October 2026 Recap: York Announcements, O Scale Mollies, Lark and F7's Shipping and More!
From Jay's Desk
— Back From York!
Well, another York Train Fair is officially in the books, and what a weekend it was!
It's hard to believe that just one year ago, I was attending York for the very first time and helping bring Sunset Models 3rd Rail back to a show we hadn't attended as a company in nearly a decade. Fast forward to this October, and I can confidently say that York is quickly becoming one of my favorite events of the year.
What makes York so special isn't necessarily the thousands of trains spread across the fairgrounds, although that's certainly part of it. It's the people. Being able to spend a weekend surrounded by customers, dealers, fellow manufacturers, and friends who share the same passion for this hobby is something I never take for granted.
We had a fantastic time visiting with everyone who stopped by our expanded booth this year. Some of you came to see the latest samples, others to pick up orders, ask about production schedules, or just catch up and talk trains. I especially enjoyed hearing your thoughts on what we're currently producing, what you'd like to see in the future, and even the occasional suggestions about what we could be doing better. Those conversations really do influence the direction we take as a company.
We brought quite a bit to show off this year, including our EMD F7 Norfolk Southern OCS Units, O Scale Norfolk & Western Mollies, EMD GP30 Sample, 1956 Southern Pacific Lark and Union Pacific Modern Auxiliary Tender, giving customers a chance to get an up-close look at the detail and engineering going into our upcoming models. There's a tremendous difference between seeing photographs online and being able to examine a model in person, and it's always rewarding to watch the reactions when customers finally get that opportunity.
York also gave us the opportunity to introduce another exciting project: the return of General Motors' legendary Train of Tomorrow! We're bringing back this iconic streamliner in both GM Blue and Union Pacific Yellow, along with the Blue Goose support car and the proposed baggage-dormitory car. This project will also complement our upcoming EMD E7, E8, and E9 programs. We'll cover the details further into this newsletter.
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the weekend was seeing just how much excitement there is surrounding the future of O scale. There's a lot happening in this hobby right now, and while the industry certainly has its challenges, I continue to believe there is tremendous opportunity for manufacturers willing to invest in new tooling, accurate models, and projects that collectors have been asking for.
I also want to give a special thank you to everyone who traveled to York to visit us, our dealers who continue to support our growing catalog, and the people working behind the scenes to make these events possible. We couldn't do this without you.
Of course, the work doesn't stop when the train show ends!
We're back in Colorado, and things are moving quickly on the production side. Our New York Central 20th Century Limited passenger cars have officially reached port as of last week and are expected to arrive at our Colorado warehouse on November 8th.
I'm also pleased to share that our O Scale 1941 and 1956 Southern Pacific Lark and O Scale EMD F7 locomotives are all scheduled to ship from China on November 13th and the O Scale N&W 4-8-0 "Mollies" are scheduled to depart on November 26th! These are three major projects we've been looking forward to delivering, and it's exciting to finally have them approaching the finish line. As always, we'll keep everyone updated as these shipments make their way across the Pacific and through customs before arriving at our warehouse.
Meanwhile, our factories are continuing to move forward on an incredibly ambitious production schedule. Between new announcements, incoming shipments, tooling improvements, and the projects we have planned for 2027, there's a tremendous amount to share this month.
So, with York behind us and another busy month ahead, let's get into it!
-Jay
October 2026 Newsletter
Table of Contents
1. Shipping Updates — Three Major Projects Heading Home!
O Scale EMD F7 A & B Units
O Scale N&W 4-8-0 "Mollies"
O Scale 1941 & 1956 Southern Pacific Lark
November 13th & 26th Departure & Final Payment Information
2. Upcoming Order Deadlines — Final Two Weeks!
O Scale EMD GP30 — Injection Molding Underway!
HO Scale Southern Pacific AC-9 — Final Call!
HO Scale N&W 4-8-0 "Mollies" — Final Call!
