I see that the reintroduction of the Roundhouse (Athearn) 4-6-2, first announced Feb. 18, 2008, as been quietly Discontinued, at least according to the Roundhouse web site. http://www.roundhousetrains.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=4-6-2&CatID=THLS
Yeah, some of us know. I have had a thread going about this loco as I have been trying to order one.
I received an email from Athearn that said it was dropped.
I have had a pre-order with Caboose Hobbies and they also told me the project was dropped.
Rich
I hope they sell the tooling to someone who will finish it.
more than likely they’ll just keep it around … in storage…[:-^]
This is one of the hazards of several manufacturers’ new policy of pre-ordering. Bachmann has cancelled several projects in the past because they didn’t get enough pre-orders, and this may be what prompted Athearn to cancel the Roundhouse 4-6-2.
While Athearn does “take” preorders, there is no indication that they have ever used preorders to determine the fate of a product offering - except maybe to make more than they orginally planned.
Athearn did indicate when they canceled the 4-6-2 that it was because of a vender problem, suggesting that the vender could not deliver the product at the quality/price/time that Athearn required.
All observation of the market would suggest that Athearn is not in the kind of position as Broadway Limited or Rapido who seem cash straped and unable to bring products to market without garrantied quick turnover.
While all manufacturers have slowed down new offerings recently, Athearn, Bachmann and others still continue to bring products to market without them being “presold”. Those depending on the “presold” marketing model are in for a suprise.
Until the manufacturers take a different approach, the market will continue to shring, and the newer companies will have a tough time. A situation they created largely themselves.
While thet all fight over the few people who will buy Big Boys, GS4’s and Daylight passenger cars, hundreds of products that would sell go unmanufactured.
But what do I know, I’m just a hick with some little trains without brains.
Sheldon
Athearn/Roundhouse stuff is already made in China. Where is Athearn going to send the project to.
Rich
When and what did Bachmann cancel. I have never heard of Bachmann taking preorders. Perhaps you have the manufacturer mixed up with another?
Yes, provide us with some documentation on the alleged Bachmann issue.
Rich
cacole must be thinking about Broadway, Bachmann has not canceled anything and in fact does not have any kind of “preorder” program.
Athearn does send out advance flyers and take preorders from dealers, but I have never seen them cancel a project after the flyers came out, except the 4-6-2, for the reasons you and others were given - not for a lack of orders.
Sheldon
It’s possible that given the poor reputation of both the 2-8-2 and the 4-6-2 when it comes to the cracked gear syndrome, perhaps Athearn decided that they wouldn’t be able to over come the publicy problems? Too bad, because once you’ve got them up and running with extra weight, the cracked gears fixed, working front couplers, tender pick ups and other mods, they’re really not bad models. I have two of each and would have bought more, especially the 2-8-2s as they were the most common steam era freight loco.