Atlas O spring catalog being released today

Loving all of the 2 rail stuff in there! Will be difficult to narrow down what to preorder!

Really weird about the S2 as I have an MTH one that was easy to convert to 2 rail with the MTH conversion wheel-sets.

J2M

Issue with the S-2 was converting it to fixed pilots and new tooling required.  Maybe down the road....

So the S-2’s will not have fixed pilots? Really like the ACL paint scheme.

@Joe Congemi posted:

So the S-2’s will not have fixed pilots? Really like the ACL paint scheme.

My recollection of the MTH small switchers is that you can put in a spacer plate fairly easily, but the shell didn't really lend itself to the mods to support the steps without a new mold. Getting the scale wheels might be tricky.

I normally do use a spacer and modify the pilots to be stationary and attached to the floor or shell but in this case the moveable pilots move so little and look quite nice, I didn't bother.  It works quite well in 2 rail with MTH 2 rail conversion kit and switched to DCC.

If the MTH scale wheels are going to tricky anyway, then IMHO you might as well fight the battle to convert the Lionel S2 that has fixed pilots. (Unless you really must have DCS inside your locomotive.)

In any case, since you seem to be well-connected with Atlas: Beth - Now that AtlasO has a factory, do you know if AtlasO is looking to try again anytime soon with the SD40's or are any former AtlasO locomotive models a lost cause with the purchase of MTH tooling? My hope was that the old AtlasO tooling would be brought to the MTH factory and put back into service. Maybe not realistic with how things work over there.  TIA.

While I have no direct information for Atlas, and I do not speak for them, I expect that Atlas will eventually want to resurrect a lot of the Atlas engine tooling.  It does them no good to have it sitting and collecting dust.  Moving it to a new factory takes time. It is not a simple process.

In the mean time tho, i believe they are trying to give a boost to their O gauge production quickly , by getting out a lot of what they can do right away, which is a lot of of the former MTH items.

Im hoping there will be a lot of the previously made Atlas engines made again in the future, but i have no advance knowledge of what their plans are.

@Beth Marshall-The Public Delivery Track posted:

While I have no direct information for Atlas, and I do not speak for them, I expect that Atlas will eventually want to resurrect a lot of the Atlas engine tooling.  It does them no good to have it sitting and collecting dust.  Moving it to a new factory takes time. It is not a simple process.

In the mean time tho, i believe they are trying to give a boost to their O gauge production quickly , by getting out a lot of what they can do right away, which is a lot of of the former MTH items.

Im hoping there will be a lot of the previously made Atlas engines made again in the future, but i have no advance knowledge of what their plans are.

Thanks for your insight on this. I know sometimes you've given off a little extra information than I've seen elsewhere.  Hopefully your continued nudging will pay off for us all in the return of some of their Master Line.

I hope the C628 and C630 series are resurrected.......provided Atlas O has the tooling.

That Swift 36' reefer's paint scheme is correct for late 40s, 50s, so it will be on my list.  Still wish someone would do the correct 37' meat reefers.

Can you explain to me why they are doing the MTH MP15 which is 3rd or 4 rate compared to the Atlas Master MP15 which they have never redone in more than a decade?

MTH is doing the MTH Railking scale MP-15DC and MP-15 AC.  It has nothing to do with Atlas.

Due to production issues with diesel engines, Atlas has not been able to make any diesels over the last 5 years or so.  The GP-7's are finally due to arrive.  I have no idea what their plans are for resurrecting the rest of the Atlas Master and Trainman diesel line.   Right now they are making the Ex-MTH diesels that they have the tooling for, as they can get these made without too much difficulty.

Im doing a lot of MTH MP-15 special runs, because its still a really nice scale sized engine, and $200. cheaper than most of the Atlas and Lionel diesels.   I think they are a great deal for what they cost.    Look what Lionel did with the former MTH SW-1's.  It was a $350 engine from MTH, a nice scale sized loco.  Now Lionel is using the exact same engine body, and putting in Lionel electronics and smoke, and it retails for $550.    That speaks for how nice the engine body is on some of the Railking Scale switchers.   They are not super detailed, but not bad at all...

IMHO.....lol

The MTH items that ATLAS O has purchased have to still be produced at the MTH production facility in CHINA.

Otherwise they would not be produced and released as fast.

