back into the O gauge hobby, I have loved your stuff! I have 2 Beeps, as well as some newly acquired halloween flat cars. I am particularly impressed at the quality and it’s wonderful you are continuing on the K line tradition with some of their products. Do you have an Ebay store? That may help.
Good to hear you are here to say and thank you again for some wonderful products!
I’m glad RMT is staying in business. I have some of your products and I’m very pleased with the quality.The only thing I wish is that you would think about making more of your 027 boxcars in Southeastern roadnames i.e. Southern Railway, L&N, SCL,etc. I already have a set of your Frisco cars.
Walter, that’s terrific news. I remember buying your Xmas Beep so many years ago, and have added multiple items from your line since then. I most recently picked up a Lehigh Valley Beep for my youngest Corey, who absolutely had to have it and immediately built a train of short cars for it to pull. Looking forward to seeing what comes in in 2014.
Walter, Your product introduced my grandson to the wonderful would of model trains. Thank you. Keep those colorful and various names of Beeps heading our way.
I have purchased five RMT engines and many freight cars from RMT and have had outstanding enjoyment. I have featured RMT products on my former layout at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center year around, especially Christmas where Rudolph and Santa engines pulled Lionel Reindeer cars. Hundreds of veterans and their families saw this RMT Christmas feature for two seasons.
I’d love to see 4 wheel cars made similar to the 70s Lionel 9030 gondola, 9330 side dump car and the 4 wheel bobber caboose. I went through a "bigger better faster mode in my younger years but in my 40s I have found a soft spot for a K-line by Lionel Porter and a collection of about a dozen 4 wheel cars. My income is limited so I can’t buy big dollar engines like some of the other members on here can.