Below is a link to RMT’s new BEEF A units. From what I was told, the BEEFs are shortened F-3s. When I first heard of this idea, I thought the locomotives would look cartoony. Too short. Nope. They look great! And the B units also are very nice. I can see people buying them up to use as heater cars.
Read the description, and it only gets better. “The BEEF features interior cab detail with individual engineer and fireman figures, dual can motors, electronic reverse F-N-R, front directional headlights on A Unit, flexible diaphragms, operating metal knuckle couplers, cab windows, metal hand rails and detailed metal chassis with multi-wheel electrical pickup.” At $69.95, how can you hate it? Should I buy a Santa Fe, or a Boston and Maine? I just hope they go a little faster than the BEEPs.
I was ready to buy them at York! I tried to place a pre-order but was told to calm down, they wouldn’t be here for some time … sigh. If they’d had the locos and passenger cars at the show, I think they’d have sold out.
These bad boys will be running on my railroad for certain.
I’ve been buying some inexpensive locos for the kids to run. We have a Beep and a few Thomas locos, and we will purchase a Beef or two I’m sure.
Bob,
The RMT web site is predicting an October delivery date for the BEEFs.
David,
That little old lady was Clara Peller. She has long since passed on.
RMT is also coming out with passenger car PEEPs. Simarly shortened and priced. They ride on a single six-wheeled truck-from what I hear. I can’t recall if they are streamliners or not.
I’ll wait and see what others have to say about these before I buy one. I think they will be great, but the early Beeps had a coupler issue that needed some pretty radical fixing - cutting the body shell’s opening wider. If these BEEFs have bugs, I’ll wait till they get worked out.
This does go to show that there REALLY is a market for these kinds of smaller trains that the others for the most mart have chosen to ignore. And RMT’s product is priced at a point where it is affordable, especially when compared to the others.
I’m sure there will be a few comments that this is too “027” and non-prototypical. Oh well. There’s no shortage of products these days being made for those other buyers.
I’ve been saying for almost 15 years that the kinds of products RMT is making are EXACTLY what the hobby needs and that these very products WILL be successful. Good job Walter.
I don’t know, jaabat. I think I agree with your first assessment. They look too short to me. While I’m sure they would be fun to play with, it looks just a little too wierd for me to invest in one. Now, I wouldn’t refuse one as a gift !
RMT’s products are very nice. You get an aweful lot of value for the money. Short money, too. As “cute” and unique as their products are, I firmly believe they sell so well based on the price and also the quality. Other train manufacturers could learn a thing or two from RMT.
I wonder if these are being made from new tooling or if Walter found some obscure, forgotten molds again.
Frank,
The Beep’s maximum speed is a scale 40 mph. A little too slow to hold a kid’s attention, but slow enough that you absolutely never have to worry about it flying off the tracks. I saw some Buddies at a train show and they seemed to go faster.
The car samples were heavyweights - a coach, a baggage car (with a single door), and an open ended observation car that reminded me of that single truck novelty car that Walthers did some years ago.
Because I see so many products, I get excited about very few. I’d have stuffed these babies in my pockets to get’em back to Wisconsin. Two thumbs up.
Just taking a leap, I’d guess that the next stop for RMT would be a half-GG1, which, of course, does have a prototype. I’ll bet that would sell, too!
The BEEF - What a great idea! I love the fact that both the A and B units will be powered. Running them in tandem will virtually eliminate stalling problems on switches. I’m looking forward to seeing all the roadname choices.
You know, if they could shorten the Lionel / Williams 44 tonner the same way, they would just about have their first scale model!
The early Beeps also had issue navigating 027 track and switches but that has long since been worked out and one could probably assume that the Beef will be fine, or should I say “well done?”
I like the looks of these, I saw them and the shorty passenger cars (peeps) that were on display too. They look cool. I have three Beeps and am very satisfied with them.
My only recommendation for Walter is to sell a optional version of each Beep, Beef, and Buddy with a horn and a bell. Sounds would add alot of play value, but I am too inept to do an afftermarket conversion myself.
These are going to be great - worth the price just for something different. May they fly off the virtual shelves! I can see a whole layout populated by these - talk about selective compression.
Now when Train Shops sell out the first production run & have none on their shelves. Everyone can ask; “Where’s the Beef”?[:P][;)] Better watch out though. Walter may come out with a engine called “The Grits” & it will be made for shortline railroads based in the South.[;)][:P][:)][:o)] Take Care all
I just purchased & recieved a Rail Diesel Car from RMT and it runs great! The electronics in it have a three position F-N-R and you can also set the lights to stay on at one end or not along with turning off the reversing feature. Only have it three days and will see how well it does over a couple of years. Very affordable and looks great on 027 or GarGraves track, looks good next to a K-Line Plymouth switcher set.
The only thing about K-Line’s Plymouth Switchers is that the roadname Strasburg for the Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania is not correct as Strasburg Railroad has only steam locomotives.
Maybe this will wake-up the larger companies making model trains that people don’t want all the electronics on their trains.
Lee Fritz
Yankees will buy anything. [:0][;)] Got several Beeps to push hopper cars around. These will be interesting. Then you put in a Beep Commander with sound or Mini Commander with sound and you can contraol them with CAB1.
I’ll sure be buying those BEEFs and the PEEP passenger cars, just as I bought a number of the BEEPs and have a couple of BUDDYs. I’m gonna outfit an entire display layout with there cute little critters, and just have fun. The scale-oriented folks can do their thing, and more power to them, but these neat buggers are just the ticket for a whimsical, carefree, and fun-filled little pike that just about anyone can afford and enjoy.
