Atlas reps at York

Atlas was at York, but they were not present at the Forum meeting. I inquired at the booth about the CZ, they said they were committed to finishing it off, with the announcement of the next pair of cars coming "shortly". The Diner and 16 section sleeper are coming later this summer.

They had a sample of the 25,500G Tank car, but no info on price or expected date.

The few times I walked by, their booth seemed very lightly populated.

I picked up their catalog at York on Wednesday and the booth was mostly empty around 2ish. The catalog is 86 pages including HO, N gauge and O gauge (21 pages total), and track, etc.

i agree.....it was dead....I spent some time looking at stuff....they are re-issuing 2 Walther's kits:  the fuel depot and the lumber yard.

I felt like I was there by myself!

 

Peter

Can't say I'm surprised to hear these observations.  I had planned to drive out to York on Thursday for a day-trip, but at the last minute some of life's necessary "to-do's" changed my plans.  

 

It only seems like yesterday that Atlas-O's booth at York was highlighted by their terrific dog-bone display layout layout featuring the companies track system, signaling system, along with the company's highly desirable, scale rolling stock.  And now to hear this latest feedback only shows how quickly the toy train importers landscape can change.

 

Hopefully, Atlas-O can find its way back to the days when "reefer madness" was a common affliction of many a toy train enthusiast.

 

David

At msrp of 79.95 a reefer, I doubt it! Don't get me wrong, love their rolling stock, but unless its something REALLY special, I'm done. When I walked by there were several Atlas reps milling about and one visitor. I think they have a pretty good presence in other scales (HO and N).

I'm with you there, Frank.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm fully cured of "reefer madness".  So I just smile when I see the escalating prices in Atlas-O's catalog... or worse yet, a catalog'd item with "TBA" where the price should be.  

 

I was just using the "refer madness" reference to reminisce back to a time when Atlas-O seemed to have a much clearer vision of offerings.  I, like many O-Gauge enthusiasts, am reefer'd out, and have begun selling those that no longer call my name anymore.

 

Ironically, despite Atlas's heavy presence in HO and N scales, the combination of an unstable supplier situation in China coupled with the very unfortunate and untimely passing of Jim Weaver proved to be a real game-changer for Atlas-O.  Add to that the fact that we're in an era where neither Lionel nor MTH are openly licensing their latest control system to outside entities, it leaves Atlas-O's locomotive offerings much less than they could otherwise be.

 

Brutal times for sure.  But if Atlas-O can get them out the door and onto a ship to the States (i.e., they're showing a one-quarter slippage already),  I've got a nice set of CSX 5-car Gundersons along with more containers on order.    So I haven't given up on them completely.

 

David

 

 

P.S.  UPDATE... I just noticed an Atlas-O website container shipment marked April 6, 2013 contains some rolling stock, including the 40-45' containers (but not the Gundersons which still show a June 2013 shipment).  So I guess we should be seeing the new intermodal containers soon, and hopefully the Gundersons will follow shortly thereafter.

 

Talked to Jesse the rep about their layout he was very helpful we both knew Steve who helped in building the layout, and Patrica K. our Golden Spike Club contact who knows her trains and if you ever stop by their booth try her homemade cookies The Best, thanks again Patrica.

 

Jack

Talked with Jerry Kimbal about a few things. Wished I hadn't. He was so unethusiastic and seemed like he couldn't care less about being there. He did not make a good spokesman for Atlas. Makes me wonder...............................................

I always wonder if Atlas is going to get out of O Gauge market

I had asked about the U23s when they would be shipped and was told sometime in October.  They were suppose to be ready now but were pushed back because of getting the EOB updated.

I still stand by my prediction that they won't be around long, at least on the O Gauge side. A few forum members strongly disagreed when I suggested that a few months ago.

As long as they have their tooling and dies at a factory[I have heard it is the same factory for Athern products]they will continue to produce models although not in the quantities they once did, I suspect new products will be quite sparse a Masterline one year a Tman the next, I notice the new Lionel catalog is not shy on pricing on the better models.