3. Factory Production Updates — Casting, Assembly & New Tooling!
O Scale C&O & Virginian Alleghenies — Casting Underway!
Union Pacific Excursion Fleet & America250 Cars — In Production!
D&RGW Prospector — Production Underway!
O Scale Heavyweight Passenger Cars — New Die-Cast Truck Tooling!
NextGen Acela — Locomotive, Diaphragm & Truck Tooling Underway!
4. New Announcements From York — Exciting Projects Ahead!
GM Train of Tomorrow — The Iconic Streamliner Returns!
O Scale EMD E7, E8 & E9 Locomotives — New Announcements!
Union Pacific Excursion Auxiliary Fuel & Water Tenders — Upgraded to Die-Cast Construction with Brass Details
UP Auxiliary Tenders — Price Reduced by $400 Per Pair!
UP Auxiliary Tenders — Entering Tooling Soon, Targeting Spring Delivery
NEW WEBSITE UPDATES AND MIGRATION
5. Design & Engineering Updates — What's Coming Next!
O Scale EMD FL9 — Completely Revised CAD Nearing Final Approval
HOn3 D&RGW Passenger Cars — First Round of CAD Drawings Under Review
6. Still Available — Limited Inventory & Last Chances!
HO Scale Harriman Passenger Cars
O Scale 2-Rail EMD E8s — Missouri Pacific Jenks Blue & Select Road Names
O Scale Individual Passenger Cars
Complete 1950 D&RGW Prospector — Limited Availability
1. Shipping Updates — Three Major Projects Heading Home!
We're excited to announce that three major O Scale projects are scheduled to ship from China on November 13th and November 26th! The first container includes our EMD F7 locomotives and Golden Gate Depot's 1941 and 1956 Southern Pacific Lark passenger cars, the second shipment will contain the Norfolk & Western M Class 4-8-0 "Mollies."
O Scale EMD F7 A & B Units
Our highly anticipated EMD F7s are finally approaching shipment! With an extensive selection of road names, road-specific details, and configurations, this has been one of our most ambitious diesel locomotive projects to date.
Scheduled to depart China November 13th!
O Scale Norfolk & Western M Class 4-8-0 "Mollies"
Our all-brass N&W Mollies are also nearing completion! Featuring multiple Norfolk & Western and Strasburg Railroad configurations, these beautifully detailed steam locomotives have been a long-awaited addition to our lineup.
Scheduled to depart China November 26th!
O Scale 1941 & 1956 Southern Pacific Lark
Both the 1941 and 1956 versions of the Southern Pacific Lark are preparing to ship! These Golden Gate Depot aluminum passenger cars faithfully recreate two distinct eras of one of Southern Pacific's most iconic passenger trains.
Scheduled to depart China November 13th!
Shipping Timeline & Final Payments
We want to clarify one important detail regarding these shipping dates.
November 13th is the scheduled departure date from China, not the arrival date at our Colorado warehouse.
Once the models depart the factory, they will still need to complete international transportation, arrive at port, clear U.S. Customs, and travel inland to our warehouse. We will provide updated arrival estimates as the shipments progress.
For customers with outstanding balances, this is the first payment notice. If you have not already made payment on your F7s, Mollies, or Lark passenger cars, we encourage you to start making arrangements soon. Having payments completed before the models arrive allows us to process and ship orders much more efficiently once they're received.
Payments can be made through our secure online payment portal:
Log in using the email address associated with your reservation. If you have not accessed the portal before, select "Forgot Password" to set up your account.
You may also contact our office at 720-786-3602 to make a payment over the phone.
As always, we sincerely appreciate your patience and support. Between these three projects and the New York Central 20th Century Limited cars arriving on Monday, we're preparing for an exceptionally busy shipping period here in Colorado!
We're looking forward to getting these models out the door and onto your layouts.
