Running Bear's June 2026 Coffee Shop
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I don't think what Athearn is doing is any differant than what several others are doing. ScaleTrains have stated several times
that they were only making enough to fill the last case quantity.
If dealers want extra stock than just pre-order more to sell. Isn't that what a business does?
Pottsville's once and again READING Passenger station on Union Street. Built in the 1840s as a passenger station, it was converted to a Freight Station, around 1895 when the Frank Furness design Passenger Station was opened two blocks down on Norwegian St. When that facility was demolished in 1961 for a Municipal Parking Lot , the passenger station was moved back to Union St.
The Amtrak California surf-liners are close to 5 years now.
Good morning Coffee Shop! It's Friday, 59°F (15°C) and clear.
Weather:
Sunny toward daybreak then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds around 5 mph increasing to northwest 10 to 15 mph.
Have a great day!
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Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
That just reminded me of a guy I saw on the train one day. He had a gray bag that he placed on the armrest against the wall of the train. All was nice and quiet and then I saw a furry head pop out of the top. He gently petted it and pushed it back into the bag.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
Stop feeding the bears!!! haha
westtexjohn
Well-Known Member
Good afternoon to all.................
After seeing that KR Models are going belly up. I thought I would pass this note along.
This was originally posted several days ago by a member on another forum.
Dear Tony's Customers,
We want to make you aware of an important change in how Athearn is manufacturing and distributing new product releases.
For decades, model railroad manufacturers typically produced enough inventory to satisfy dealer orders and maintain stock after products arrived in the United States. If you missed the preorder deadline, there was often still an opportunity to purchase the model later.
That has changed.
Over the past year, Athearn has moved to a production model heavily driven by preorders. Dealers are required to commit to quantities before production begins, and Athearn generally produces only enough inventory to satisfy those advance reservations. Once the preorder deadline passes, dealers cannot increase their allocations, and little, if any, inventory remains available after production.
What this means is that many Athearn locomotives and rolling stock are effectively sold out before they ever arrive in the United States.
To help our customers secure the models they want, Tony's Train Exchange typically lists new Athearn announcements on our website within days of Athearn's official product announcement. In most cases, customers have approximately 7–8 weeks to place a preorder before Athearn's reservation window closes.
If you place your preorder during that window, we can include your reservation in our allocation request to Athearn. Once the preorder deadline has passed, however, there is no way for us to obtain additional inventory, regardless of customer demand.
The takeaway is simple:
• Watch for new Athearn announcements.
• Place your preorder during the 7–8 week reservation period.
• Do not assume the model will be available when it arrives.
This is particularly important for popular road names, limited-run paint schemes, and highly anticipated locomotive releases.
As always, Tony's does not charge your credit card until your order ships, so placing a preorder reserves your position without an immediate charge.
We appreciate your continued support and want to ensure you have the best opportunity to obtain the models you want before they sell out.
I do not do pre-orders any Athearn items anymore. My last order through TrainWorld for some Athearn U. P. Express boxcars took 3 years and three months to arrive. The original delivery window was, as best as I can remember, around eighteen months. and the price was a bit higher than originally posted.
Carry on....John
After seeing that KR Models are going belly up. I thought I would pass this note along.
This was originally posted several days ago by a member on another forum.
Dear Tony's Customers,
We want to make you aware of an important change in how Athearn is manufacturing and distributing new product releases.
For decades, model railroad manufacturers typically produced enough inventory to satisfy dealer orders and maintain stock after products arrived in the United States. If you missed the preorder deadline, there was often still an opportunity to purchase the model later.
That has changed.
Over the past year, Athearn has moved to a production model heavily driven by preorders. Dealers are required to commit to quantities before production begins, and Athearn generally produces only enough inventory to satisfy those advance reservations. Once the preorder deadline passes, dealers cannot increase their allocations, and little, if any, inventory remains available after production.
What this means is that many Athearn locomotives and rolling stock are effectively sold out before they ever arrive in the United States.
To help our customers secure the models they want, Tony's Train Exchange typically lists new Athearn announcements on our website within days of Athearn's official product announcement. In most cases, customers have approximately 7–8 weeks to place a preorder before Athearn's reservation window closes.