I am sorry to hear all of the Negative conversations concerning a Great -Three Rail Scale model Train Producer. Atlas should be commended on bringing the 21st Century Track System to Market. It's made of Solid Rail which, IMO, is great when we accidentally drop one of our Monster Steamers or Die Cast Diesels on the track. Some manufacturers use hollow rail, which dents. Atlas-O has brought forth many great O Scale products to US, and we should be Appreciative. It Cost Bundles to produce our hobby products, and Jim Weaver did his BEST to Satisfy Our O GUAGE Appetite. It is Never Good to even think a company--Large Or Small, May not Make it through a Storm. That's not in our Cards. Lets, help each other keep on Having Fun. No Negativity, Please. Now, lets Run our Trains.

I, too, was disappointed in the Atlas booth, with no new reefers, or even much other

rolling stock displayed.  I can believe they are running out of prototypes to model, but

aren't they still doing custom runs for dealers?

After they just bought all the Walthers O scale kits??? Seems like a REALLY bad business plan for a company looking to bail on the scale. Like many in the disposable income industries (hobbies) times are tough. Changes in China manufacturing, unstable economic policies at home all contribute. Atlas could bail on O....they could shut the doors altogether.....but I don't see either soon. 

Obiviously all speculation Atlas like Weaver is not in the same production league with Lionel and MTH where the collectors are beating down the doors for the next catalog. Over the last decade plus they have produced a large variety of models many of which will get rerun in the future[repaints new Rd #s] and each year they get at least one new product Tman or Masterline. To this point it has been true that they do not upgrade their O products,bear in mind this is mainly a 3 rail market for Atlas where highly accurate[road specific] detailing is not a priority. Atlas closed down their forum essentially because it had become counterproductive to their business.

I spoke with Atlas O about making Montana Rail Link items. I still can't believe they have made next to nothing in MRL. 

I'll keep the earth on its axis and bet against those predicting the eventual (early) demise of their O scale product line.  

 

They're not in the same league, necessarily, with Lionel or MTH, for sure.  But, they're not a Weaver, either.  They do, however, participate in more than one price-point segment of the engine/rolling stock product mix....Masterline, Trainman, Industrial Rail.  They have an exceptionally fine and popular line of O3R track...and THAT born of many, many years of knowledge in their HO track product line, still THE mainstay of that branch of model railroading (and, later, N scale, too).   And, as AMCDave pointed out, they're expanding their accessories product line carefully.  Their signal system isn't too shabby, either.

 

What they DO suffer, however, is the same pitfalls...and within the past year or so quite catastrophic to product flow...from China manufacturing and the turmoil that exists in that arena.  I'd guess that they're among MANY who rushed to the 'greener' pastures of China only to now wring their hands wondering if that was as wise a move as once thought.  And, to bring it all back....not likely at all....would be literally throwing away all of that investment only to start over.  In this economy would that really make sense????   I don't think so.  It's a popular national press-pablum, but an economic nightmare on a projected balance sheet.

 

BTW, their N and, especially, HO marketability seems strong to us (LHS).  On items like locomotives and rolling stock, if you've done your prototype research and developed your product concepts for HO and/or N, you're that much better prepared to translate that into an O scale product....if the cost of tooling and the size of the (potential) market are compatible.

 

Besides, BLUE is more my favorite color than orange or purple!  And when you're from Michigan, there's a familiar ring to "GO BLUE!!"!!

 

Hang in there, Atlas!

 

 

throw AWAY the investment? China was cheap You pay for what you get. Who said the best is always cheapest in the long run you don't teach the kids anything subsiantial and look around you . Like what you see?

One of the problems with reefers, for which I still have an interest, is finding the photos of INTERESTING old billboard prototypes.   With all the railroad photos made today, there were a lot made then, but in black and white, and tossed out in estate settlements, so the well of useable prototypes is probably low.  I note that variety in economy automobiles, body styles, etc., seem to come from relative upstart Korea, while Detroit stays in its rut. After the tsunami, Japan seems to have faltered. Perhaps train manufacturing needs to scoot over to Korea, as the Koreans seem able to run an industry, and make rapid turnarounds...perhaps at greater cost.