Atlas new catalog & customs

You've asked the right people regarding custom runs.  Atlas does them for dealers who buy a minimum;  which I think is 300 of each.  I don't believe any of them will be interested in custom runs anymore.  Just not worth the hassle and regardless of what people may say sales have not met expectations.

VADarthdad,

I've asked myself the same questions.  I would have liked to see the older Metra cars that MTH did in the past that looked very similar to the new Music City Nashville gallery bi-levels.  I have a 4 car set and would like to add a 2-car set.

With that being said, I am considering the full BNSF 6 car set because I still see those cars in the Chicago area.  Or I may get just the 2 car BNSFs to add to my old Metra 4 car set.  The bike set combined with the new Metra colors 2-car set might also be an interesting addition.  Given how railroads combine old with the new, building a consist of a variety of these cars might be fun.  Maybe that's Atlas' point?

All and all, these are great releases that some of us have been hoping for, for a long time.  Combining them with the new Atlas FP40s and/or the Sd70 Macs from the Spring catalog and there is a lot to get excited about!

Mike

@rdunniii posted:

You've asked the right people regarding custom runs.  Atlas does them for dealers who buy a minimum;  which I think is 300 of each.  I don't believe any of them will be interested in custom runs anymore.  Just not worth the hassle and regardless of what people may say sales have not met expectations.

Not sure what this means. Many dealers are doing more custom runs these days than ever. And they wouldn't be doing them if they lose money in the process.

@breezinup posted:

Not sure what this means. Many dealers are doing more custom runs these days than ever. And they wouldn't be doing them if they lose money in the process.

I fully agree! Based on discussions I have had recently with involved parties, the custom-run programs appear to be working very well for both the manufacturers and their dealers.

I was talking with the MTH team and they indicated that custom runs are the main reason that some of their uncatalogued offers actually made it to production.  Sounds like MTH custom runs aren’t going away any time soon.

The bilevel car tooling it still owned by MTH, and is part of the reason MTH and Atlas reached an agreement to share certain tooling - we have the locomotive tooling that matches those cars.  We don't have unlimited access to the MTH tooling, nor does MTH have unlimited access to the Atlas tooling, so we have to be selective in what we are offering.   We also wanted to keep some paint schemes available for possible future offerings.

Paul,

Are all of the Atlas O Metra engines and bi-levels models of real engines and bi-levels?  I'm from the Chicago area and haven't seen some of these.  I know the Mac is new and the newest paint scheme of the FP40.

Mike

I have custom runs of interesting, to me, roadnames, that would have not been sales made otherwise.  $$$ talks.

Paul see

Metra unveiling SD70MACH for commuter service, in Regional Transportation Authority livery. | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

look at the beginning.

@IRON HORSE posted:

Paul,

Are all of the Atlas O Metra engines and bi-levels models of real engines and bi-levels?  I'm from the Chicago area and haven't seen some of these.  I know the Mac is new and the newest paint scheme of the FP40.

Mike

Yes. If we do something that is not accurate we make a notation saying so.  For instance, on the BNSF cars they are really corrugated, there is no tooling for those, so we are shadow striping them to simulate the corrugations.  This is noted in the catalog.

@AlanRail posted:

Paul see

Metra unveiling SD70MACH for commuter service, in Regional Transportation Authority livery. | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

look at the beginning.

We announced those in April

@Paul Graf posted:

Yes. If we do something that is not accurate we make a notation saying so.  For instance, on the BNSF cars they are really corrugated, there is no tooling for those, so we are shadow striping them to simulate the corrugations.  This is noted in the catalog.

Paul,

Thanks for your response. I did not know this about Atlas -- awesome!  I ordered the SD70 when that catalog came out along with a set of Rock Island E8s.  I'm glad you are not only helping to move MTH PS3 stuff forward but adding new pieces that have never been made before.

Alan, thanks for redirecting that Metra SD70Mach link info here.  Good stuff.

Mike 

Be nice to see return of Frequent Master Line and Trainmen Diesels !!!    
So Missed !!!!!!!!

Be even better if these could be offered in Special Runs too !!!

@Paul Graf & @Berwyns Toys and Trains

I would buy a set of CB&Q Burlington Route bilevel cars with either fluted-corrugated sides or shadow line striping.  

CB&Q Bill

@CBQ_Bill posted:

@Paul Graf & @Berwyns Toys and Trains

I would buy a set of CB&Q Burlington Route bilevel cars with either fluted-corrugated sides or shadow line striping.  

CB&Q Bill

Hey Bill,

Did Metra actually make CB&Q Bi-level cars for Metra?    If so, you have my vote, my friend.  Big Time.  The BNSF cars are part of Atlas' current catalog.  I, too, am a Burlington Route Historical Society member as of last year (and am impressed with what I've received so far).

Mike

@CBQ_Bill posted:

@Paul Graf & @Berwyns Toys and Trains

I would buy a set of CB&Q Burlington Route bilevel cars with either fluted-corrugated sides or shadow line striping.  