If you place your preorder during that window, we can include your reservation in our allocation request to Athearn. Once the preorder deadline has passed, however, there is no way for us to obtain additional inventory, regardless of customer demand.
The takeaway is simple:
• Watch for new Athearn announcements.
• Place your preorder during the 7–8 week reservation period.
• Do not assume the model will be available when it arrives.
This is particularly important for popular road names, limited-run paint schemes, and highly anticipated locomotive releases.
As always, Tony's does not charge your credit card until your order ships, so placing a preorder reserves your position without an immediate charge.
We appreciate your continued support and want to ensure you have the best opportunity to obtain the models you want before they sell out.
I do not do pre-orders any Athearn items anymore. My last order through TrainWorld for some Athearn U. P. Express boxcars took 3 years and three months to arrive. The original delivery window was, as best as I can remember, around eighteen months. and the price was a bit higher than originally posted.
Carry on....John
Boris
Beach Bum
Neither do I. I ordered a Amtrak 50th Anniversary P-42 in Original Phase 1 scheme. (I retired from Amtrak, and ran P-42s). It took over 3½ years to fulfill, (Through Trainworld). I actually stopped preorders when an Atlas U-30-C took an equal amount of time to fulfill, from Tony's Train Exchange. Just not worth the bother, if by the time you receive the model, You are wondering why you ordered it in the first place.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
I was following that thread until in usual MRH fashion it started going blah, blah, blah!
I don't think what Athearn is doing is any differant than what several others are doing. ScaleTrains have stated several times
that they were only making enough to fill the last case quantity.
If dealers want extra stock than just pre-order more to sell. Isn't that what a business does?
Last edited:
Boris
Beach Bum
Pottsville's once and again READING Passenger station on Union Street. Built in the 1840s as a passenger station, it was converted to a Freight Station, around 1895 when the Frank Furness design Passenger Station was opened two blocks down on Norwegian St. When that facility was demolished in 1961 for a Municipal Parking Lot , the passenger station was moved back to Union St.
Boris
Beach Bum
Mikey, That practice in itself is not my issue, nor is the 18mo delivery window. It's the 36 to 40 month cycle, from pre order to delivery that I'm not happy with. That's why I stopped pre ordering.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Yea, that is an issue! I have 2 Genesis GP39-2 on pre-order going on 2 years with no updates so I expect close to another year.
The Amtrak California surf-liners are close to 5 years now.
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
I waited 3 years for Jägerndorfer to finally release the Austrian ÖBB Rh 1822 locomotive. No one had ever made this locomotive in the past so there were no used models available. There was its little sister locomotive the 1014 available from Roco and Märklin, but it's not the same locomotive.
As soon as the pre-order came in and I was notified I couldn't get my credit card out fast enough.
As soon as the pre-order came in and I was notified I couldn't get my credit card out fast enough.
Kusojiji
RANK AMATEURS OF THE MODEL RAILROAD FORM MEMBER
I had a pre-order at Tony's for an Athearn caboose that was taking forever. When they started adding that subject to tariff thing to their products, I asked if I was going to be notified of the price increase and he said no. So, I cancelled it.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Speaking of pre-orders, Around the Layout Podcast had Jason from Rapido trains talking all things preorder, manufacturing, tariffs, and why the industry has moved to that model. The ever-changing and unknowns of the tariff whims ebbs and flows is an important component, but not the only component.
www.aroundthelayout.com
What’s Happening In Model Railroading - Jason Shron at Rapido Trains — Around The Layout Podcast
So why do we need preorders? That's just one of the questions Jason Shron, President and Founder of Rapido Trains answers on this edition of What's Happening In Model Railroading.
www.aroundthelayout.com
Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Good morning Coffee Shop! It's Friday, 59°F (15°C) and clear.
Weather:
Sunny toward daybreak then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds around 5 mph increasing to northwest 10 to 15 mph.
Have a great day!
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Good morning gang!
68° under clouded skies, heading to a high today at 80°. The sun is supposed to peek out after lunch and be a nice sunny day.
