Atlas Zephyr Cars

When Atlas announced the OBS. and sleeper last October  York they told me at the show it would be last qtr. of 2014 for delivery. 

 

Btw cost difference between China and the USA even if you could find somebody to build them would be 40% higher to build them here. Are you willing to pay the extra cost? Most are not.

it is what it is.  if i recall i waited over 4 years for the sunset 3rd rail GN M2 to finally be released.  so it happens to everyone.  

To the best of my recollection, it has been six years since Atlas Introduced this project at the TCA Museum manufacturers' presentations. It was expected at that time that the set was to be completed within a couple if years. What's a few years off between friends.

I tried taking them apart to replace the windows that have the blinds on the opposite side of the glass.. .remove all screws and nothing budged.. so I gave up.

I have not purchased the sleeper and diner yet, running out of cash, Lionel's catalog has / will put me in the poor house. So I don't mind the delay.

 

The thing about these cars is they run great by themselves but get a string together and lookout... one of them is going to derail. Also forget about 072 curves.

The need something much larger.

I am not giving up on having a set, I just know on these, patience is a virtue.

 

 

 

At the bottom of the site below is a link to a Podcast from 2012 discussing the future of Ready-To-Run.  It gives a former model railroad manufacturer employee’s view of experience on manufacturing ready-to-run.   We have already seen some of the topics discussed come to fruition…

 

http://themodelrailwayshow.com/ShowNotes/?p=916

 

Scott K.

Austin, TX

To david1,

 

The web site kept showing 2nd quarter of 2014. If they were saying that last year why did they not change it until now?

 

Just asking.  Dick

I remember  vividly what Atlas0 told me at York last October and they said 4th qtr. '14. Why the web site had 2nd qtr. I have no idea.

 

The delay with these cars have been long, too long IMO but the end is coming. I have enough cars for a 11 car set and the obs. Is the only one I need. 

Seems that all my preorders will land in the 4th qtr. Ouch! I too will be happy to be done with train.

 

If david1 was told 4Q2014 at York as he recalls, then he was definitely in the minority.  'Cause in the formal "behind the booth seminar" that Atlas-O conducted on the California Zephyr that season (where they handed out a handy booklet of info on the CZ train), the group was told 2Q2014 numerous times.  And more than once the timeframe March/April 2014 was mentioned.  The spec sheet simply stated "coming soon".

 

Now whether one actually believed those dates can be left open for debate.    But 4Q2014 was never mentioned in sessions I attended.  So I left York thinking perhaps there was some hope that a CZ could be finished after-all by this time this year.  I'll confess...  I believed.  

 

However, my belief began to falter a bit when no official Atlas-O website announcement came until mid-January 2014 -- nearly 3 months after the October 2014 York preview.    I sensed at that point, that a 2Q2014 was never gonna happen.

 

Then just recently, Atlas-O delivered their latest production run of coil cars one quarter EARLIER than announced, which got me thinking... "Well, June 30th isn't that far off for yet the possibility of a 2Q arrival of the CZ domed observation."...  Only to have that glimmer of hope dashed again with these latest developments. Think of it as a small dose of modern-day toy-train production reality, where the importers really don't have a clue anymore when stuff is gonna actually arrive from overseas -- not to mention when it's gonna even get produced. 

 

And so the ongoing Atlas-O CZ saga continues...  Now I'm thinking perhaps, just MAYBE we'll be able to hold one of these jewels in our hands in January 2015.  There... I said it...  TWENTY FIFTEEN.  

 

As for a baggage car???  I ain't holding my breath, since we haven't even seen a preview of that one yet!!!  

 

David

When the official announcement of the next to cars was made in January, the expected delivery was 3rd quarter of 2014.  Working out the details of the lighting for the observation car took a little longer than expected, so it pushed the delivery back slight (we are still hopeful for an early 4th quarter delivery). 

 

When the project was originally announced, we had no way to foresee having to move our entire O, HO and N scale production to new factories.  We would love to have had this project completed and moved on to another by now, but the situation dictated otherwise.  We are working as quickly as we can to complete the Zephyr, while at the same time getting all of our other products back in production.

 

 

Paul, it's nice to know you are listening.

taking the cars apart are a challenge.  i have taken two apart, replaced the "windows/blinds" and placed people in the cars.  you have to be a little forceful once all the screws are removed, but once it starts moving  it comes out pretty easy.  going back together seemed a bit easier for whatever reason.

a bit of force eh?  I removed all the screws gently pulled on the frame assembly and I believe it was a utility box or air conditioner unit came off in my hand...

so that was the end of that...

sorry you had troubles.  again, i was able to get the 2 i have with incorrect blinds, apart. took about 40 min to take apart, remove the windows, replace the windows and place people in the cars.

