Graham Farish and their shrinking steam range

[N_GaugeModeller]

Hi all

Just been on the Graham Farish site to see if anything  of interest was arriving soon and was quiet surprised by how small their range is these days.  9 basic model types  no Panniers, no 3MT, no 4MT, tank or tender, not even listing their new 8F.

I wonder whats going on at Farish, almost looks like they are abandoning steam.

NGM

[Bigmac]

Hi all

Just been on the Graham Farish site to see if anything  of interest was arriving soon and was quiet surprised by how small their range is these days.  9 basic model types  no Panniers, no 3MT, no 4MT, tank or tender, not even listing their new 8F.

I wonder whats going on at Farish, almost looks like they are abandoning steam.

NGM

Ive said the same thing about dapol.

[N_GaugeModeller]

Perhaps their newer and younger customers are now buying more Diesel and Electric models, we do tend to model what we remember as kids, and many have never seen a steam locomotive, mind you I am in my 60's but living in Essex I also never saw a Steam Loco as a kid, they were all Diesels and Electric on my local lines.

Or could it be there is more profit in the more simple diesel, electric models with no complicated valve gear.

Could this be the end of an era for model steam locos

NGM

[Hightower]

I'm in my 30's and modeling steam, I just find the engineering a lot more interesting and I think the complicated valve gear adds a lot more interest to the models. That said, I didn't travel that much by train as a kid, but we did visit the Great Central Railway quite often, especially for Santa Specials.

Mark

[Roy L S]

I think that too much is being read into this personally.

Bachmann already has the tooling for a wide range of steam locos, many with new coreless motor loco drives and it is inconceivable that they will not want to leverage more return from their investment.

The issue is that they need production slots to make them and these were already in short supply before the pandemic, and Covid-Safe measures needed to keep people safe in factories has since made matters much worse.

I actually see the almost immediate sell-through of three of the four 8F releases as a really healthy indicator of demand for steam locos, and I am sure it has not gone unnoticed by Bachmann.

For sure stocks are a bit thin at Barwell generally and the cupboard is almost bare as far as steam locos go, but given the current situation surely that reflects demand outstripping supply, and again, pent up demand will not have gone unnoticed.

What is coming through is logical, more 4Fs - so far there has been only one production run four or five years ago, the J39 same story, one production batch even longer ago, Fairburn ditto, N Class and 5MT also quite some years back and those now with sound and sound-ready upgrades.

Of other like the Ivatt 2MT there has been a fairly recent second production run, Jinties too and I think the 64xxs?

What I would be surprised to see more of is the earlier tender drive locos like 4MT Tender, Jubs, Scots and Black Fives. In each case there has already been more than one production run and by modern standards they are becoming dated, but given the new Stanier tender with the 8F who would want to rule out a brand new loco-drive Black Five?

So, my conclusion is different. Healthy demand still and the current position comes from difficulties with production and shipment. I absolutely do not see Bachmann giving up on steam in N, nor would it be in their interests to do so.

Roy

[Yet_Another]

I think there has been a change to the website, and it's only showing stuff that's 'active' rather than the full range. There are only eight diesel classes showing on the website, with no 20s 24s or 25s, which would imply they're getting out of diesels, using the above logic.

[Nbodger]

What I would be surprised to see more of is the earlier tender drive locos like 4MT Tender, Jubs, Scots and Black Fives. In each case there has already been more than one production run and by modern standards they are becoming dated, but given the new Stanier tender with the 8F who would want to rule out a brand new loco-drive Black Five?

Certainly one each of the above, if and when they do a rerun, as long as they don't all come to market the same week.

Rails are at present taking pre orders for the J39

Also off the topic but the Crab has not been released under Bachman's ownership

Mike H

[Newportnobby]

I think that too much is being read into this personally.

Excellent post from Roy and I totally agree.
What's more, Sonic took their first step in N with the 56xx and have stated on release of that loco they will announce their next steam model.
I have also often noted the Bachmann site doesn't show items they don't have yet some are still available at retailers. I don't have any worries about future models.

[PLD]

I think that too much is being read into this personally.

So, my conclusion is different. Healthy demand still and the current position comes from difficulties with production and shipment. I absolutely do not see Bachmann giving up on steam in N, nor would it be in their interests to do so.

Precisely... the range of potential locos they have tooling available for (both Steam and Diesel) has never been bigger...
Admittedly, modern batch-production methods and supply line constrictions (global issues and priorities of the Parent Company) mean not all of those are immediately available off the shelf at every model shop, but nothing anywhere states or even implies that those 'missing' models will never again be produced...

[joe cassidy]

Don't forget the recent SECR class C loco which I believe sold well, mostly as a rule 1 purchase.

[Invicta Alec]

Perhaps their newer and younger customers are now buying more Diesel and Electric models, we do tend to model what we remember as kids..........

Exactly! Anyone old enough to remember steam trains on the mainline will now be in their late fifties at least. For that reason I'm surprised that steam locos still make up as large a percentage of Farish/Dapol etc. ranges as they do.

Alec.

[Woodenhead]

The Standard 5 is also undergoing the Next 18 treatment, the N class is due soon with Next 18 as well and speakers.

I just think they have pruned the models to what is coming rather than leave old models on the pages.

[osborns]

Alec commented
I'm surprised that steam locos still make up as large a percentage of Farish/Dapol etc. ranges as they do./i] I'm not. as far as we are concerned they and first generation diesels constitute the bulk of sales/demand. Sonic seem to agree.

[honk843]

I noticed a few weeks back that the stock held by retailers was really small, when I ordered some scenic stuff to find that they could only supply  two stem locos and one was American. A similar stock level was available from others (this was just before the 8f was released) My nephews who are between 7 and 17 much prefer steam -they love connecting rods and valve gear. Even the likes of Rails don't have much actually in stock except perhaps second-hand.
I wonder if Bachman made the right decision to recreate new tooling for existing models rather than do say a Stanier tank rather than a third run of the 4MT. They did also do a rerun of the Farish crab .372-227 (42765) plus 42932 and an LMS version when they did new chassis models for the existing Farish bodies..

[PLD]

I wonder if Bachman made the right decision to recreate new tooling for existing models rather than do say a Stanier tank rather than a third run of the 4MT. They did also do a rerun of the Farish crab .372-227 (42765) plus 42932 and an LMS version when they did new chassis models for the existing Farish bodies..

I'm not sure how that makes a difference to the number of models available? One run of one model is still just one model on the shelves regardless of whether it's a new type or a rerun of an existing model...