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Trust me….I keep a log of my  orders and the dates.

I placed my order for the highly anticipated Atlas Master Line GP7s in 2014. I ordered both powered and dummy units. The order deadline was posted by Atlas (for guaranteed delivery) of 04/12/14.

And I waited and waited…..I do believe they were cancelled at some point along with a few other Atlas locomotives I had ordered. I think they were either GP40’s or SD40’s. I do not remember.

Fast forward to 10/29/17. Atlas announces they will open the orders for a very limited time to dealers for the GP7s. I immediately place my “re-order” from my dealer.

And I waited and waited again. Forgot about them.

05/29/22 – I get an invoice to pay for my Atlas Master Line DRGW GP7s from my dealer. Close to 5 years. I wonder if this is a record. I thought I waited a long time for my Lionel Veranda 20 years ago but that was only 3 years.

Good thing – I paid $459.96 for an Atlas Master Line powered Diesel Locomotive. New Atlas product for pre-order (mostly MTH) is $100 to $120 more per powered unit.

Bad thing – I am not sure I even want them anymore. I will decide when they arrive.

Donald

OGP-7PhaseIIDBRioGrande

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Last edited by 3rail
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In 5 years time. Many dealers taking orders may not still be in business.

Years ago I ordered a New Haven FA ABA directly from Weaver. Seemed at least 3 years. Like you I kind of moved on and had other things in the pipeline by then as far as pre orders. When they called they simply asked if I was still interested. I told them I moved on to other things with the long wait. They understood. At the time I had nothing ordered from anyone as far as engines and they were in my budget. I’m mostly a steam guy but have a soft spot for NH Diesels. Don’t really know if they were ever produced. By that time MTH and Lionel had really upgraded their tooling.

@3rail, Donald, from the picture above, the diesel is beautiful, is it TMCC?, also are they making the dummy unit? I wish Atlas offered TMCC and cruise control and I would buy their products in a heart beat. Although I love Lionel’s Legacy program, it’s been a real problem getting their merchandise repaired. So, if Atlas is reading your thread, I would love to see more of their locomotives with TMCC. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

@3rail,  is it TMCC? also are they making the dummy unit?....

Well, assuming specs haven't changed since the offering - these are listed under TMCC features:

  • Electric Railroad Co. “Cruise Commander” Technology
  • IMPROVED RailSounds™ digital sound system
  • LEGACY COMPATIBLE (100 Speed Steps)
  • Operating diesel exhaust unit
  • Electro-couplers
  • Lionel® TrainMaster Command Control


And yes, there are dummy units. Two powered units per road name, one unpowered. The F7s offered back in November list TMCC features, and dummy units.

David

@NKP Muncie posted:

Well, assuming specs haven't changed since the offering - these are listed under TMCC features:

  • Electric Railroad Co. “Cruise Commander” Technology
  • IMPROVED RailSounds™ digital sound system
  • LEGACY COMPATIBLE (100 Speed Steps)
  • Operating diesel exhaust unit
  • Electro-couplers
  • Lionel® TrainMaster Command Control


And yes, there are dummy units. Two powered units per road name, one unpowered. The F7s offered back in November list TMCC features, and dummy units.

David

Thank you very much David for the above information. I agree with Larry above, I would love Atlas to keep the Lionel guts for their Diesel Locomotives. Based on what I see, sadly I do not think that is going to happen with the exception of their F7’s David noted above. Since the acquisition of the MTH dies and molds, the new products are just MTH produced with the Atlas label.

That is not a bad thing for most of us since a lot of folks have and run MTH and their operating system. That is fine.

I was so excited to see all the new locomotives in Atlas’s catalog and was preparing a small list to buy. Then I saw the specs (not TMCC) and tore it up. I did order some freight cars.

I chose to run TMCC.

Donald

In case anyone missed it in the thread about Atlas returning to the York show, here's what Atlas posted:

Hi All,

Wanted to give some clarification - Atlas O Premier Locomotives are currently produced at MTH's old factory while Atlas O Master Locomotives are produced at Atlas' current O scale factory.  MTH's factory is authorized and specializes in the installation and testing of the PS3 electronic components that are installed in the Atlas O Premier Locomotives. On the other side Atlas O's factory that produces O Master Locos specializes in the installation of Lionel's electronics.

