Model Railroading > Intermountain Models

Whats going on with Intermountain Models?
I emailed them about when or if they were going to do more Maxi IV well cars, but after several emails, nothing. Are they still active?

Posted from Android

They are doing fine. Just have a small staff and can not answer all the emails. They have a page that shows all projects that are active and what stage they are in.

https://www.intermountain-railway.com/newshocomingsoon.html

Also there is this little problem we have called Covid.

Bruce

needles_sub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whats going on with Intermountain Models?
> I emailed them about when or if they were going to
> do more Maxi IV well cars, but after several
> emails, nothing. Are they still active?
>
> Posted from Android

brfriedm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They are doing fine. Just have a small staff and
> can not answer all the emails. They have a page
> that shows all projects that are active and what
> stage they are in.
>
> https://www.intermountain-railway.com/newshocoming
> soon.html
>
> Also there is this little problem we have called
> Covid.
>
> Bruce
>
> needles_sub Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Whats going on with Intermountain Models?
> > I emailed them about when or if they were going
> to
> > do more Maxi IV well cars, but after several
> > emails, nothing. Are they still active?
> >
> > Posted from Android


Thanks for the reply. I hadn't gotten any new product emails for a while.

They do update their website periodically, mainly the "Shipping This Month".  They show autoracks shipping and in the HO Advanced Reservation Items they show 4750 covered hopperes "In Transit" - assume that means on the water, and more autoracks "In Production".  Those indicators are usually correct.

Per their Facebook page, they're starting to ship HO autoracks today.

Dan

One year ago I made a reservation for 2 of their 10,000 gallon tank cars and I see that they are still accepting reservations. These will be my first Intermountain Models on my layout. Hope they will be worth the wait.

Westbound Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One year ago I made a reservation for 2 of their
> 10,000 gallon tank cars and I see that they are
> still accepting reservations. These will be my
> first Intermountain Models on my layout. Hope they
> will be worth the wait.

I think I waited about four years for my SD40-2s, and I think I'm at two years for the Dash9s.  Fortunately, I'm still a couple years from beginning to build so it's not quite as annoying for me to wait so long as for others.

Dan

Intermountain riveted tank cars are very nice models; however, the handrails and vertical brake staff are plastic and are very fragile.  The brake staff is easy enough to replace with wire, but the handrails and stanchions on the tank take a bit more effort to replace - the handrail/ladder joint being the worst part of it (much easier if you can get new ladders from Intermountain, but I've been waiting several months for a reply).

Westbound Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One year ago I made a reservation for 2 of their
> 10,000 gallon tank cars and I see that they are
> still accepting reservations. These will be my
> first Intermountain Models on my layout. Hope they
> will be worth the wait.

I recall something not long ago about Intermountain no longer supplying parts.  Not sure if that is true in above case or not.

Posted this not too long ago but will do it again in hopes that this clarifies the misunderstandings out there about Parts Requests.  This is directly from the Website.  As Bruce noted above, we are a small staff currently in an advanced lockdown so working with a skeleton staff in-house as we try to carry on normal functions.  Parts Requests are being worked as time allows, sent out about 50 of them last week alone.  We appreciate peoples patience during this highly unusual 2020.
Kirk

NOTE: We are no longer accepting non-warranty parts requests. This includes, but is not limited to, parts used in kitbashing, scratchbuilding, and/or any model customization purposes.

When in doubt, please contact us. For all parts requests, expect 4-6 weeks before receiving them.

To submit a parts request please click the Parts Request button below or send an e-mail to: intermountain@intermountain-railway.com and provide the following information:
-Full Name
-Mailing Address (Parts are shipped via US Mail unless otherwise specified)
-Daytime Phone Number
-Scale (O, HO, N, Z)
-Part(s) Desired (if part name is unknown, describe the part(s) as best you can. Simple cell phone pictures can also be helpful to show locations of missing or broken parts).Parts requests are filled in date order and/or when parts are available. You may indicate if you would like to be notified if the part(s) that you have requested are not available.