CB&Q Bill

I will let the Product Development guys know.

@TrainBub posted:

Be nice to see return of Frequent Master Line and Trainmen Diesels !!!    
So Missed !!!!!!!!

Be even better if these could be offered in Special Runs too !!!

We are working on that.  The factories had been so backlogged it didn't make sense to announce stuff that wouldn't get made for a couple of years.  The backlog has been reduced, so we are putting some ideas together.

@Paul Graf posted:

We are working on that.  The factories had been so backlogged it didn't make sense to announce stuff that wouldn't get made for a couple of years.  The backlog has been reduced, so we are putting some ideas together.

It’ll be nice to see what you roll out !!!  Hopefully more than one model per year and something other than F units.
Of course any model in both 3 and 2 rail would be expected.

@IRON HORSE, @Paul Graf, @Berwyns Toys and Trains

Mike, Paul, & Berwyn Toys & Trains:

My understanding is that the first bilevel “gallery” cars in the USA were built by Budd & delivered to the CB&Q.  They were stainless steel with the fluted-corrugated sides.

After WWII, ridership on the commuter RRs in Chicago substantially increased with the booming post war economy.  Due to limited space for expanded platforms at depots, longer commuter trains of single level cars were not a viable option to handle the increased passengers. So Budd’s bilevel commuter cars were developed to meet the need of with a 50% increase in passenger capacity for the same car length as compared to the single level coaches.

My understanding is that former CB&Q bilevel cars that are still running on Metra have BURLINGTON on their letter boards in Zephyr Gothic Font.  Newer BN & BNSF era stainless steel Metra bilevel cars have BNSF RAILWAY on their letter boards in Zephyr Gothic Font.

So based on this history, CB&Q bilevel commuter cars are sorely needed in 3-Rail O-gauge.

Thanks in advance !!!

CB&Q Bill

Muffins site has a 6 car CNW AND 6  car Rock Island bi-level set listed. Says it was announced February 2023.  I never saw any announcements back then. Did I miss something or is that a misprint and is a custom run for Muffins?

https://mrmuffinstrains.com/pr...=3684e640f&_ss=r

@Paul Graf, @Berwyns Toys and Trains, & @IRON HORSE

Just to clarify, I would buy a set of CB&Q bilevel cars with either shadow line stripes or ribbed-corrugated sides.

I am specifically interested in the pre-Metra versions in the Burlington Route - CB&Q era from c1950 through 1970.

Thanks in advance !!!

CB&Q Bill

@Pugsly14

I just followed your link to Mr Muffin’s website.

I found the Atlas O bilevel offerings for C&NW, Metra New Livery, & Metra BNSF.

However, I could not find any CRI&P Rock Island bilevel offerings.

Maybe I made a mistake in my search of Mr Muffin’s website ?

Although I do not plan to order any CRI&P bilevel cars, I am just curious if they are silver with the shadow line stripes.

Thanks for the link !!!

CB&Q Bill

@CBQ_Bill posted:

@Pugsly14

I just followed your link to Mr Muffin’s website.

I found the Atlas O bilevel offerings for C&NW, Metra New Livery, & Metra BNSF.

However, I could not find any CRI&P Rock Island bilevel offerings.

Maybe I made a mistake in my search of Mr Muffin’s website ?

Although I do not plan to order any CRI&P bilevel cars, I am just curious if they are silver with the shadow line stripes.

Thanks for the link !!!

CB&Q Bill

https://mrmuffinstrains.com/pr...=767fb965d&_ss=r

@Pugsly14 posted:

Muffins site has a 6 car CNW AND 6  car Rock Island bi-level set listed. Says it was announced February 2023.  I never saw any announcements back then. Did I miss something or is that a misprint and is a custom run for Muffins?

Mr. Muffin announced these custom cars two weeks ago on his weekly zoom call, which is a great weekly event, and all are welcomed.  And they just went on his site just a few days ago.  Since I already have a set of CNWs, I'm passing on those unless there is something entirely new and different (please says there isn't -- I've already blown up my train budget for the near future).

However, the 6 car Rock Island set has been on top of my list wish for years.  So I absolutely had to pre-order and did.  MTH did these cars years ago and I missed it.  They are highly collectible (all of these bi-levels are) and are going to look awesome with my red Atlas O E8s. 

Mike

I know MTH made the red E8's a while back, but when did I miss the Atlas red E8's?

To be clearer the big block lettering without the winged nose paint.  The Rock Island did not run any E7's or E8's with the bi-levels with the maroon paint.  The E6, AB7, and F7's were the only one equipped with HEP.  I think the Independence E8 never pulled/pushed the bi-levels.  The E8/E9's they used were all painted bright red and after acquiring equipment from UP.  I'm basing this off of books and growing up in Beverly along the tracks from 1962-1976.  I could be wrong.  It was a long time ago.

The new RI gallery cars will be perfect the the new custom RI E8 pair MrMuffin ran. He still has some available for those looking to match the cars

https://mrmuffinstrains.com/products/lionel-2333810