Atlas and MTH Electric Trains....GOOD NEWS!

Kudos to Atlas for a VERY good move! They appear to have pretty much taken on the "cream of the crop" of MTH Premier Line production, at least in my opinion. Would be nice to see them also do more MTH Premier cabooses at some point, but I know they can't do everything. In short: VERY glad to see Atlas take this step, which, I believe, is sure to bring smiles to the faces of a good many fans of both the MTH and Atlas product lines.

Wise preemptive move by the moderator to channel discussion to one place.

For the Atlas naysayers saying that they were getting out of the O business, this clearly  indicates they are going in the opposite direction.  Looks like they are picking up ability to produce DCS as well.  Very good news (or at least hope) for those of us who are fans of the MTH Premier line and Atlas O.

Now the rumor mill will really start churning about the Railking line.

Atlas has been wonderful to work with and we as Atlas dealers are really excited about this news.  Further, Atlas does a lot of custom runs for dealers (including us!) and we looking forward to doing several with them.

I was hoping to see more Premier diesels and Steam in this announcement too.

The only tooling not listed for a car that I like is the 100 Ton Cylindrical Hopper.
Atlas already makes 2 cylindrical hoppers but the MTH tooling is for a different prototype, specifically for Canadian grain hoppers.
Here's hoping that one comes back at some point.

This is exciting news to me. I look forward to Atlas engine production and the rest. Having production on PS3 brings me joy too.

I think this is a good list of engine products from above:

"Locomotive molds include the E6A/B and E8A/B, 44 Tonner, Amtrak P42 Genesis, Dash 9, SD45, F40, U30C, SD70M-2 with SD70Ace, GP38-2, SD70ACe, SD70MAC, GP40, S2, SD40-2, GP30, ES44AC&DC with ES44DC and GEVO ES-44."

Remember what Atlas has produced so far and how big this expands their line-up in O scale.

Thanks for sharing!!!

Some of the Railking line has been acquired by another group, but will be announced in about a month.

A good move on the part of Atlas O. I wish them success. There are other diesels and electric motors that would be good for continuation. What about the steam engines? Does Atlas O intend to produce just diesels?

MELGAR

As an Amtrak modeler, I am super excited that Atlas picked up the P42 molds. Perhaps the new Amtrak heritage units will be produced in O after all.

I hope Atlas will drop the TMCC licensing and go to PS3 100%. This is WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

I'm guessing This also will mean Atlas will no longer use TMCC/Legacy in their engines.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

This is exciting news to me. I look forward to Atlas engine production and the rest. Having production on PS3 brings me joy too.

I think this is a good list of engine products from above:

"Locomotive molds include the E6A/B and E8A/B, 44 Tonner, Amtrak P42 Genesis, Dash 9, SD45, F40, U30C, SD70M-2 with SD70Ace, GP38-2, SD70ACe, SD70MAC, GP40, S2, SD40-2, GP30, ES44AC&DC with ES44DC and GEVO ES-44."

Remember what Atlas has produced so far and how big this expands their line-up in O scale.

Thanks for sharing!!!

Yeah, like Pepperidge Farm, I remember... gotta get the dust and cobwebs off too!

This will have a positive effect on the future of O scale/gauge.

MELGAR

@GenesisFan99 posted:

As an Amtrak modeler, I am super excited that Atlas picked up the P42 molds. Perhaps the new Amtrak heritage units will be produced in O after all.

Atlas say's their first product announcement will be next week.  Lets hope the P42 tools to be run soon!

I’m hoping Atlas will be able to produce a PS3 and a TMCC/Legacy edition of the same engine. This would appeal to both sides of the O Gauge market. IMO it would be a big mistake for Atlas to drop the TMCC/Legacy license.

@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:

I hope Atlas will drop the TMCC licensing and go to PS3 100%. This is WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

That's the $64K question, for sure.

Since the release only states that Atlas acquired the molds and is silent about the proprietary hardware/electronics, it may be that we will be seeing MTH products with TMCC electronics.

Haven't been on the Forum for a couple of weeks and just hopped on to see what's up. What sterling timing for me to discover this announcement! As a long-time MTH fan, I'm very excited at the prospect of Atlas producing new engines and rolling stock using the MTH Premier tooling and electronics. Atlas' product line in O gauge/scale is greatly increased with this deal, as should their production in the future. Great news for all of us in both three- and two-rail O gauge. Can't wait to see their next catalog's "Premier" offerings.

Stay well.

Chris

In other news and without divulging too much information,  some of the great folks at MTH may possibly be staying on with plans of their own.  This too sounds exciting!

