How about Atlas track and turnouts?
I frequently read (this forum) about guys who are building new layouts, and would like to use Atlas, but the supply and variety of Atlas track items is limited.
Alex
I hope they keep making Atlas O track. I just started my layout with nothing but their track.......I need ALOT more...............
Did not see SMR Trains in their usual Orange Hall location.
Who wants to volunteer to spend 3 hours setting up and 3 hours taking down a display?
Andrew
I think what tells me more about Atlas is that no one showed up to the Forum meeting......
Peter
Putnam Division posted:I think what tells me more about Atlas is that no one showed up to the Forum meeting...
Exactly. That kind of move speaks volumes. Right or wrong, folks are left to start drawing their own conclusions.
How many people attend the OGR forum meetings?
Another indicator of Atlas' position in our market will be advertising. It will be interesting to see if Atlas ads disappear or are reduced in magazines and other venues.
Norm
AtlasO been in decline for years. Just purchased some new AtlasO rolling stock and was surprised how cheap/flimsy their trucks have gotten. Say the least I wasn’t impressed.
This thread is ridiculous, they are prob just putting themselves together after some of the reps leaving. They certainly have no problems moving stuff off the shelves. Also they prob broke the bank w the CZ.
SANTIAGOP23 posted:This thread is ridiculous, they are prob just putting themselves together after some of the reps leaving. They certainly have no problems moving stuff off the shelves. Also they prob broke the bank w the CZ.
Ah yes... Spoken like a loyal and true Atlas-O enthusiast, which is to be expected. However, as much as I enjoy what Atlas-O stood for in the O-Gauge marketplace, it's time to remove the blinders and call it like it is. Their China connection is broken big-time. And until that's addressed, they're only gonna continue to frustrate even their most loyal buyers.
BTW, glad to hear Patricia Kimble attended the booth for Atlas-O. She's a class act, and always handled the seminar registrations and Golden Spike Club membership with a smile. Very professional lady. She wasn't in the booth when I browsed the Golden Spike Club table, or I definitely would have said hello.
David
Let me know when MTH or Lionel make anything close to this...
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C W Burfle posted:How many people attend the OGR forum meetings?
Its not so much about how many attend these meetings but the reports after that go out to a much wider audience , many of us who do not attend York are grateful to hear the current news from the companies we buy product from. I believe Atlas was remiss in not having a rep present from their booth at the show to at least give a current status report even though production has been limited. JMO
Rocky Mountaineer posted:
SANTIAGOP23 posted:This thread is ridiculous, they are prob just putting themselves together after some of the reps leaving. They certainly have no problems moving stuff off the shelves. Also they prob broke the bank w the CZ.
Ah yes... Spoken like a loyal and true Atlas-O enthusiast, which is to be expected. However, as much as I enjoy what Atlas-O stood for in the O-Gauge marketplace, it's time to remove the blinders and call it like it is. Their China connection is broken big-time. And until that's addressed, they're only gonna continue to frustrate even their most loyal buyers.
BTW, glad to hear Patricia Kimble attended the booth for Atlas-O. She's a class act, and always handled the seminar registrations and Golden Spike Club membership with a smile. Very professional lady. She wasn't in the booth when I browsed the Golden Spike Club table, or I definitely would have said hello.
David
Dave I think we hit a nerve
i like Atlas, but there a big time issues you can’t ignore.
SANTIAGOP23 posted:Let me know when MTH or Lionel make anything close to this...
You are missing the point, in my opinion. Of course those CZ passenger cars are indeed beautiful, even with the two different finishes over the VERY long delivery time. However, many of those CZ cars are STILL sitting on hobby shop shelves around the U.S., and are also quite plentiful at any/every train show (and I'll bet even Atlas might still have some in stock).
I believe I was just talking about the newer offerings of...........................FREIGHT CARS. 
superwarp1 posted:AtlasO been in decline for years. Just purchased some new AtlasO rolling stock and was surprised how cheap/flimsy their trucks have gotten. Say the least I wasn’t impressed.
A few years ago Atlas began to make their trucks with scale-width side frames. They used to be chunkier before the switch.
I love Atlas products but one would be naive to think that there are not serious manufacturing issues for Atlas O. The lengthy production delays clearly show that times are dire.
C W Burfle posted:How many people attend the OGR forum meetings?
It was one of the most well attended in a while.....I’d estimate 200+ (about 8-10 rows with over 20 per row and standers in the back and sides). It was a really good turnout!
Peter
catnap posted:superwarp1 posted:AtlasO been in decline for years. Just purchased some new AtlasO rolling stock and was surprised how cheap/flimsy their trucks have gotten. Say the least I wasn’t impressed.
