Info on this Atlas Illinois Central box car

Beginning in 1971, Atlas started importing a line of locomotives and rolling stock in O scale produced by Roco in Austria. This lasted only a few years. Note that the Illinois Central logo on this car is incorrect. The dot is supposed to be over the "I" and not the "C."

Thanks I will note that it is quite large compared to Lionel and MTH rolling stock and has fixed couplers.Only paid $12.50 so it is all good

While I await the arruval of the new Lionel sprung trucks,I decided to add this crabe body as cargo....[url=https://postimg.cc/14ZrwcNK][img]https://i.postimg.cc/mZPpxmLK/20200909-114743.jpg[/img][/url]

At MSRP's of $7.00 for freight cars, $8.00 for the EV caboose and $30.00 for the F9's this first O Scale attempt for Atlas was a bargain in the early 70's. 

Although it was all pretty lightweight stuff.  I suspect it failed because it didn't have the "heft" O Scalers were accustomed to.

A good article about Atlas/Roco O can be found HERE.

Rusty

Thanks Rusty!

I have about 25 of the early Atlas cars.  They did form the basis of some of the early trainman tooling.  I like the light weight as I can pull lots of them and when spaced correctly near the end of the train on broad curves they don't stringline.  They can found for so little.  Granted the graphics are obsolete and the couplers are funky, but they still can fill out a long freight train pretty well. 

It was an odd line as the locomotives, F9s, C-liners, and industrial switchers were DC two rail with scalish flanges, yet the cars had a deeper flange more suggestive of what you might see on a 3 rail car. 

I also find the track from that era appealing as it something like code 125 vs. the new atlas code 148 2 rail track.  

@GG1 4877 posted: ...snip...

It was an odd line as the locomotives, F9s, C-liners, and industrial switchers were DC two rail with scalish flanges, yet the cars had a deeper flange more suggestive of what you might see on a 3 rail car. 

I also find the track from that era appealing as it something like code 125 vs. the new atlas code 148 2 rail track.  

I believe that the C-Liners were made by Rivarossi for AHM.

Dave,

Yes- you are absolutely correct.  My brain is slipping after too many hours of work today.  Just the F9 and the switchers.  

Ok new trucks have arrived abdcbeen[url=https://postimg.cc/QHxpGQ9j][img]https://i.postimg.cc/jdyvfvRn/20200910-100628.jpg[/img][/url] mounted up.Very cool!

I want to be at the team track to watch them unload the crane cab!

Yes but it can be done!I checked to make sure it would fit before taking it apart!

@Rusty Traque posted:

At MSRP's of $7.00 for freight cars, $8.00 for the EV caboose and $30.00 for the F9's this first O Scale attempt for Atlas was a bargain in the early 70's.

Although it was all pretty lightweight stuff.  I suspect it failed because it didn't have the "heft" O Scalers were accustomed to.

A good article about Atlas/Roco O can be found HERE.

Rusty

Actually it was the weak HO motors placed in the trucks of the locomotives. That became the achilies heel.

Digital subscribers can read the O Scale Railroading December 1970 issue which introduced Atlas to the O scale market.  The cover photo featured the Union Pacific F9 and a few of the initial cars (in color no less!)  which compliments the artical on page 15.  Note that pages 19 and 20 covers European plastic O scale as well.

Be sure and read "from the editor..." on page 4 regarding the future of O scale which also mentions of Atlas' entrance into O.  Even the ads and O scale dealer directory are interesting to check out.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Actually it was the weak HO motors placed in the trucks of the locomotives. That became the achilies heel.

That was the Rivarrossi C-Liner and only had one truck powered with a 3-pole motor.

The Atlas F9 had the usual central motor driving both trucks.

Image: Atlas Ad Model Railroader March 1973

Rusty

I remember having a few of these 40 footers. I weighted them and ran them with an all nation NW switcher of the times.  Early O scale joy! Yes the track was code 100. The equipment looked enormous. The box cars were really oversized but I miss them for nostalgia sake. Anyone one have undecorated ones not in use? I would like them. These were good candidates for paint and decal practice. I remember doing a state of Maine products boxcar. That was quite an experience.
Philo426, thanks for the memories!

I had one of theseaustria Atlas O 40 footers  painted by Bev Bel co. It was a Susie  Q with a cool colorful Susie on it. Bev Bel I believe painted custom runs of HO rail cars, the old Atlas O style had a couple higher quality limited ones available.