For the current time Atlas O Master Locos will be offered and delivered with Lionel electronics and Atlas O Premier Locos will be offered and delivered with PS3 Electronics.

-Atlas O

Here's a link to the whole thread:

https://ogrforum.com/...the-york-show?page=1



David

Last edited by NKP Muncie
@3rail posted:

Trust me….I keep a log of my  orders and the dates.

I placed my order for the highly anticipated Atlas Master Line GP7s in 2014. I ordered both powered and dummy units.



Ditto, Don.

I filled out the order card at our LHS in 2014 per Atlas' announcement, order deadline date.

In March of this year...while we were enjoying our leisurely vacation in Floriduh...we got a call from our LHS (I retired from there in June 2020).  They wanted to know if we, wife and I (DRGW her favorite flag), still wanted the engines...pwd+dummy...as per the brown-around-the-edges 2014 order card. 'Atlas sez they're on the way.'

After the laughter (waxing poetic) AND confirming that 8 additional years per the cpi calculator had not been applied to the original price thereof, we said OK...we dare you to deliver!!

So now we make good on the promise.  Just advised late last week they're sitting at the shop waiting for my Visa card.

8 years.  Who'd-a thunk?  We'll say 2 of those years is on Covid, just to spread around the dearth.  The other 6???

I recall about 20 years earlier that MTH announced some NYC Lightning Striper E3's, E6's, or E8's in their RailKing line.  Took an order over the phone from a customer for the same.  He called in several-month intervals wondering where they were.  Never got a satisfactory answer from MTH.  4 years later they showed up.  Called the customer.  "REALLY!!!??  If you're not kidding, eat them yourself!  I'm out of the hobby!!"  Sheesh.

And in the midst of waiting for the Geeps from Atlas they took Zantac off the shelves!!!  I tell ya, being in this hobby is TOUGH!

Hang in there, pal.

KD

Last edited by dkdkrd
@dkdkrd posted:

Ditto, Don.

I filled out the order card at our LHS in 2014 per Atlas' announcement, order deadline date.

In March of this year...while we were enjoying our leisurely vacation in Floriduh...we got a call from our LHS (I retired from there in June 2020).  They wanted to know if we, wife and I (DRGW her favorite flag), still wanted the engines...pwd+dummy...as per the brown-around-the-edges 2014 order card. 'Atlas sez they're on the way.'

After the laughter (waxing poetic) AND confirming that 8 additional years per the cpi calculator had not been applied to the original price thereof, we said OK...we dare you to deliver!!

So now we make good on the promise.  Just advised late last week they're sitting at the shop waiting for my Visa card.

8 years.  Who'd-a thunk?  We'll say 2 of those years is on Covid, just to spread around the dearth.  The other 6???

interesting story how both of us had the same experience. I wonder how many other guys share the same story or ordered the Geep back in 2014?

DK

@dkdkrd posted:

Ditto, Don.

I filled out the order card at our LHS in 2014 per Atlas' announcement, order deadline date.

In March of this year...while we were enjoying our leisurely vacation in Floriduh...we got a call from our LHS (I retired from there in June 2020).  They wanted to know if we, wife and I (DRGW her favorite flag), still wanted the engines...pwd+dummy...as per the brown-around-the-edges 2014 order card. 'Atlas sez they're on the way.'

After the laughter (waxing poetic) AND confirming that 8 additional years per the cpi calculator had not been applied to the original price thereof, we said OK...we dare you to deliver!!

So now we make good on the promise.  Just advised late last week they're sitting at the shop waiting for my Visa card.

8 years.  Who'd-a thunk?  We'll say 2 of those years is on Covid, just to spread around the dearth.  The other 6???

