Atlas O with TMCC

Atlas Trainman Line engines are smooth runners,  I don't think the Gp15 has a smoke unit, therefore one less thing to fail and fuss with....

Marty

I have been a Golden Spike Club Member from the beginning.  I do not think there is any debate as to the detail and the variety of rolling stock they have produced for the O scale world.  The only issue(s) I have with Atlas is this year the Premium Car for the 2017 membership was extremely late in being delivered (at least six months).  Their track again is an excellent representation for modelers.  But again it is in short supply for some of the pieces in their line.  And with the discussions of trade these days, the delays with shipments from China may not get better.

To your specific question about their Locomotives, I have only purchased one.  I purchase only steam locomotives and Atlas has only produced one steam locomotive, a B-6.  Again it is extremely well detailed to the point that I am very careful with it.  It has run very well for me.  About a year or so ago it had a derailment.  It did not act right afterwards.  It has been sitting on my workbench since.  This past week I tried to reprogram the locomotive without meaningful success.  That certainly is not Atlas' fault.  I will open it up soon to see what is going on with the locomotive.  But again I will be very gingerly handling it.

I've got seven of the Atlas loco's, only diesel. Three SD-35's, two GP-15's, one GP-9 and one U-23B. Excellent detail and they run quite well. My only complaint, hopefully it has been corrected by now, was the non-availability of some repair parts when a couple of my engines broke down. Fortunately I was able to find a shop that was closing down who had a small inventory of parts so I bought quite a few that applied to my engine roster.

Of all the brands that make up my roster I think the Atlas require much more diligent servicing before and after running. 

That’s a great question, Atlas O products were the game changer in getting me back in the hobby of three rail trains. Lionel started the TMCC Command Operating System.  Atlas O, At the time, 1996 forward, I selected their 21st Century Track and components. My layout is 90 per-cent Atlas O track. At the time, availability was plentiful. Jim Weaver, the man behind the scenes, made Atlas O very desirable. Now, to answer your Question, did you buy a nice engine, Yes. Lionel, TMCC Command in their Diesels made them more buyable to me, TMCC was the main reason I really got back into this Great Hobby. I have the F3-ELECTROMOTIVE ABBA Set, several SD35’s, all nice runners. One Trainman Diesel, new in the box still, to be tested soon.  They run fine on my layout, they are fine pullers, and their sounds, like Lionels, are great. Your going to be happy. Keep us informed of your upcoming experience...Congratulations.

I love my 10 Atlas diesel units.  They will run and run and run at shows.  They're just about bullet-proof.  Two of them are Trainman Alco-GE RSD4's, and they lack cruise control, so require throttle manipulation.  The others, all Master Line, have either Engineer On Board or ERR added to the TMCC and they perform realistically.  The double LED Mars Light on my Erie-Builts is very realistic.  I have 3 more on order: an EMD SW9, an Alco RSD7, and a Baldwin VO-1000.  (I am in good health and plan to live long enough to operate the three which are on order.)    I do not have anything bad to say about them.

I began purchasing Atlas O locomotives when their O scale models were first offered, and I own and run many, including the USRA 0-6-0 steam engine, AMTRAK AEM-7 electrics, SW diesel switchers, Alco RS-1 and RS-3 diesels, and EMD F-3s. All my Atlas O locomotives run well and have been trouble-free. Everything they make is well detailed and well made. I also have many of their steam era boxcars, refrigerator cars, passenger cars and cabooses which are always in operation on my two layouts, both of which are built with Atlas O track and switches. I find all Atlas O products to be of high quality and I have had good experiences with them.

MELGAR

I have an Atlas TMCC Conrail C-630 number 6770. Runs like a charm since it’s purchase in 2011. I just rebuilt it as shown in the picture, this is the only pic I have right now as it is packed away in its box.

I agree with other posters about Atlas detail, and their website archives are very helpful. I have their SW-9, GP-35, and GP-60. Unfortunately, every one has had either a broken coupler wire or power wire from the roller pickup assembly at one time or another. These engines are bears to dissassemble for repairs, and the plastic shells come off easier than going back on. The two GPs have needed their rear flywheels cleaned from time to time with Brasso to remove tarnish that interferes with the optical reader.

Terry

Do the SW series TMCC switchers also have cruise control? If not, is there enough room to install it? 

Whats up: Atlas Locomotives ROCK- If you ever need service you are covered ANYONE here will support that! Have fun! Nick

I have several, (17).   SW9's, the most (11). 

Dash 8's, rear,  SD35's, Black, second track from the wall.  RS1, second track, left, and a custom paint GP7, front center. 

All the SW9's.    Shawmut Line, and Montour are custom paints. Atlas provided unpainted models. 

I currently have 12 Atlas locomotives and four more on order.  They are worth the price but not worth the wait.  The F3’s are 18 months late and will probably be 24 months late before we get them.  It this Atlas fault???.  Hell yes.  

Thanks for all the feedback.  Sounds like my purchase was a good investment.  I look forward to its’ arrival on Friday.  If all goes well Atlas will be one of the first places to look when I get an itch for a new engine.   Bob

I've got over a dozen, maybe up to 20 by now. Just paid for a new Dash 8 today. I like the fact that they are TMCC and not Legacy, They are some of my best runners, and I tend to favor them over many of my Lionel engines.

@ogaugeguy  Most Atlas diesels have two vertical can motors like K-Line, Williams, etc.  But the SW switchers have a centralized, dual-shaft motor driving all wheels through "gear cassettes."  This is how most S, HO, and N-scale diesels are built.  The drivetrain is quite robust and most importantly, these locos are geared for realistic speeds.  Cruise control would be a tight fit, but unless you have very steep grades, I'm pretty sure it's not needed.  From what I remember, the 0-6-0 steam switcher is geared pretty low too.  Both of these are sold as 2-rail models, and on the whole, 2-railers are more demanding of realistic speeds, having no need for "gimmicks" like cruise control.

In the older engines say 5 or so years ago what year and in what  line did they offer trainamerica with cruise control? All the new models come with err now, but the old ones had trainamerica studios electronics without cruise when atlas first started making o scale engines. I have one a bnsf 840bw and it is a fantastic looking engine very highly detailed and well built, but only has tmcc with no cruise. I am going to put ps3 or err into it because I am spioled and want cruise control. If I did not care about speed control it runs fine out of the box. The horn is also outstanding on this model. Wish I had the money for a new bnsf model with err.

Lionelzwl2012 posted:

In the older engines say 5 or so years ago what year and in what  line did they offer trainamerica with cruise control? All the new models come with err now, but the old ones had trainamerica studios electronics without cruise when atlas first started making o scale engines. I have one a bnsf 840bw and it is a fantastic looking engine very highly detailed and well built, but only has tmcc with no cruise. I am going to put ps3 or err into it because I am spioled and want cruise control. If I did not care about speed control it runs fine out of the box. The horn is also outstanding on this model. Wish I had the money for a new bnsf model with err.

 

Some of these models had an early SAW (Sunset (Thirdrail), Atlas, Weaver) GenII boards, with interesting lighting.  Replacement boards usually won't accommodate the lighting.  I replaced the Saw Gen II boards in two of my Atlas Dash 8-40BW's.  At the time Train America Studios,  EOB (Engineer on board), a tach-strip speed control.   There were  additional wiring diagrams  for the marker or ditch lights, if so equipped.  

May be 10 years ago??   Even EOB,  maybe 10 years??  These models date to 2002-3?? or earlier?? The model numbers show the manufacture run.  Atlas has issued this body style probably 4 or more times??, different paint and upgrades.