2. Upcoming Order Deadlines — Final Two Weeks!
We have three exciting locomotive projects approaching their reservation deadlines! Orders for our O Scale EMD GP30s, HO Scale Southern Pacific AC-9s, and HO Scale N&W Mollies will be closing in approximately two weeks.
If you've been considering any of these models, now is the time to get your reservations in!
O Scale EMD GP30 — Production Underway!
Our highly anticipated O Scale EMD GP30s are officially underway at the factory! Plastic components are currently being injection molded, and the lost-wax brass masters are scheduled to be completed this week.
We're excited to see this project moving into production and look forward to sharing more updates and photographs as work progresses.
Reservations close in approximately two weeks!
HO Scale Southern Pacific AC-9 — Final Call!
Our all-brass HO Scale Southern Pacific AC-9 project is approaching its reservation deadline! These models have been run by us twice in the past, making improvements each time with this offering being revised a bit with the help of Scott Inman, one of the foremost experts on the AC-9 in our age. This will be another exciting addition to our HO Scale brass lineup.
Reservations close in approximately two weeks!
HO Scale N&W M Class 4-8-0 "Mollies" — Final Call!
Following the success of our O Scale program, we're bringing the iconic Norfolk & Western M Class 4-8-0 Mollies to HO Scale in brass!
This project includes the distinctive configurations that made these locomotives favorites among Norfolk & Western and Strasburg Railroad enthusiasts.
Reservations close in approximately two weeks!
Don't Miss Your Opportunity!
As we move these projects further into production, we'll be finalizing quantities based on reservations received. Once ordering closes, availability may be limited to any additional inventory we elect to produce.
We strongly encourage anyone interested in these locomotives to place their reservations before the deadlines. Don't count on extra inventory being available once these models arrive!
Thank you for your continued support of our growing O Scale and HO Scale locomotive programs!
3. Factory Production Updates — Casting, Assembly & New Tooling!
There's a tremendous amount happening at our factories right now! Several major projects are progressing through production, casting, and tooling, and we're excited to share some of the latest developments.
O Scale C&O & Virginian 2-6-6-6 Alleghenies
We're pleased to announce that the drivers and numerous other brass components for our Alleghenies are currently being cast!
This has been an exceptionally lengthy and intricate project due to the complexity of these massive articulated locomotives. With so many individual components and mechanical assemblies, we've dedicated considerable time to getting the details right.
We're making significant progress and are currently targeting shipment after the first of the year in 2027. We appreciate everyone's patience as we bring these incredible locomotives to completion!
Union Pacific Excursion Fleet, America250 & D&RGW Prospector
Production is underway on our Union Pacific Excursion Fleet, Union Pacific America250 passenger cars, and D&RGW Prospector!
These three major passenger car programs are moving forward at the factory, with components being manufactured and production progressing.
The Union Pacific projects represent some of our most ambitious passenger car offerings, with a tremendous variety of car types and details. Meanwhile, the D&RGW Prospector continues to move through production alongside these projects.
We're looking forward to sharing additional factory photographs as these cars take shape!
O Scale Heavyweight Passenger Cars — New Truck Tooling!
We're making a major improvement to our O Scale Heavyweight passenger cars!
Our completely redesigned die-cast truck tooling is approximately halfway complete. These new trucks will incorporate the same design and engineering found on our aluminum passenger cars, representing a substantial improvement over the previous heavyweight truck design.
This is an important upgrade that will improve the appearance and operation of these cars, and we're excited to bring this improved design to our heavyweight lineup.
NextGen Acela — Tooling Underway!
Our highly anticipated NextGen Acela project continues to move forward!
The locomotives, diaphragms, and trucks are currently in tooling, bringing us another step closer to production.
This is an incredibly exciting and technically demanding project, and we're looking forward to sharing more progress as the tooling comes together.
With so many projects moving forward simultaneously, our factories have been exceptionally busy. We'll continue sharing production photographs and updates as these models progress toward completion. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work to bring these exciting projects to market!