Heading out to the doctor shortly, then a trip to Walmart to grab a few supplies for the upcoming trip tomorrow. I also have to mow the lawn later so we can look presentable. Then later packing suitcases and all the other fun stuff.
BBL
68° under clouded skies, heading to a high today at 80°. The sun is supposed to peek out after lunch and be a nice sunny day.
Heading out to the doctor shortly, then a trip to Walmart to grab a few supplies for the upcoming trip tomorrow. I also have to mow the lawn later so we can look presentable. Then later packing suitcases and all the other fun stuff.
BBL
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning from Wisconsin. The WeatherChannel app synopsis for the day says take your umbrella as it will be a steady rain all day. So I look at the radar and there is nothing showing. I look at the hourly % chance of rain and except for a 34% chance at 9pm the rest of today is single digit chances of rain! I think the synopsis is for a different area. 54f degrees now 75 later. If it rains though I’m ok with that
Pre-orders! Only from Scaletrains no one else. No money down, direct shipment, they let you know in advance the tariff cost if not absorbed, a no problem cancel at anytime policy and finally 10 days to pay once you are notified the model is in. Anyone who gives up money to reserve a pre-order IMO is asking for trouble. I knew a guy from Athearn still there after all the guys who formed Scaletrains left to create that company said he made a grave mistake by staying. He is still floating around the model train industry but not at Horizon. I really like the Athearn Genesis line but I no longer pay any attention to the announcements of what’s coming
Enjoy the day
Pre-orders! Only from Scaletrains no one else. No money down, direct shipment, they let you know in advance the tariff cost if not absorbed, a no problem cancel at anytime policy and finally 10 days to pay once you are notified the model is in. Anyone who gives up money to reserve a pre-order IMO is asking for trouble. I knew a guy from Athearn still there after all the guys who formed Scaletrains left to create that company said he made a grave mistake by staying. He is still floating around the model train industry but not at Horizon. I really like the Athearn Genesis line but I no longer pay any attention to the announcements of what’s coming
Enjoy the day
PNKFLOYD
Mikey
I have decided not to hire any more teenagers to do yard work for me as it is too hard on me.
My wife has had two back surgeries and a knee replacement in the last 3-1/2 years with necessary physical therapy sessions.
My yard maintenance has consisted of cutting the yard with the lawn tractor and hauling the mower to the shop for service and repairs.
My lot is about 5/8 of an acre in sunny and rainy central Alabama, surrounded on 3 sides by brush and trees.
My wife hired a 17 yro basketball player grandson of a friend to clear brush and small trees back close to the lot lines, edge the 350 feet of driveway and sidewalk, trim branches from trees in the yard and a couple other short tasks.
He did work hard, but needed constant decisions about what to cut and trim, as we put trash in my pickup to move to the trash pile.
Due to Alabama heat and humidity, I planned to work only in the mornings.
Thank God that he had basketball practice at noon or I would have never survived. An 80 yro fat man should not try to keep up with a teenage boy!
If he worked 3 hours, I would have to recuperate for 3 hours before I could go get a shower. I am still going to bed an hour earlier and waking up at 4 am because of the early bedtime.
On the positive side, I have time to read many posts on this forum.
My wife has had two back surgeries and a knee replacement in the last 3-1/2 years with necessary physical therapy sessions.
My yard maintenance has consisted of cutting the yard with the lawn tractor and hauling the mower to the shop for service and repairs.
My lot is about 5/8 of an acre in sunny and rainy central Alabama, surrounded on 3 sides by brush and trees.
My wife hired a 17 yro basketball player grandson of a friend to clear brush and small trees back close to the lot lines, edge the 350 feet of driveway and sidewalk, trim branches from trees in the yard and a couple other short tasks.
He did work hard, but needed constant decisions about what to cut and trim, as we put trash in my pickup to move to the trash pile.
Due to Alabama heat and humidity, I planned to work only in the mornings.
Thank God that he had basketball practice at noon or I would have never survived. An 80 yro fat man should not try to keep up with a teenage boy!
If he worked 3 hours, I would have to recuperate for 3 hours before I could go get a shower. I am still going to bed an hour earlier and waking up at 4 am because of the early bedtime.
On the positive side, I have time to read many posts on this forum.
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