IIRC didn't Atlas (and maybe Weaver, Lionel  plus some others) use a factory that the folks who purchased Williams owned and they told them they had to find another manufacturer? The Atlas F's and GP's are very nicely tooled and painted plus run well with the ERR TMCC. Hope the folks that purchased them enjoy running them and post here for all of us to see.

Last edited by BobbyD
@dk122trains posted:

My Atlas NYC GP 7s arrive to me tomorrow in three numbers all.powered. The wait is over!!

Hey DK. I was not aware that you could get (3) powered units. I thought there were only (2) and a dummy?

I thought I ordered all (3) too. But, I looked back at my order and I am only getting (1) powered and (1) dummy. I guess I am the dummy who did the original order!

Mine are arriving this afternoon. Hopefully before the storms.

DK

@3rail posted:

Hey DK. I was not aware that you could get (3) powered units. I thought there were only (2) and a dummy?

I thought I ordered all (3) too. But, I looked back at my order and I am only getting (1) powered and (1) dummy. I guess I am the dummy who did the original order!

Mine are arriving this afternoon. Hopefully before the storms.

DK

Don the Bew York Central Historical Society in 2014 offered an exclusive NYC number to members powered and the other two are the main stream offerings thru Mr. Muffin’s.

@leapinlarry posted:

One more Question, concerning the dummy units, are they also TMCC, meaning do they have directional lighting and operating couplers, this has been my issues with some dummy units, they are non functioning. Thank you very much. Happy Railroading Everyone

I can only say that my Atlas GP7 dummy has no electronics at all.  But it is over 15 years old.

I bought three ATSF zebra stripe Geep 7's around 2004 or 2005.  The powered units have (if I remember correctly) Engineer On Board and TMCC, with early Railsounds that only go to Run-4

@Number 900,  Tom, thank you for sharing your thoughts, I was thinking that Atlas O dummy diesels were just for looks. Again, this is why Lionel making dummy units with electronics wins. If Atlas O would offer the TMCC compatible diesels, add the electronics, Masterline, I would be a player. I’m not complaining, but Atlas makes super great rolling stock, one hardly ever sees coupler issues in long trains, but some of Lionel’s open/uncouple in long trains causing possible train wrecks. I realize they are toys, but, at their pricing, they should stay shut.  (Humor) Wow, I like this thread and  hope to see the new Atlas O diesels. I hope @3rail Don will post a video of his incoming units. Happy Railroading Everyone

I will be happy to see the new Atlas O releases with Lionel Command Capability. Here are the two Atlas O diesels I have, one new, never out of the styrofoam, the other, an Atlas O, ABBA special run set purchased new, the demonstrators, as a lash up, runs smoothly and with powered A, powered B, dummy A and B, it’s awesome. This is a great thread. Happy Railroading Everyone 2719F99A-822D-4901-B0EE-195DD3AF56003F921DD9-16B4-449F-8E51-2F5EAA08695D

a lash up, or multi unit

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@Purplepapa posted:

A long wait. Glad I waited.

That classic Missouri Pacific Cerulean Blue and Grey freight unit paint scheme is just as striking as the Eagle design in the same colors.  Thanks for posting the photos.  I always like to think of the 1945-1955 Missouri Pacific, before it turned into the Downing Jenks blue-dip era and became an adversarial company.  These photos are good reminders of that era.

Tom's description of the MoPac color of the time as cerulean blue made me go back and look at Purplepapa's pix - earlier, without opening them up full size, I had thought they were B&O colors (but not design). I think of the MoPac blue as much lighter than in those pix (basing that only in photos on the web).

I have one on order, so I guess I'll find out soon (it's at the dealer, who's waiting for some more items, to ship everything at once).

David

Leapin Larry...nice selection of Atlas demonstrators. Even though not Jersey Central locomotives, both the EMD F3 ABBA set and ALCO DL600B did demonstrate on the CNJ. That's enough for me to add to my roster.

ALCO DEMO on CNJ

At CNJ E'port Yard

Other diesel Demo's that ran on CNJ iron...Baldwin Center Cab demo, FM Trainmaster, FM H15-44 roadswitcher and Baldwin Sharks.

Walter

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