A few years ago Atlas began to make their trucks with scale-width side frames. They used to be chunkier before the switch.
Very good point. I have purchased a number of the "new style" Atlas Bettendorf 2-Rail truck assemblies, and they seem to work well on our 3-Rail SCALE layout, once I modified all the Atlas turnouts, by adding shim-stock to the tops of all the guard rails.
I love Atlas products but one would be naive to think that there are not serious manufacturing issues for Atlas O. The lengthy production delays clearly show that times are dire.
Not to mention the continuing price hicks, even on existing freight cars, with just different styling & painting.
Putnam Division posted:C W Burfle posted:How many people attend the OGR forum meetings?
It was one of the most well attended in a while.....I’d estimate 200+ (about 8-10 rows with over 20 per row and standers in the back and sides). It was a really good turnout!
Peter
It was a great turnout, and my first time at York. I believe I did pass by the Atlas booth, but I can't compare to how it was. I do agree that not having a rep at the OGR Forum Meeting doesn't have good taste to it. I would to have enjoyed hearing what they had to say about upcoming news as I did with everyone else's news. I hope that there is good news to come from them as bad news always is a big rotten cloud in the industry that is talked about for years. We'll have to wait and see what they announce whenever they usually announce news.
Atlas
I added a few more SW's over the years.
ogaugeguy posted:breezinup posted:leapinlarry posted:Wow, hopefully Atlas O, and in my honest opinion, is a manufacturer of high Quality O Guage products and will survive this economic period.
What "economic period" would that be?
Economic period or a demographics period? ............ I see it more as an unfortunate demographic downturn by those in hobby due to the bulk of that age group either downsizing or, not meaning to be insensitive, many O gauge folks no longer in the hobby because of either medical issues or death. As proof, just observe the more prolific posters on this forum who have either recently moved or are planning to move to smaller domiciles or who've reported newly discovered health issues (or worse.) It's extremely difficult for a business to buck the trend of their core demographics clientele without that business reinventing itself to survive.
Apparently Lionel and MTH are doing well. Menards is blowing and going. These are arguments against your theory. There's lots of other other evidence to the contrary as well (for example see current post re: yet another record year for TW Trainworx). And any "proof" that some so-called prolific posters on the forum have moved or are planning to do so, or have health issues, is practically meaningless as an indication of anything. There are very few of those among posters. Besides, the fact is that the so-called prolific posters on this forum represent only the tiniest fraction of the O gauge market, and what this tiny handful may or may not be doing is essentially useless as any measure of the overall health of the hobby.
ogaugeguy posted:...
Economic period or a demographics period? As the economy is currently going, I see it more as an unfortunate demographic downturn by those in hobby due to the bulk of that age group either downsizing or, not meaning to be insensitive, many O gauge folks no longer in the hobby because of either medical issues or death. As proof, just observe the more prolific posters on this forum who have either recently moved or are planning to move to smaller domiciles or who've reported newly discovered health issues (or worse.) It's extremely difficult for a business to buck the trend of their core demographics clientele without that business reinventing itself to survive. ...
Hhhhmmmm.... not so sure about all of that.
If downsizing is such a huge trend, then why does a healthy percentage of Lionel's "featured" steam locomotive offerings fall into the articulated class? Along a similar train of thought, why is Lionel pushing 21" passenger cars? Folks need HUGE basement empires for either of these types of offerings to "look good" (IMHO). 
Who's buying these products if everyone is reportedly downsizing? 
The REAL problem in the Atlas-O camp appears to be they are the importer that took the hardest hit when the Chinese production factories went into turmoil during the last several years. Think of the overseas model train manufacturing picture as a big game of musical chairs. In recent years, it would seem the music stopped playing more frequently. And Atlas-O was always the importer that was left standing without a seat -- or in this case a manufacturer -- when the music stopped.
That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. 
Rocky Mountaineer posted:Greg, I can assure you that Dunham Studios is NOT going out of business.
At least you're trying to make sure they don't! 
breezinup posted:Apparently Lionel and MTH are doing well. Menards is blowing and going.
Even RMT is rising from the ashes with new product from all new molds if the announcement can be believed.
Hot Water posted:catnap posted:I have yet to see anything that Lionel or MTH has done that surpasses Atlas on detail, or weight.
In my opinion, I much prefer the MTH Premier steam era boxcars, over the same Atlas products. The added-on detail parts that MTH uses are metal (brass?) while the same parts on Atlas cars are all plastic. Not to mention the price of Atlas products has gotten obscene!
