I also picked up a modern Railmaster. I always caught my eye and you don’t see it around often. I really like it which is all that really matters. I like how the dial changes depending on the light.
I'd love to see the Railmaster come back as a practical field watch in a market position similar to the Tudor Ranger (but Omega has vacated that space). I love the '57 reissue, but it's too shiny. Similar dial and hand set but with a brushed case (and 20mm lugs) would please me. I won't hold my breath though.
A bit late to the party but here's my take FWIW:
When the RM first came out in 1957, it just didn't quite capture the imagination as the Seamster 300 or Speedmaster, so it didn't sell as well. Back then, as now, a watch can say something about what you aspire to be or how you see yourself. Let's face it, for a lot of people an adventurous scuba diver or a race car driver is a more "sexy" image than an engineer or railway worker.
In the early 2000s, the RM could have been marketed as an "antimagnetic" tool watch if it had a soft iron inner case (Remember, this was before the advent of the Si14 balance spring and >15k Gauss magnetic resistance which became standard with Omega). The RM from that era looked the part and was a worthy competitor to the Explorer 1, especially in 36mm case size. Superior magnetic resistance could have been an interesting point of difference compared to the Explorer and the Aqua Terra line and improved its sales.
Sadly, the RM is now a tool watch without a "job" and I don't hold out much hope for a future revival.
In the early 2000s, the RM could have been marketed as an "antimagnetic" tool watch if it had a soft iron inner case (Remember, this was before the advent of the Si14 balance spring and >15k Gauss magnetic resistance which became standard with Omega). The RM from that era looked the part and was a worthy competitor to the Explorer 1, especially in 36mm case size. Superior magnetic resistance could have been an interesting point of difference compared to the Explorer and the Aqua Terra line and improved its sales.
Sadly, the RM is now a tool watch without a "job" and I don't hold out much hope for a future revival.
But if I had the opportunity to change history, I'd take it out of the Seamaster line, give it its own line, give it the antimagnetic case, and then debut the new antimagnetic movement technology on it.
That's a really good point, and it's a marketing strategy that Omega should have used. The anti magnetic tech pionerered in the Aqua Terra "Bumblebee" could have been put into a modern day Railmaster with the early 2000s styling. Case diameter choices of 36mm, 38mm and 41mm will cater for all wrist sizes. That could have been one helluva watch. A true tool watch for engineers.
Exactly. Omega have yet to make anything as good for that market segment (simple tool watches) since they launched the Railmaster in 2003.
I thought it would be fun to mock up my ideal new Railmaster taking elements of the previous gens as a kind of greatest hits, but when I finished it I realised it basically just looks like the second gen again. Oops, no wonder I bought a 2504.52! Oh well, I'll post it anyway since it's already made.
- All brushed case and bracelet are third gen. The brushed case and solid caseback are the best features of the last gen IMO.
- Dial is a mix of first and second gens, with dial text and layout in keeping with current gen Omegas. I really think a no frills tool watch should have a simple, painted dial - similar to the Speedy in ethos.
- Hour and minute hands are first gen.
- Seconds hand is second gen, only because first gen lacked lum. A tool watch really ought to have lumed seconds IMO.
Nice mock up! Hope the numerals have lume on them too as I need to know which way is up 😊
In addition, I'd suggest changing the clasp of the bracelet from a butterfly to a milled foldover, to emphasize that this is a tool watch. Price this at around US$1500 less than an Aqua Terra and I'd seriously consider it. At that price it could be Omega's entry level professional watch and it offers terrific value for money.
Exactly. Omega have yet to make anything as good for that market segment (simple tool watches) since they launched the Railmaster in 2003.
I thought it would be fun to mock up my ideal new Railmaster taking elements of the previous gens as a kind of greatest hits, but when I finished it I realised it basically just looks like the second gen again. Oops, no wonder I bought a 2504.52! Oh well, I'll post it anyway since it's already made.
- All brushed case and bracelet are third gen. The brushed case and solid caseback are the best features of the last gen IMO.
- Dial is a mix of first and second gens, with dial text and layout in keeping with current gen Omegas. I really think a no frills tool watch should have a simple, painted dial - similar to the Speedy in ethos.
- Hour and minute hands are first gen.
- Seconds hand is second gen, only because first gen lacked lum. A tool watch really ought to have lumed seconds IMO.
I was kind of glad too that they didn't keep their value on the 2nd hand market! I got one new-in-box from a Japanese AD on ebay (who filled out the warranty cards in my name!) for much less than MSRP.
That ended up being fortunate though. My railmaster is on its 3rd trip back to Omega for repair. The automatic works are pretty messed up in some way, so hopefully they do better this time.
First trip: Winding via the crown would spin the rotor, and you could hear it going pretty quickly. Additionally, the rotor was fairly noisy. They replaced the two ratchet/clutch wheels in the automatic works (based on returned parts).
Second trip: After wearing it for a few hours, I noticed the rotor got REALLY loud, and would free-wheel for a LONG time. I would move my hand from chin to keyboard (or vice versa) and it would VERY loudly spin for a good 15-20 seconds. It was incredibly distracting.
Third trip: It came back from the previous trip not free-wheeling anymore, but now it barely has any reserve. So it dies overnight, even after wearing it all day. It still charges SOME, since it will start back up when using it, but never enough to wind the mainspring enough to make it more than ~5 hrs at night.
So hopefully 3rd time is the charm.
That must be frustrating. I haven’t read of many issues/complaints from other owners. Am I missing something or did you just get a “lemon” so to speak.
I suspect that is the case. All 3 problems have been with the automatic works so far, so there are only so many parts to replace/adjust. I'm sure they will get it soon enough. On the bright side, the trips to the OB involve going into the city, so I get a chance to have a nice lunch, and the sales guy who helps me is really nice to hang with, and I get to see/try a bunch of stuff I otherwise wouldn't.
So annoying, but not overly frustrated.
Nice you gotta look at the bright side of every thing