Andrew

@Beth Marshall-The Public Delivery Track posted:

Im doing a lot of MTH MP-15 special runs, because its still a really nice scale sized engine, and $200. cheaper than most of the Atlas and Lionel diesels.   I think they are a great deal for what they cost.    Look what Lionel did with the former MTH SW-1's.  It was a $350 engine from MTH, a nice scale sized loco.  Now Lionel is using the exact same engine body, and putting in Lionel electronics and smoke, and it retails for $550.    That speaks for how nice the engine body is on some of the Railking Scale switchers.   They are not super detailed, but not bad at all...

Except being the 2 rail part of the forum, it would be more useful if actual 2 rail locomotives were being produced and made available for order, etc.

Just responding to a post.  I didnt look to see what forum it was.  I would love to have 2 rail switchers made,...but right now no one wants to spend money on new tooling for a 2 rail switcher,

Eventually im guessing that Atlas will be able to produce their 2 rail SW's again.

  I'm intrigued by the 53' well cars.   They state, new tooling, but are these just re-incarnations of the cra* that MTH did, or are they true master line cars from Atlas?     I wish our friends at Atlas would put more effort in doing more master line models, than buying up other lesser quality manufacturers lines!   I'm sorry, but MTH, and K-Line were never what I thought of as quality models, neither was Weaver for that matter.   Perhaps, Atlas would HAVE the money for new tooling, if they had not bought  these manufacturers lines!    If Atlas wishes to be considered as a serious model railroad manufacturer, then they need to get back to doing high quality models, and let the rest fall by the wayside.   The nonsense all started with the death of Jim Weaver, who's position,  was replaced by what essentially was a car salesman!   You know who I'm talking about!    And he did not do Atlas any favors!!!

  I got into 2 rail o scale,  being a serious modeler who wants good models, not good enough models!    Instead of re running the MTH models without re-tooling, how about developing the 73' NSC center partition car in a master line, as they've done in HO and N.   Or the short 3 bay pressure differential cement car, like Atlas has done in HO scale?   Just my opinion.

Good news and bad news....

The good news is that Atlas is continuing to do lots of items in 2 rail. Expecially the MTH freight cars that were never done in 2 rail before.  Believe me, they are watching to see how well the 2 rail sells. 

And as far as I know, the well cars will have masterline type detail.   I dont think Atlas bought well car tooling from MTH.   Ive been after Atlas to do a scale 75' centerbeam flat car for years. Maybe it will happen one of these days.

The bad news is that the super detailed high end of model trains does not support the industry financially.   MTH could not have survived without Railking, Atlas makes its money from HO and N, and Lionel from the traditional line.   So if u want more highly detailed stuff, you have to tread lightly.   You just cant go to a manufacturer and  say "Are u ppl crazy?  I cant understand why u dont spend 100K on tooling  for something I want. "

As happens with negotiations and positioning in any industry, there's politics, personalities, and money.    Watch Shark Tank.

I agree that the well cars are new tooling. MTH only made 48' scale well cars in and 40' Gunderson Twin stack cars both in plastic.

@Beth Marshall-The Public Delivery Track posted:

While I have no direct information for Atlas, and I do not speak for them, I expect that Atlas will eventually want to resurrect a lot of the Atlas engine tooling.  It does them no good to have it sitting and collecting dust.  Moving it to a new factory takes time. It is not a simple process.

In the mean time tho, i believe they are trying to give a boost to their O gauge production quickly , by getting out a lot of what they can do right away, which is a lot of of the former MTH items.

Im hoping there will be a lot of the previously made Atlas engines made again in the future, but i have no advance knowledge of what their plans are.

Here’s hoping they bring back ALL their O Master Line and Trainman diesels !!!! They are surely missed !!!

  Hello Beth!   Thank you for your input on this.     Good news about the well cars, and by all means, let's push for that center partition lumber car!    And,  I do  understand what you are saying about the business end of things.   Yes, you do need to pick your battles in business dealings!   Trust me, I worked for a major  company for over 30 years that had more BS politics, than what we see in Washington these days!   Glad I retired from that!    However, it will be interesting to see just what transpires in the next few years in this hobby.    I just hope things move forward, rather than sliding backwards......

The O scale center beam flat cars built after 1990 have had so many design revisions that it would be best if the parts for the center beam flat cars were made from laser cut aluminum stock then welded together to create the car specific to the ones being modeled.

Andrew