Also, a major point of interest:  Atlas is retaining the MTH production facility so timely releases will be made.

@Richie C. posted:

That's the $64K question, for sure.

Since the release only states that Atlas acquired the molds and is silent about the proprietary hardware/electronics, it may be that we will be seeing MTH products with TMCC electronics.

Read the entire press release:

"Atlas has also acquired a license for the MTH Proto-Sound 3 Sound & Control Electronics Boards, which adds realistic sounds to locomotives and also allows control via DCS (Digital Command System).  Part of the license will give Atlas the option to sell DCS components as well."

Great news for everybody!

Boy, I wish they could get the tooling for their own engines into the production facility.

Dang, I was having more fun with all the "sky is falling" posts on other threads. With Atlas becoming a PS3 licensee and Premier Line manufacturer, that provides some stability for DCS. Perhaps another company might pick up the Rail King line tooling but, even if not, continuation of DCS is the most important good news here from my own selfish perspective.

Great move for Atlas O. I wonder with DCS, TMCC, DCC if we might get a once shop fits all Control System. Now my personal concern is who gets or got the RK SW1500 which is a remarkable locomotive for the 4X8 members who enjoy scale equipment on somewhat smaller layouts.

Mike Parks

Charter Member of "The 48 Club"

Hopefully We see Andy, Rich and Midge at York wearing employee Atlas polo shirts.

Sadly, I don't see any steam in the announcement.

Yeah I got the same question. What about the steam engine molds?  

Interesting that this good news was not leaked earlier.  I'm sure they have been in discussion for some time and probably inked the deal long before today, but their hasn't been a hint.

Good news indeed for us MTH fans.  I'll be interested to see if Atlas pricing is similar to MTH.

I guess we will see a bunch of threads asking people what they want to see Atlas make.  I'm still looking for D&H 18" streamlined passenger cars. 

Good news I guess for DCS and a few diesels. I.M.O. I see several undesirable items in the mix.

I would think the other group will pick up the 50’ PS-1’s F3’s, FM’s, RS-1, RS-3, 44 ton, Subways, MU’s or GP35’s. I know Atlas offers some of these so they were probably avoiding conflict in the choice.

Great news.  Glad the PS 3.0 will continue, engine molds and rolling stock will continue.  

This is great news for the hobby.  And it will also be great for all the MTH dealers that will continue to have product to sell.

Very excited about this news! Glad DCS/Protosound 3.0 lives on!  I have been buying more Atlas O freight cars over the past few years and I've grown to really appreciate what they do.  I hope they keep the prices comparable to MTH because Premier diesels have been the ceiling I am willing to pay.  I like Railking, too -- and hope it lives on as well, especially for steam.  This news made my day.  Hooray!

@ncdave posted:

I’m hoping Atlas will be able to produce a PS3 and a TMCC/Legacy edition of the same engine. This would appeal to both sides of the O Gauge market. IMO it would be a big mistake for Atlas to drop the TMCC/Legacy license.

I agree, but time will tell

PS-3 and DCS support is the news I've been waiting for!  This is very good news and a bit of a relief.    Thank you Atlas.

Happy it has life!!!! The es44 and SD40 is great due to the swiveling pilots. I still hope that railking lives on. Either through lionel or some other manufacturer will likely purchase the tooling eventually. There are no mid level engines or passenger cars in lionels repertoire so maybe something will happen. (e.g. imperial and railking scale engines)

Question for all you tech installers:

Is there enough room inside a locomotive to fit both DCS and TMCC components?

@rtraincollector posted:

I agree, but time will tell

@ncdave posted:

I’m hoping Atlas will be able to produce a PS3 and a TMCC/Legacy edition of the same engine. This would appeal to both sides of the O Gauge market. IMO it would be a big mistake for Atlas to drop the TMCC/Legacy license.

As far as I know Atlas only has TMCC licensing I don't think Lionel will let Legacy walk out the door.  The only reason I could see for Atlas to drop TMCC is so they don't have to keep paying Lionel for the licensing now that they bought their own system in DCS.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Sadly, I don't see any steam in the announcement.

Sadly i to have to agree with GRJ there is no steam in this news release so I wonder where all the steam will end up?

As more and more of the MTH product line gets swallowed up, we will probably see prices on EBAY and elsewhere recede to normal levels as it becomes apparent that everything made by MTH, will be made again.

I wonder how quick they will bring product to market and with which control system?

Great News for O modelers.

Gunny

@RJT posted:

Sadly i to have to agree with GRJ there is no steam in this news release so I wonder where all the steam will end up?

My guess would be Lionel but we'll see.