Q: "What other office car projects are you thinking about?" - Marc on Facebook

A: We have a lot of ideas we want to bring to market! We have another run of HO scale Heavyweight Business Cars in the works, and we're currently deciding on paint schemes. We're also designing these cars for N scale. Additionally, we plan to release more of the UP Business Cars we currently have designed. While we haven't decided which car will be next, we're very pleased with the sales of our HO scale Kenefick car. We've also begun designing the UP Power Car #2066 and are gathering data for Theater Cars.

Q: "Would you consider rereleasing the HO scale Reading T1 with updated tooling?" - Luke on Facebook

A: We currently don't have plans to update the Reading T1 with new tooling, as we have many newly tooled steam and diesel locomotives in HO and N scale in development. It's not to say it won't happen; it's just not on our list of ideas right now.

Q: "Have there been any ambitious locomotives (of any tractive power—Steam, Diesel, Electric) that BLI had to shelve due to a lack of available resources (i.e., consumer interest, technology not yet available to accommodate BLI features, lack of available material to conduct research, etc.) to produce?" - Matthew on Facebook

A: We haven't had the best luck with Electrics. While we receive requests for them, our last few electric projects didn't suggest strong customer interest. We see more value in producing steam and diesels. We've considered various electrics and EMUs but lack confidence they would sell as well as other locomotives.

Q: "Are you starting to design the CB&Q O-5 4-8-4 in HO scale soon? Is it going to be Die Cast or Brass-Hybrid?" - Sam

A: We have not begun designing the O-5 in HO scale nor determined if it will be Die Cast or Brass-Hybrid. It's on our radar of models we want to make, but we don't have a timeline for it yet.

Q: "While patiently waiting for the C&NW ES, what other streamlined steamers are swirling around in the idea bucket?" - Christopher on Facebook

A: We have many ideas for streamlined steam! Although none are in design yet, they are on our list of models to make. Some include the Milwaukee Road F7 Hudsons, CB&Q Class S-4A Hudson (Aeolus), the UP 49er, and the CN U-1-f.

Q: "I have both the HO and N scale UP locomotives coming from the Conductor Club. Any hint as to when next year’s will be announced?" - Chuck on Facebook

A: Thank you for being a Conductor's Club member and purchasing the locomotives! We are considering making an announcement sometime this fall for the next locomotive. However, we haven't determined which locomotive it will be yet.

Q: "How’s it going with the design for the upcoming Santa Fe 2900 class?" - Daniel on Facebook

A: We've made great progress on these locomotives! As mentioned, we recorded the sounds of the 2926 this weekend, and the first draft of designs should be available by July 11th for review.

Q: "There has been a growing debate on several major boards, especially since you announced the PRR S1, that BLI is obsoleting traditional brass, thus changing our industry (I personally think that’s a good thing). Do you see yourselves as innovators? What’s your take?" - Jim on Facebook

A: We don't think we are "obsoleting traditional brass"; we believe there is still a market for traditional brass models. However, we do consider ourselves innovators with our Brass-Hybrid series. Many customers at shows and through messages have expressed their love for our Brass-Hybrid line due to its detail, running quality, and price point, and they look forward to more releases.

Q: "Not really one, more like three questions. First, with all the new Pennsy cars coming out, could there perhaps be a B60b baggage car too? Especially with the 100th anniversary of the Lindbergh Special a few years away? Second, is there another run of auxiliary water tenders in the future? Lastly, has BLI ever considered going into narrow gauge, like HOn3?" - Leggera1992 on Instagram

A: Wow, three questions! For your first question, we've considered baggage cars among other cars but haven't pursued these projects in terms of collecting data packages or designs. So for the time being not right now but it could be on our list for the future. For your second question, we don't plan to do a run of the N&W auxiliary tenders, but we do have the 4449 auxiliary tender in our design queue in various paint schemes, including Daylight, "Let's Roll," BNSF E.A.S, CP, and more. We don't have a timeline for these yet as we're still gathering data and many other projects ahead of it, but we are working on them! For your final question, yes, we have considered narrow gauge, but we don't believe that the orders would be there to justify making it into production. 

Q: "Is there any more information about the HO scale SP-AC9?" - upsteamer on Instagram

A: We are still working on the designs of this locomotive! No timeline yet. Our designers have about 6-7 other locomotives ahead of it, so it may be a while before we make any significant progress.

Q: "Will you guys be making CSX heritage units in HO and N?" - marty_castro4 on Instagram

A: We have, and we will. We started with the B&O unit first because when we finalized the paint schemes, CSX began announcing the units. We plan to do more in future runs in both HO and N scale.

Q: "Can the S1 actually navigate 18” radius curves like the description says, or is that just a typo?" - michaelstrains4014 on YouTube

A: No, that is not a typo! We believe it will based on our designers' feedback and the way the locomotive is designed. Have we tested it? Honestly, no, not yet. We will most likely get a 3D-printed sample first to test the functionality of the running gear and run it on 18, 20, 22, 26, and 28 radius curves.

Q: "Any chance we will get UP modern streamliner cars (excursion service cars) to match the Business Cars in HO?" - DraketheRailfan on YouTube

A: Thanks for the question, Drake! As we explained earlier, we have other specific cars in the works. However, in terms of dome cars, diners, crew sleepers, and coach cars, we don't have plans for those at this time. 

Q: "Will the N scale Santa Fe 3751 Northern have the two exhaust stack extensions like the HO scale model?" - naeemahmed6494 on YouTube

A: We tried to make that an option, but unfortunately, with the design of the locomotive with the N scale smoke unit, we decided not to include it. It would make filling the smoke unit more difficult, and given the need for a syringe to fill the smoke unit, we didn't want to risk issues with smoke units breaking or syringe tips getting broken.

     Thanks, everyone, for a great mailbag this month! We apologize if we did not get to your question this time around. In the meantime, keep them coming, and we will get to them!

Thanks as always for your continued support, and be sure to get your orders in before it's too late! As always, Happy Railroading!

- Curtis and the BLI team