Are any of the manufacturers planning to make a commemorative Golden Spike car?
If they did, I know I would buy it in a hurry. The 150th anniversary is a once in a lifetime event. It would be really neat to have a commemorative car. The Salt Lake NMRA Chapter has one in HO.
I certainly can’t afford the LGB set.
hmm… have not heard anything… weren’t you alive at the 100th? (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
No, I was not alive for the 100th (I’m a Gen Z).
Ahh, so you will most likely be alive for the 200th then! (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(was just making the point that something that happens every 50 years is hopefully NOT a once in a lifetime event for most of us)
Just having some fun with you!
Greg
Okay, so maybe a twice in a lifetime event. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)Still, rare enough that it would be cool to have a commemorative car. The event is arguably the biggest in U.S. railroad history. It’s the one train related event found in my high school history textbook. Seems to warrant a commemorative car. I’m sure collectors would love it. I’m not really in that group, but I would love to have a Transcon 150 car.
I suppose you could go to Stan Cedarleaf (waterslide) or G Scale Graphics (vinyl) to get some decals made up to commemorate this event and apply to whatever car you see as most suitable. You might even persuade them to do the artwork FOC if they think there may be a market among like minded people to offset the cost. Just a thought.
Thanks Max. I had a similar thought for doing a custom painted and decaled car. But, I believe there is more interest out there, and I’d like to see if it would be worthwhile for a manufacturer to do a custom run before I consider a custom painted and decaled car (I plan to create a new thread with a poll to gauge interest).
By the way, what is FOC?
Joe Loll said:
Thanks Max. I had a similar thought for doing a custom painted and decaled car. But, I believe there is more interest out there, and I’d like to see if it would be worthwhile for a manufacturer to do a custom run before I consider a custom painted and decaled car (I plan to create a new thread with a poll to gauge interest).
By the way, what is FOC?
Too many variables methinks…
Which car, which scale, which era?
Free Of Charge?
USA Trains American series reefer?
Watch MTH, they seam to do stuff like that.
Greg, that is exactly what I was thinking. However, the type of car depends on the interest. If at least 50 people are interested, Hartland can produce the car. If at least 100 people are interested, then USA can produce the car. I would love to have 150 cars produced, but it just depends on how many people are interested. I had contemplated Bachmann, but I feel USA and Hartland have better quality, as well as the fact that it would be made in the U.S. Fitting for a uniquely American event.
David, thank you for the info. I have not seen anything from them thus far, but I will be on the lookout.
Interest is one thing, commitment and closing on that supposed interest and hoped for ensuing commitment is another thing. Any “manufacturer” is going to ask you to front up the funds to do such a thing under these circumstances. Would you be willing take the risk ? There is also the issue of programming in a “special” to already long fixed production schedules/slots at such a late stage. I doubt you could develop, approve, test shot, approve again, produce, Q/C and distribute at such a late stage and so close to the anniversary itself. Then there is the point made earlier - we’ll assume we are all on 45 mm gauge here - what prototype and what scale (and does it need to negotiate back to back R1 switches) ?
Yes, it’s always nice to commemorate a significant event but really most manufacturers do it to cash in to get extra value from existing tooling in the hope the buyer will be convinced of the “collectible” nature of said artifact and a hoped for return on “investment” at a later stage (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)Sorry if I’m being a bit cynical here. I still think your best bet given the diverse nature of the LS railroad hobby is some form of relevant decoration that can be applied to any type of car or loco (and that can be removed at a later stage if need be - vinyl ?). It needs to be able to be produced on demand and readily re-scalable at the design/production stage to get over the variety of vehicles it could be used on. Perhaps even a range of logos to choose from using the fonts and styles of the most popular lines, past and present. Anybody for a “flying” Golden Spike logo that could be applied to a tender or box car or even a “sunrise” one. You can see where my interests lie (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)
Very valid points. Since I’m not familiar with doing custom runs, my plan would be to do it in cooperation with a local hobby shop that is very familiar with custom runs, and they would exclusively sell the car. The idea behind the poll is to be able to show them that there is enough interest in the car (or not), so there is merit to produce it. If I could get even 50 people to vote in the poll, I think that might be a good sample size of interest overall. The more votes the better. At the soonest, the car would be available some time next year. While not ideal timing, I don’t want to wait 50 years for the next celebration to do it (assuming it was still possible). It will still be fresh in people’s minds a year or two from now.