Paul, thanks for keeping an eye on the forum.  Up until these latest developments, the shipping schedule on the Atlas-O website indicated 2Q2014 which is consistent with what we were told back in the preview seminar at October 2013 York.  But at the end of the day, we let the pieces fall where they may.

 

As for relocating an entire production across new factories... That's gotta be one unforeseen nightmare, which makes me cringe every time I hear references to it.    I can't even imagine the nonsense that US importers cope with as they attempt to get production scheduled and delivered out of Chinese factories nowadays. Even on a good day, that's gotta be extremely frustrating.  I'm betting we as consumers don't even know a tenth of what actually goes on behind the scenes from day to day.    And it's probably best that we not know all the gory details, 'cause we'd only get more discouraged.  

 

David

Atlas has a YouTube video showing exactly how to take those cars apart. Its actually very easy after watching that video, just time consuming.

 

Not to mention that in the middle of all that, we lost Jim Weaver, and had to get up to speed on where each project was and what still needed to be done, as well as the R&D guys getting a crash course on this train!

 

Paul as you clearly read this forum and perhaps some of the postings influence Atlas's direction could I ask that you run the 73' center partition car in 0 scale Masterline, in the interim I have taken the precaution of buying one of your HO cars as well as crawling all over a prototype car in Caliente, CA to photograph it so that as a very last resort I could have my own etched in brass. I would, however, much prefer to have you manufacture it on my behalf and I believe this car would sell well and justify your investment in the molds. Thanks for taking the time to read this plea / post.

 

Here is the video link:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbmlvJfy5vc

 

ncng

Thanks for the link for the window tutorial, ncng. Dose anyone know if the replacement windows are still available? I have six or so of these to change out. They do look a bit silly with the Venetian blinds on the outside. Also makes it difficult for passengers to adjust them.

I have recently been able to purchase the last of the earlier built dome cars that I was needed for my collection. I was waiting till I had both the dome cars that I was missing, so I could change the windows out at the same time.

 

Following the Atlas video on how to change the windows I really didn’t have any major problems. My cars are 2 rail so you have to pay attention when you take off the coupler lift bar, really fragile. Cars came apart with no problem and the glass came out OK except for one corner that had an over abundant amount of adhesive holding the window in place.

 

I did hit a snag on one of the cars and something to look for if you have not yet done yours. Too much adhesive was used installing the windows and when the glass was remove some of the black paint that outlines the frame came off. I added a photo of the window frame, sorry for the poor quality. I was able to touch up the trim with a paint pen.

 

Just follow the video and take your time. Now all my cars match.

 

Jon the windows are still available, I just received the set I needed last week.

 

     

Originally by car8534:

 

"I have recently been able to purchase the last of the earlier built dome cars that I was needed for my collection. I was waiting till I had both the dome cars that I was missing, so I could change the windows out at the same time."

 

This has been my thought as well. I'm still in search of four cars, three of them from earlier runs. Perhaps I should post something on the WTB forum.

 

car8534, thanks for the information regarding the availability of the replacement windows.

 

 Yeah I had a few that were a real PITA to get apart, and just as bad to get back together.

 

What you do is remove all the screws then put a screwdriver through the opening on the vestibule end and onto the floor plate and give give the screwdriver a good rap and the bottom will come out.  I then filed a bit off the end of the plate to make it easier to get back together.  I did this because sooner or later that metal floor, being that tight, is going to cause the plastic end to fail and crack somewhere and it will be after the warranty is over and will not be covered.

 

Sometimes tolerances work for you and sometime they work against you.

Following the method shown in the Atlas video I've opened up and changed the windows in four cars with little or no difficulty. The floors did stick a bit on two, but using a screwdriver as rduniii described above also worked for me.

 

I sympathize with the production problems Atlas has encountered and I've been necessarily tolerant of the extensive delivery delays, but I'm really annoyed by the color and finish mismatch between production runs. I'm now six cars into a planned eleven car train and the last two don't match the first four. In fact, they are rather dull and lifeless by comparison. This doesn't bode well for the rest of the train.

 

In this era when very realistic stainless steel finishes are evident on HO equipment from several manufacturers, I consider the look of even first run CZ cars disappointing. Given this situation and the absolute uncertainty about when, if ever, Atlas will deliver the remaining cars I need to complete my train, I'm not certain I'll let my remaining orders stand. 

