Is Atlas O doing ok?

If Lionel can make a GP40/GP40-2 with the same level of detail as their GP35s then I'd prefer Lionel make this model rather than Atlas. A LEGACY Geep 40(-2) would be tough to beat.

Gentlemen,

   I have some Atlas rolling stock, I like the detail very much, invested in the Atlas Angle train to run at Christmas time, the Atlas Industrial rail track is great stuff and matches up with my FasTrack very well, via the Atlas Ind Rail transition track.

I also hope Atlas gets thru their rough time, I have always liked their Company.

The little Hobby store in Wellsboro, Pa carried a lot of their nicer stuff at very reasonable prices. 

PCRR/Dave

You probably have a much better chance of Lionel producing the GP40/GP40-2 long before Atlas might do this model, bear in mind their latest Diesel the Tman GEDash 8-40CW announced in June of 2010 has yet to see the light of day and the likelyhood that it could come in the next 6 months still seems pretty remote.

Well the big Special Golden Spike Club Announcement is that you can receive a free O Gauge stock car if you pay your GSC dues at York this year, other cars are available for HO & N. Also for about $20.00 more you can buy an Atlas O caboose, all of these offers are on a first come first serve basis.  Looks to me like a cash in flow and inventory reduction to help the balance sheet.

Jack 

I would guess that a GP40 from Lionel will not appear anytime soon. Other than the prototypes being 3 feet longer and having a different fan configuration, it's very similar to their current GP35s; in fact, too similar to invest in more tooling to produce a model that's so much like one that's currently being produced.

So, too, Atlas O has produced GP-35s, and the same rationale applies to them. Personally, I wish Lionel had done GP40s rather than GP35s, but, you know, they didn't consult with me on that.

Everyone else has made many of these items already.

I sent Lionel an email a couple weeks ago recommending a future release of a GP40/-2. Little did I know that another round of GP30s would be on the way!

Considering that a Geep 40 would require all new tooling I don't expect to see anything for at least 12 months if this model would even be considered at all. An Atlas GP40 would be nice but they are so far behind on locomotives that were supposed to be released 3 years ago that Lionel would be the most logical choice to do this model.

I like the MTH GP40s but I run LEGACY so I'd prefer a model with either TMCC (Atlas) or LEGACY (Lionel).

I'm kind of glad nothing is on the horizon because I'm getting a couple Atlas SD40s from AM Hobbies and I'm still looking for 3 more. Nobody comes close to doing an SD40/SD40-2 as good as Atlas. It's my favorite loco from my favorite O scale co.! 

Just to follow up here on my earlier post...

Today's Atlas-O announcement offered some renewal options for Golden Spike Club members; a nice new 40-foot woodside reefer for GSC members; as well as the option to purchase select rolling stock (one car offered in each of O, HO and N scales) from the Atlas online store at 50% off.

In addition, they also announced York behind-the-booth seminars... one of which will discuss the California Zephyr.  Mention was made that the domed observation car should be in consumers hands by this November at the latest.    Production sample will be on hand at York.

David

David,

I was personally hoping for something a little more agressive from Atlas.  A new diesel that would have been immediately available for all Golden Spike Members for example.  This would have caused lots of chatter and interest.  That would have been nice.  This announcement does nothing for me or for anyone who does not attend York.  My membership is not up for renewal,so I get no push from this announcement and it is a non event for most of us. 

I continue to wish the best for Atlas since I really like their stuff.

Norm

I certainly hope Atlas is doing fine.

I'm not conversant with Atlas' O scale offerings or availability, but having returned to HO several months ago, it was a shock to see that there was essentially no Atlas code 83 track products to be had, nor were there any new engine products and the like, and hadn't been for a while.

However, now their HO track is being resupplied, and a while back I received my two completely-new-from-the-ground-up HO Alco S-2 switchers with DCC/Sound that had been delayed for quiet some time.  (These replace the older Roco/Classic S-2 models.)  They look and run superbly.  Thus, I conclude that the Atlas HO line is still viable and moving forward and hopefully their manufacturing issues are being addressed.

Andre:

Last year, I wanted to order the track for the extension to my basement HO railroad.  I was surprised to fine out that Atlas Code 83 was very difficult to find.  When it was re-issued, it was going to be wicked expensive. 

Bought Peco code 83 instead.  Better looking track, just as flexible, but closer toleranced, and since I ordered through Tony's Train Exchange, even cheaper that what I could get Atlas for.  I will never give Atlas track another look.

I'm using Walthers Code 83 switches (Shinohara) instead of Peco, as I had experience with them, but after giving the Peco switches a hard look, I would have been just as happy with them, but they were not widely available.  Another deciding factor for Walthers was a 20% off sale they had going, and I was able to order thru my local hobby shop and get the discount.  I ordered over 50 switches.  

Now when it comes to Atlas motive power and equipment, nice stuff, bought a few of their ARA box cars, and their 11K gallon tanks.  Gives a nice variety to the rolling stock. 

On the O scale side, there is nothing that Atlas makes that I need anymore.  Re-runs of the same old stuff with different paint schemes is of no interest.  I'm also less than impressed with some of my Master Line cars that have ladders disintegrating from zinc pest.  I'll have to e-mail them and see if they will provide free replacements, or if I need to purchase them. 

Regards,

Jerry

Yes ... I also bought two of the new S-2's .... they are great. The turbocharged ALCO 539 sounds great out of those new ESU decoders.

Where do most folks buy their Atlas O rolling stock?  There do not seem to be the dealers that are available with other brands. 

Even though I have tried to support Atlas as much as I can, I have had a bit of a rocky relationship with them. I do like their products are have number of them. They are very nicely detailed.

However, I was a bit put off when they didn't make enough N&W GP9's to go around. Zero Geeps in my stable. Worse than that, despite my asking a direct question and providing a  proper photo, they didn't tell me the truth about which version of NW caboose they were producing. Sadly, even though it wasn't the version they specifically told me it would be, what was produced came with incorrect road numbers. It is just as well that they didn't even fulfill the preorder that I had placed. To their credit, I had no problem with customer service cancelling said order.

The Public Delivery Track is tops for supplying Atlas-O rolling stock.  Beth carries a terrific stock of Atlas-O, and she's also very reliable for pre-orders as well.  Two thumbs up!!! 

David

My layout is fairly large and uses all Atlas Track and Switches.  When ever I contacted Atlas for any issues they always responded quickly and in some cases I had parts at my door within a day.  I really like their support and their products.   

Parts have taken me a couple days to get (I'm probably further away), but other than that my experience with Atlas has been the same as yours, very good. They bent over backwards once when I some questions about their switches. They even had the engineer that worked on them email me about them explaining in detail the answers to my questions. Now that's good service!

Other big Atlas O dealers I've used include Petersen Supply, Deichman's Depot and JD's Trains.

Caboose Stop Hobbies (Cedar Falls, IA), Western Depot (Yuba City, CA), Norm's O Scale Trains (Casco, ME), P&D Hobby (Fraser, MI) and Nicholas Smith Trains (Broomall, PA) have a nice selection of Atlas rolling stock.

These just shipped not that long ago.  They are beautiful!