The whole reason I bring it up is because all the manufacturers seem to have neglected the event (with the exception of LGB), and I don’t understand why they didn’t see the anniversary as a chance to promote and sell their product. Go to www.spike150.org and look at all the merch they have. They even commissioned a $260 watch! https://rockwelltime.com/products/the-limited-golden-spike-edition-apostle-black-watch
There is a commemorative car in HO made for the NMRA convention, and Lionel has produced 2 boxcars to commemorate the anniversary. Of course I’m not looking to make any money, I just wanted to commemorate the event the best way I know how, to run a commemorative car/train (much better than just buying a patch or pin).
Rather than a car, it might be cheaper and easier to get someone to run off a set of decals or dry transfers that could be put on any type car. Just a thought.
Bachmann is offering an HO set for only $550!
Your prayers have been answered!
Oops, I should have specified g scale. I’m sure it’s a nice set, but much too small lol. However, I must admit that I lied - sort of. While I mentioned that LGB was the only g scale manufacturer commemorating 150 years, I was wrong. There is a commemorative car - sort of. Piko has come out with a UP coach named Promontory Summit with the number 1869. While not quite the commemorative car I am hoping for, it still pays tribute to the anniversary, and I plan to get it.
I’ve decided I want to create a 3 car train instead of just one car 
I still want to do a custom run, but if you all are interested, I plan to make a thread just for the train.
Some of you had suggested doing decals instead. I like that idea, and I am thinking if there is not enough interest to do a custom run car, I’d do decals instead. In that case I’d still want a car, and get one custom painted, with the decals produced. Depending on how things go, this may win out, but I would want the designs to be the same, whether it be a custom run or decal. There are so many good logos out there, it will be difficult to chose. In fact, I may have you all vote on logos later on.
I haven’t gotten many people to vote on the poll I made. Looking for advice, I emailed a friend of mine that has done a custom run in the past. Here is what he said:
“Factory runs require 150 pieces or more. To determine how much demand requires research ,direct survey at shows, input from dealers and hobby shops.For an anniversary car you need to start 1 year in advance. Factory time is contracted out, you have to get in line and wait your turn. Something like your idea would best be done by a club where it can be pre-sold. There are people I work with to produce prototype samples.This one or two sample is expensive, generally $200 per item and up”
So, doing a custom run seems out of my scope for now. If I ever do a custom run in the future, I will need to put in much effort to get the word out to people, and to see the car produced. With that in mind, I think the best option will be decals. Some of you had expressed that decals would be the best option, and I would agree. Not only would it save you all from buying another car you don’t run, but you will be able to decorate and detail your car the way you want it, making it one of a kind and truly unique.
Totally too late to suggest it, but a good 150 anniversary car would have been V&T Coach 17. Before it was bought by the V&T from the CP, the coach was present at Promontory as the commissioner’s car. Brought the CA golden spike and NV silver spike to the party, and was full of CP dignitaries. After a long time as a movie prop, the Nevada State RR museum acquired her, and is now undergoing some preservation (or “arrested decay”) work. I walked around her last October, when they were straightening her backbone with a long steel truss up her aisle and a lot of intricate rigging. Anyway, the old gal was at Promontory. And though I’m not quite sure, she may be the last one standing of that roster.
Cliff Jennings said:
Totally too late to suggest it, but a good 150 anniversary car would have been V&T Coach 17. Before it was bought by the V&T from the CP, the coach was present at Promontory as the commissioner’s car. Brought the CA golden spike and NV silver spike to the party, and was full of CP dignitaries. After a long time as a movie prop, the Nevada State RR museum acquired her, and is now undergoing some preservation (or “arrested decay”) work. I walked around her last October, when they were straightening her backbone with a long steel truss up her aisle and a lot of intricate rigging. Anyway, the old gal was at Promontory. And though I’m not quite sure, she may be the last one standing of that roster.
http://www.nsrm-friends.org/nsrm32.html
Yes that would have been a good idea
Cliff, that is a neat idea. My desire was more along the lines of a commemorative boxcar, like this HO one for the NMRA convention.
If you do want a coach, Piko makes one lettered for Promontory Summit. It’s not the same as the V&T car, but it’s still a nice way to commemorate the event.
Also, not that it makes any difference, I sent LGB a letter requesting them to make an affordable commemorative car, since most of us cannot afford the 11k set. Speaking of the 11k set, I saw a video of the set in action at LGB’s booth at the golden spike event. While the set was cool, I was really intrigued by a caboose with special graphics for the event. I hope they’ll come out with something like that. In the mean time, I’ll offer decals.