4. New Announcements From York — Exciting Projects Ahead!
We had several exciting announcements at the York Train Fair this year, including the return of a legendary streamliner, a new series of EMD passenger locomotives, and a major upgrade to our Union Pacific Auxiliary Tenders!
O Scale GM Train of Tomorrow — The Legend Returns!
We're thrilled to announce an encore run of General Motors' iconic 1947 Train of Tomorrow!
This incredible five-piece streamliner will be offered in both its original GM Blue and Union Pacific Yellow paint schemes, featuring an EMD E7A locomotive and four distinctive Astra-Dome passenger cars constructed from aluminum with brass dome assemblies.
We're also offering two exciting additions: the Blue Goose support car, constructed as a brass/aluminum hybrid for $499.99, and the proposed Pullman baggage-dormitory car for $429.99. The latter is particularly interesting, as it was designed for the original train but never actually constructed!
Complete 5-Piece Set: $2,599.99
Reservations are now open, with production anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
O Scale EMD E7, E8 & E9 Locomotives — A New Series of E-Units!
To accompany our Train of Tomorrow announcement, we're excited to bring back a selection of EMD E7, E8, and E9 locomotives!
These classic passenger diesels have been favorites among O Scale collectors for decades, and we're looking forward to expanding our lineup with ALL NEW ROADS AND NEVER BEFORE DONE PAINT SCHEMES to complement some of America's most famous passenger trains.
ALL CURRENT STANDBY ORDERS WILL BE CONVERTED TO ACTIVE IF WE ARE DOING THE ROADNAME IN THIS RUN!
RESERVATIONS WILL BE OPEN FOR ROUGHLY 90-120 DAYS!
We're currently targeting a later-Q2 2027 delivery for the E7, E8, and E9 locomotives! These models will be produced alongside our upcoming EMD SD70ACe locomotives, allowing both projects to move through manufacturing together.
We'll share additional details, available configurations, and production updates as these projects progress!
Union Pacific Auxiliary Fuel & Water Tenders — Major Upgrades & Lower Pricing!
We've made some exciting changes to our upcoming Golden Gate Depot Union Pacific Excursion Auxiliary Fuel & Water Tenders!
After further discussions with our factory, we've decided to upgrade these models from plastic to die-cast construction with separately applied brass detail parts! These tenders will also feature lighting and operating tender journals, bringing an entirely new level of detail and realism to this project.
And here's the best part: we've reduced the price by $400 per pair!
The new pricing is just $799.99 per pair, or $399.99 individually, making these improved models substantially more affordable than originally announced.
ALL CURRENT ORDERS WILL BE ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE NEW PRICE!
The tenders will be available in both 2-Rail and 3-Rail configurations and are designed to complement our Union Pacific Heritage and America250 excursion passenger cars.
Tooling is expected to begin shortly, and we're targeting Spring 2027 delivery!
We're excited to deliver a better model at a lower price, and we appreciate everyone's enthusiasm for this project.
We're looking forward to seeing these three projects take shape over the coming months. As always, reservations help us determine production quantities, so we encourage everyone interested to get their orders in!
A New Website Is Coming! Important Information Regarding Our November 16th Migration
We are excited to announce that Third & Townsend Models, Sunset Models, and Golden Gate Depot are moving to Shopify! This transition marks another major investment in improving the customer experience, bringing you a faster, more intuitive, and user-friendly website that will make browsing our products, managing orders, and keeping up with upcoming projects easier than ever before.
Our website migration is scheduled for the week of November 16th, 2026. During this transition, online ordering will be temporarily unavailable for the entire week as our team completes the migration and verifies that everything is operating properly.
We will remain open for business throughout the migration! Customers may continue placing orders and making payments over the phone as usual. Our staff will be available to assist with new reservations, existing orders, and outstanding balances.