I agree. MTH box cars to me are the best available all things considered. They are rigid, hefty, well-made, well detailed and the details are rugged. And, unlike many of the recent Atlas cars, all the doors on the MTH cars are functional. Although I do believe Atlas cars are a little heftier and more rigid, with the absolute best paint job in O. But when you then consider the degree of difference in car in relation to price... hard to beat MTH.
SANTIAGOP23 posted:Let me know when MTH or Lionel make anything close to this...
Per one of my recent posts - let me know when anyone in the entire O sector makes anything close to this - at a similar price.
Wondering if, like in the comic book hobby, a possible reason for some vendors deciding on reduced table area at York is due to increased rental fees for attendees?
While I can’t tell you factually what the decision process is at Atlas, I can tell you in general that seeing product at a trade show is becoming a lesser requirement for buyers.
something like 70% of the buying decision happens before someone sets foot in a store or at a show. Many companies are shifting their marketing spend to other methods over large trade show booths.
harmonyards posted:I hope they keep making Atlas O track. I just started my layout with nothing but their track.......I need ALOT more...............
Harmonyards - My layout is a mixture of Atlas O and Ross track. I started buying Ross track and turnouts for all new stuff a while ago. The two mate together just fine, look good together and are indistinguishable when ballast is used. Ross product is made in the USA so orders are always filled in a timely manner.
Joe
Arthur posted:Did not see SMR Trains in their usual Orange Hall location.
SMR has not been at that position since April, 2016. Mianne is in that location now and was for the third time this month (October, 2017, York).
Visited the Atlas Booth at York on Thursday. I spoke with the lady representing the Golden Spike Club..
I asked a question she was not able to answer and she connected with another Rep. by the name of William. My question was about a Trainman C&O Caboose in the development stage. He gave me all of the information and added that getting the vendor in China to make the details correctly has been time consuming.
ART
William is Bill Serratelli, many here know him well and/or spoke with him on the phone. I go to York for 3 days with his dad, Bill or Buzzy as his nickname. Atlas Model Railroad Company is a viable, profitable company.
Model Structures posted:harmonyards posted:I hope they keep making Atlas O track. I just started my layout with nothing but their track.......I need ALOT more...............
Harmonyards - My layout is a mixture of Atlas O and Ross track. I started buying Ross track and turnouts for all new stuff a while ago. The two mate together just fine, look good together and are indistinguishable when ballast is used. Ross product is made in the USA so orders are always filled in a timely manner.
Joe
joe, I did not know that....that is a relief knowing I have options.........thanks so much!
The entire York meet is a shell of its former glory... 
Well . . . I bought a lot of Atlas cars and engines when I was building up a roster of equipment, and I do not regret having done so. Lately, however, I have not seen many offerings that seemed like they would fit in well on my layout. I let the Atlas F7's go by, in favor of the 3rd Rail offering. If Atlas had announced first, I might be running their F-units. I do have a couple of other Atlas locomotives on order, and expect that they will be well-detailed and almost bullet-proof hard workers like my other Atlas engines.
Anyway, my point was that I bought a lot of Atlas-O when it was in its best days, and am glad I did.
Atlas has always produced terrific freight cars, but agree with my fellow posters that there is frequently a long wait to get them. I have quite a few of them and will likely buy more since Lionel recently downgraded the quality of their trucks and couplers on their scale freight cars, which means that I won't be buying any more of them.
OGR Webmaster posted:The entire York meet is a shell of its former glory...
As are most of us who attend.
I would not judge a company's health based on a train show booth.
Mallard !! Speak for yourself !! Thanks
Didn't Atlas bring the large 9' x 38' modular layout in previous years to York? I can say that the Atlas booth at the Springfield Mass train show is huge with many operating scale layouts.
I don't know what else this post can turn into? I'd like to add that I have been very happy with Atlas products overall. I really like their last intermodal 53' cars. If I had more cash, I would definitely buy more. I stocked up on their tank cars and that left me broke. Their latest releases matched exactly what I like so I have a list of wants. The coil cars for example look great.
If I had not gone overboard with my outside G scale, Atlas could have sold me a lot more product. I'm really happy with what I got from them so far.
I could only add that their future engine releases (Dash 8s) could have real grilles on the sides to let heat out. I have not had a problem, but I have read of some. For me, that would improve the looks. I can always do it myself though. That is being picky from me. Their older diesels look the part for me. They are solid!
I applaud them for redesigning their 2 rail (car) trucks. I like their die-cast cars. Great detailing too. As I look over my layout, most of the rolling stock is Atlas. Almost all of my track is Atlas.
Now if I could just get my old trucks back from them! 