I have a parts request from three years ago that was never filled.  I have emails from IMRC  with nothing but excuses.  I have already started dumping my rolling stock of their products and locomotives because of extremely poor customer service - regardless of the small staff and the pandemic!  This process (and another parts request) began years ago well before the current crisis.  First it was the excuse about the China manufacturers and even though that was resolved, the poor customer service continues.  Good luck.  There are other more reputatible companies with better products than IMRC.  

ntermountain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Posted this not too long ago but will do it again
> in hopes that this clarifies the misunderstandings
> out there about Parts Requests.  This is directly
> from the Website.  As Bruce noted above, we are a
> small staff currently in an advanced lockdown so
> working with a skeleton staff in-house as we try
> to carry on normal functions.  Parts Requests are
> being worked as time allows, sent out about 50 of
> them last week alone.  We appreciate peoples
> patience during this highly unusual 2020.
> Kirk
>
> NOTE: We are no longer accepting non-warranty
> parts requests. This includes, but is not limited
> to, parts used in kitbashing, scratchbuilding,
> and/or any model customization purposes.
>
> When in doubt, please contact us. For all parts
> requests, expect 4-6 weeks before receiving them.
>
> To submit a parts request please click the Parts
> Request button below or send an e-mail to:
> intermountain@intermountain-railway.com and
> provide the following information:
> -Full Name
> -Mailing Address (Parts are shipped via US Mail
> unless otherwise specified)
> -Daytime Phone Number
> -Scale (O, HO, N, Z)
> -Part(s) Desired (if part name is unknown,
> describe the part(s) as best you can. Simple cell
> phone pictures can also be helpful to show
> locations of missing or broken parts).Parts
> requests are filled in date order and/or when
> parts are available. You may indicate if you would
> like to be notified if the part(s) that you have
> requested are not available.

Kirk,

Thank you for clarifying.

JUSTBNSF, how would you like to be kicked when you are down? The golden rule seems long forgotten, sadly.

Posted from Android

Though my comment was factual, it lacked context.  I'm not upset or angry with Intermountain.  Given civil unrest, COVID deaths, businesses struggling to survive, and myriad other problems in this country and the world, the timing of a response about my repair parts is not anything to be upset or angry about.  I hope Intermountain's employees are safe, healthy, and the company survives this.  

wnehoc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
"...but I've been waiting several months for a reply."
 

Dear ?,

I have heard from several manufacturers over the years and one of the biggest drains on them is parts sales and provisioning. They tell me they are major money losers. No one is worried you are selling off IM. I have sourced parts from every manufacturer. Some are better then others but evey scenario was usually a struggle and required multiple emails or calls. No one is perfect for sure. I love the hobby and run trains and model every day. Dude, just enjoy.  Bruce

bnsf6606 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a parts request from three years ago that
> was never filled.  I have emails from IMRC  with
> nothing but excuses.  I have already started
> dumping my rolling stock of their products and
> locomotives because of extremely poor customer
> service - regardless of the small staff and the
> pandemic!  This process (and another parts
> request) began years ago well before the current
> crisis.  First it was the excuse about the China
> manufacturers and even though that was resolved,
> the poor customer service continues.  Good
> luck.  There are other more reputatible companies
> with better products than IMRC.  
>
> ntermountain Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Posted this not too long ago but will do it
> again
> > in hopes that this clarifies the
> misunderstandings
> > out there about Parts Requests.  This is
> directly
> > from the Website.  As Bruce noted above, we are
> a
> > small staff currently in an advanced lockdown
> so
> > working with a skeleton staff in-house as we
> try
> > to carry on normal functions.  Parts Requests
> are
> > being worked as time allows, sent out about 50
> of
> > them last week alone.  We appreciate peoples
> > patience during this highly unusual 2020.
> > Kirk
> >
> > NOTE: We are no longer accepting non-warranty
> > parts requests. This includes, but is not
> limited
> > to, parts used in kitbashing, scratchbuilding,
> > and/or any model customization purposes.
> >
> > When in doubt, please contact us. For all parts
> > requests, expect 4-6 weeks before receiving
> them.
> >
> > To submit a parts request please click the
> Parts
> > Request button below or send an e-mail to:
> > intermountain@intermountain-railway.com and
> > provide the following information:
> > -Full Name
> > -Mailing Address (Parts are shipped via US Mail
> > unless otherwise specified)
> > -Daytime Phone Number
> > -Scale (O, HO, N, Z)
> > -Part(s) Desired (if part name is unknown,
> > describe the part(s) as best you can. Simple
> cell
> > phone pictures can also be helpful to show
> > locations of missing or broken parts).Parts
> > requests are filled in date order and/or when
> > parts are available. You may indicate if you
> would
> > like to be notified if the part(s) that you
> have
> > requested are not available.