One of our biggest priorities has been ensuring that every customer's existing order history is preserved. All customer accounts and order histories will be migrated to the new platform, including existing reservations and previous purchases. You will not lose your order history as a result of this transition.
With the new website, customers will be required to establish new login credentials. To make this process as seamless as possible, we will be activating customer accounts in batches. Detailed instructions will be emailed daily to customers included in each day's batch, explaining how to activate their accounts and access their order histories. There is no need to contact us in advance or attempt to create a new account until you receive your instructions.
Our web development team is fully prepared for this transition and has been working diligently behind the scenes to make the changeover as smooth as possible. While we anticipate a few temporary inconveniences during migration week, we are confident that the finished product will be a substantial improvement for everyone.
This is another important step forward as our companies continue to grow. We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support as we build a better online experience for our customers.
We look forward to welcoming you to our new website!
5. Design & Engineering Updates — What's Coming Next!
While several of our major projects are moving through production, our design teams are hard at work on the next generation of models! Here's a look at two exciting projects currently progressing through CAD design and engineering.
O Scale EMD FL9 — Revised Project Nearing Approval!
We've made significant progress on our upcoming O Scale EMD FL9 locomotives!
Following an extensive review of the original drawings, we've completely reworked the CAD to incorporate numerous corrections and improvements. Our design team has been working to ensure the distinctive features and proportions of these unique dual-power locomotives are accurately represented.
We're excited to bring these iconic New Haven and commuter-era locomotives to O Scale and look forward to sharing the finalized drawings once they're approved.
HOn3 D&RGW Passenger Cars — First Round of CAD Under Review!
We're also excited to share progress on our upcoming HOn3 Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge passenger cars!
Our design team has completed the initial round of CAD drawings, which are now undergoing review. We're carefully examining the details, proportions, and construction of these cars before moving forward with additional revisions.
These models will be an exciting addition to our new HOn3 lineup and an opportunity to bring some classic Colorado narrow gauge equipment to collectors.
We're currently in the early design stages, and we'll share more information as the CAD progresses toward approval.
Both projects are moving forward, and we look forward to sharing more engineering updates and images as they develop!
6. Still Available — Limited Inventory & Last Chances!
With so many new projects underway, we also wanted to remind everyone that we still have a selection of HO Scale passenger cars and O Scale 2-Rail locomotives and passenger cars available in stock!
Many of these models are down to their final remaining quantities, so if you've been considering adding one to your collection, now is a great time!
HO Scale Harriman Passenger Cars — Still Available!
We still have a selection of our HO Scale 80' Harriman "Sub" passenger cars available!
These beautifully detailed passenger cars arrived earlier this year, and we have remaining inventory available for those looking to complete their consists or add to their passenger fleets.
In stock and available now!
O Scale 2-Rail EMD E8 Locomotives — Final Quantities!
Click either of the photos above to be taken to the in stock models page
We have just a handful of O Scale 2-Rail EMD E8 locomotives remaining from our recent production run!
Available road names include:
Missouri Pacific — Jenks Blue
Texas & Pacific
Atlantic Coast Line — Purple
Chesapeake & Ohio
3 Rail New York Central E8B's
These have been very popular locomotives, and once the remaining inventory is gone, we do not anticipate having additional quantities available from this production run.
Very limited quantities remain!
O Scale Passenger Cars — Individual Cars & Complete Trains!
Looking to add a few cars to an existing consist or pick up an entire passenger train?
We still have a selection of individual O Scale passenger cars available from previous production runs.
ONE 3 Rail and TWO 2 Rail 1937 Santa Fe Super Chiefs REMAIN
We also have a complete 1950 Denver & Rio Grande Western Prospector available in O Scale 2-Rail! This is a wonderful opportunity to pick up an entire matching consist without waiting for a future production run.
Inventory on these models is limited, and some items may be the last examples we have available.
Don't Miss Out!
Unlike our upcoming projects, these models are already in stock and available for purchase!