 

I changed the windows in my first 4 cars and they were quite easy to get apart. it was the first time I hade any of them out and I did notice they were so heave that I ordered another lionel powered b unit to pull them and made my unpowered a unit into a powered unit. Now I've got an ABA all powered set, if that's not enough to pull them I'll have to figure something else out

Good thing Atlas attempted this project.  Think of how difficult it would be to complain if nobody had attempted this daunting task.  Hope for the best, and if you like plastic Zephyrs, capture as many of these as you can.  My guess is that this stuff is becoming more expensive and more difficult, and at the same time prices are beyond most of us.  The motivation for attempting similar projects might soon drop to near zero.  Opinion.

Oh, I'm pretty sure that folks would be able to find something else to complain about. 

 

#1 competency area for our population is complaining,

I believe you are correct, I do not see Atlas attempting a project like this again. Sunset looks to be the go to for passenger trains in the future although I do not think any of their cars are up to the Atlas level. JMO

I believe you are correct, I do not see Atlas attempting a project like this again.

I don't know if that's true.  Talking to Atlas a few years ago, I was told that the molds for the CZ cars were able to be modified to produce Budd cars of differing window patterns including the ability to modify the skirting near the trucks.  That will then make the cars more prototypical for other railroads.  After the Baggage car and the Dome-Obs, most of the work is behind them.  

 

I don't think they are going to just sit on those molds.

 

Atlas may never produce PS or ACF cars, but there is a lot of Budd equipped trains that could be produced.  The individual car sales may also help in the future.  Although a deal for O scale, Sunset passenger sets costing over 2 thousand dollars are a stretch for 3 rail.  Buying 3 or 4 cars at a time is much easier.  

 

I hope they continue to produce their excellent products. Competition is what it's all about. We need more than one manufacturer producing models. Keeps them on their feet innovating. The peanut gallery here in this curse-n-mown club should prolly go back to HO or whatever.

I am very very grateful for what atlas, ggd, and any other manufacturer has built us. Good job atlas keep up the fabulous work. Growing pains sure but it's ok. Maybe your peanut gallery is buying cars at $1450 a shot? Maybe not- Those will also have errors; a model is at least 80% correct your doing well.

Well the learning curve on large projects is steep and I would bet that Atlas will take the knowledge and experience from this project and use it to drive other projects. Atlas is a business and business need to generate revenue. The fact that these cars are already hard to find speaks to the success of the project. We haven't seen the last of these atlas cars or the last of the large scale long term projects by them. They'll get it ironed out with the production issues they have been facing lately and get the business rolling smoothly 

Obiviously the GE-8 tooling has been in existence for several years, the lack of a stable factory situation to produce these models has been a major issue along with recovering this tooling from Sanda Kan, time will tell on production of these models. Even with rising prices I for one am more than happy to see better models produced. Sunset at this point seems to have their various factory situations well in hand. As for the custom hand built brass products this market caters to a very small number of collectors/modelers who are consistent buyers in this market.

The complete color mis match between production runs and the lack of an accurate representation of stainless steel on even the first run of cars is not a complaint, but a fact.  This is the 2 rail forum where we strive for accuracy from ourselves and the manufactures no?

I think a fact can also be a complaint.  One can complain about facts, theories, people, attitudes, the weather . . .

Why don't the cranky and mowning start another company like ExactRail and produce better models?

Problem solved!

I am not at all happy about how slow these cars are coming out. Yes, I have read all the stories about the closing of the plant and all that. We really don't know what has been going on behind the scenes with trying to find another place to make these items. I wish we could.

 

Yes, I noticed a difference in paint color. I am not worried about it. Stuff happens. I tried to get the matching paint for a pair of E8s to pull the train but can't. I emailed Atlas to see if they could tell me what paint to use, told 'em I'de buy a quate if I had to. Looks like Al-Clad will be the answer but will THAT match?

 

I agree with Erik, build your own.

 Dick

 

I see that some manufacturing is leaving China and returning to Mexico. I talk to a few Mexicans here in Az. who relate they would love to have jobs come their way and many of those jobs pay about $10 a day. I would think building models in Mexico could be a good thing as the market is close to home and fighting with politics of China gone.

I was wondering if Atlas has a way to make a SD40-2 from the SD40 hardware?

Sunset is already doing some manufacturing in the Philippines. The SD40-2 requires a 3 scale foot[3/4inch] longer frame for starters,the late Jim Weaver saw this as a new model not likely to be done anytime soon[2008].