Austrains

Australia's leading manufacturer of HO scale model railway equipment

Page Last Updated: 22-August-2010

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Austrains News

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News flash!

17-Aug-10 - We have just been advised by our Freight Forwarder that the first shipment of NR class ‘Southern Spirit’ and Pac. Nat. with stars will be shipped out of China by airfreight in time to reach us for the Caulfield exhibition.

Victorian customers who have pre ordered these locos are welcome to collect from the Austrains stand but please bear with us. Saturday is always a very busy day so you may have to wait or come back at a time when we can handle your order better. Whatever happens you will get your loco/s if you pre ordered.

There will also be a limited number of locos for direct sale for those who have not pre ordered.

 

  • After four years of trying we have finally obtained permission from QR National to use their paint scheme and logo on Austrains models. The first release of models in this livery will be a rerun of the CLP / CLF series in the first quarter of 2011. This will be followed by a rerun of the X class in second quarter. The quantity of QRN locos in each run will be limited and at the moment our permission from QRN extends to one run only.
  • CL / CLP / CLF: While doing the QRN livery we will also take advantage of the opportunity to rerun some of the more popular liveries from the first run and to add sound to part of the run. The CL series was originally built with space for sound speakers and we are discussing this possibility with the factory and QSI. No advance order deposits will be taken. As usual with reruns it will be orders backed up by a cheques or credit card which will not be processed until the models arrive. Expected price for the CL series rerun will be $275.00 standard and $385.00 with sound. We are also contemplating the idea of a twin pack with one sound and one non sound loco perhaps with a factory fitted DCC chip.
  • X class: Following the CL series will be a rerun of the X class series 2 and series 3. This will incorporate a run of X53 and X54 in their QR National livery. The X class was never designed with sound in mind and we are not going to invest in an update of the chassis. The cost can just not be recuperated. The previous VR Blue and V/Line colour schemes will be rerun with a new mix of numbers for those who missed out on the previous two runs. Expected price for the X class will be $275.00 per unit with delivery in time for the Hobsons Bay MRC exhibition at Easter 2011.
  • And before we receive a torrent of mail and phone calls, Yes, we will be doing a QRN livery on the forthcoming G class but not in the first run. There are already too many colour / number combinations in the first run of that project.

 

 

 

  • Special Announcement
  • After a false start in 2008 Austrains has now received permission from Great Southern Railway to proceed with the model of the NR class locomotive in Southern Spirit livery. This will be a Certificated Limited Edition of 1200 pieces ( 600 each of NR84 & NR85 ) only in special Southern Spirit boxing.

 

 

Austrains News

  • 30-July-2010 - NR Class order form updated - LINK
  • 30-July-2010 - FO Coaches page updated - LINK
  • 30-July-2010 - Update - Two new VR four wheel wagons will be released at the Caulfield exhibition.
  • 1-August-2010 - Newsletter #44 - August 2010 - PDF Download - LINK
  • 1-August-2010 - Newsletter #44 - August 2010 - Online version - LINK
  • 1-August-2010 - JX Cement Hoppers - Packs M, N and K - now SOLD OUT
  • QR National Logo New! QRN Pages added...
  • 30-July-2010 - QR National CLP class - New Page - LINK
  • 30-July-2010 - QR National X class - New Page - LINK
  • 1-July-2010 - NR 26 & NR 27 Indian Pacific models now SOLD OUT
  • 1-July-2010 - JX Cement Hoppers - Pack M - now SOLD OUT

 

Previous Updates:

  • 25-June-2010
    News flash!

  • Much has been said during the last ten days on internet news groups all over the world about a rationalisation taking place at our major Chinese supplier, Sanda Kan Industrial Ltd.

    The rumours have been true. Sanda Kan has informed many of their smaller customers and a few not so small that they will no longer accept orders from them. It seems that quite a few well known names including a couple of internationally famous ones are involved.

    Austrains has received confirmation that we are classed as one of Sanda Kans ‘Key Customers’ and as such are not affected by the restructuring. This will enable all projects currently underway at Sanda Kan to continue without further delays and, we hope, resolve some of the bottlenecks in production which have plagued us for the past few years.

  • 21-June-2010 - C36 Class Order Form updated - LINK (PDF 8KB)
  • 21-June-2010 - FO "American Suburban Cars" page updated - LINK
  • 21-June-2010 - ELX open bogie wagon (and variants) page updated - LINK
  • 21-June-2010 - WHX (and variants) page updated - New images! - LINK
  • New Austrains Image Gallery Online - LINK
  • Updated - 81 - G - BL Class Order Forms - LINK (PDF 66KB)
  • Updated - ELX and variants Order Form - LINK (PDF 64KB)
  • ELX Packs: E1, E2, E4 and E4 now - Sold Out
  • Secret Models page updated - LINK
  • New WHX engineering sample photo online - LINK
  • Austrains Retailers page updated - LINK
  • New order form - 80 Class - LINK (PDF)
  • New order form - WHX Wagons - LINK (PDF)
  • Revised order form - JX-VCPX Cement Hoppers - LINK (PDF)
  • With the change of distribution arrangements comes a change of policy with regard to Postage and Insurance. All items posted by Austrains Pty Ltd now have compulsory receipted delivery and insurance. Too many people were opting out of insurance with a lot of subsequent problems.
  • Compulsory receipted delivery now costs $5.00 per order. Insurance is $6.00 per loco.

Newsletters

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NewAugust 2010 - Newsletter #44

 

June 2010 - Newsletter #43a

 

March 2010 - Newsletter #42a

 

February 2010 - Newsletter #41

June 2009 - Newsletter #40

March 2009

 

February 2009

October 2008

 

Important Information

Warning to customers of Austrains Pty Ltd

Be very careful when purchasing product from on-line auction sites. It has come to our attention that a trader on eBay is using the "Austrains" name.

The individual also has other trading names and is not an authorised Austrains dealer, nor does he have any association with Austrains Pty. Ltd whatsoever.

Austrains Pty. Ltd. does not sell its product on eBay or other web-based auction sites. Nor does it sell any other company’s product at all.

Be careful of what you purchase on on-line auction sites. In many cases you could be paying an inflated price for something that is generally available in the normal retail market place for much less.

Austrains Pty. Ltd. will not cover any warranty for goods purchased secondhand through any source other than Austrains Pty. Ltd. direct or an authorised Austrains dealer.

If you have any problems with items purchased in this manner, do not come crying to us.

Unfortunately, you have been warned.

 

 

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