We encourage customers to browse our website or contact our office if they're looking for a particular locomotive, passenger car, or road name.
Visit us at www.thirdandtownsendmodels.com or call 720-786-3602.
Closing Thoughts
As we wrap up another newsletter, I want to take a moment to reflect on just how far we've come and, more importantly, the people who have helped us get here.
Walking around York last weekend reminded me of something I've always loved about this hobby. It's not just about the trains. It's about the friendships, the memories, and the stories that come along with them. I had the opportunity to speak with customers who have been collecting Sunset Models for decades, others who are just getting started, and even a few who remembered buying models from Scott many years ago. There's something incredibly special about being part of a hobby that connects so many generations.
I want to extend a particularly heartfelt thank-you to the Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association for continuing to make the York Train Fair such an incredible event. The amount of work that goes into bringing thousands of collectors together is something that deserves recognition. York is more than just a train show. It's a tradition, a reunion, and for many of us, a place that feels a little bit like home.
I'd also like to recognize the Lower Susquehanna Modular Railway Club. Organizations like yours are part of what keeps this hobby alive and thriving. The time, dedication, and passion that go into building and operating these layouts are a reminder of what makes model railroading so special. Seeing trains run and watching people of all ages enjoy them is something that never gets old.
And of course, I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the people who help make all of this possible. Johnny, Sid, Travis, Lou, John S., Jonathan, Chris, Kyle, Brendan, Sam, Clay, Bryan, and Zac — thank you. Whether it's the work that happens behind the scenes, the countless hours spent preparing for shows, helping customers, developing new models, or simply being there when an extra set of hands is needed, your contributions mean more to me than I can adequately put into words. None of this is a one-person effort, and I'm incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated group of people around me.
When I stepped into this role last year, I knew there would be challenges. Manufacturing isn't easy, especially when you're trying to recreate some of the most complicated pieces of railroad history in miniature. There are delays, unexpected obstacles, and plenty of long days and late nights. But every time I see a finished model on someone's layout, receive a photograph from a happy customer, or hear the excitement in someone's voice about an upcoming project, I'm reminded of exactly why we do this.
I also recognize that every reservation you place represents a tremendous amount of trust in us. You're putting your hard-earned money toward something that may take months, or sometimes years, to come to fruition. That responsibility is something I take very seriously, and I never want anyone to think their patience or loyalty goes unnoticed.
We're building something here that I hope will last for many decades to come. Not simply a company that produces model trains, but one that respects the history of this hobby, listens to its customers, and continues to invest in its future. I want the models we're producing today to be the same ones that collectors are proudly displaying, operating, and passing down to the next generation decades from now.
As we head into the final months of 2026, I find myself incredibly grateful. Grateful for our customers, our dealers, our employees, the clubs and organizations that bring us together, and everyone who has supported us throughout this journey. We've accomplished a tremendous amount this year, and there's still so much more ahead of us.
Above all, thank you for allowing me to be a small part of something that means so much to so many people. I know these trains are more than just models. For some, they're a reminder of a railroad they grew up watching. For others, they're a connection to a parent or grandparent who introduced them to the hobby. And for many of us, they're simply a way to hold on to a little piece of history that might otherwise be forgotten.
One of the things I've come to appreciate most is that, while the trains themselves may be made of brass, aluminum, and steel, it's the people and the memories we make along the way that give them their real value. Years from now, I doubt I'll remember every production deadline or every late night at the office. But I'll remember the conversations at York, the friendships we've made, and the excitement of seeing something we've worked so hard on finally come to life.
That's what makes this all worthwhile. And that's why I believe the future of this hobby is worth investing in.
Until next month, take care of yourselves, enjoy your trains, and never lose that excitement that brought you into this wonderful hobby in the first place.
From all of us at Sunset Models 3rd Rail, Golden Gate Depot, and Third & Townsend Models, thank you for being part of our family.
Happy Railroading!
Jay
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