New Atlas catalog up

Not impressed at all, nothing really new and escalating prices on repaint/reruns of Master line cars, good luck with the TT flats at 119.95 [2 rail] they cancelled this run less than 2 years ago at 104.95 I believe although the base T man diesels are quite reasonable. They definetaly need something else new in rolling stock to justify Mline pricing JMO

I was hoping to see in this catalog their F3 Phase 2 ABA engines in the PRR as delivered paint scheme.  Maybe next year

I guess the Industrial Rail line is dead.  There is none of it in this catalog.  There is still an Industrial Rail link on their website but the latest entry was in April 2010. 

 

Bill

How long has Atlas been advertising that run of U23Bs? Years seems like. I can't remember if I ordered the Penn Central one or not now.

Terribly unimpressed with this catalog!!! 

 

After previewing the Maxi IV Well Cars and 53' containers... not having them in this catalog is a major marketing blunder.  What are these people thinking???    Somebody else please go back on the forum to find Atlas-O telling us more information would be following up -- dare I say it -- "SOON".   I just don't have the heart to go searching for it after this disappointment.

 

On the plus side, it's nice to see the last CZ car model finally being offered... the dome car w/conductor's window -- even though it's somewhat of an esoteric variation that nobody really "needs".  But it's nonetheless a testament of Atlas-O's commitment to ultimately producing the whole CZ train.  

 

Another PLUS (well sort of -- see my comments later) is the announcement of a new road-name, the Alaska RR, in passenger cars -- presumably using the same tooling that's been used for the CZ and Amtrak passenger cars for the last 7 years.  There's been much speculation about this, and it looks like the Alaska RR gets the honors for being the next Atlas-O passenger train.  I'm just concerned that Atlas-O chose yet another silver paint-scheme.     And quite frankly, I much prefer my colorful 18" Lionel Alaska RR Superliners done up in a crowd-pleasing blue/yellow aluminum finish.  So I wouldn't even be surprised if a lack of orders prevents this silver Alaska RR version from going into production.  Why not an eye-catching paint scheme like the Great Northern Empire Builder?  Now THAT I would have ordered hands down in a heart-beat -- especially if they offered a complete train all at once.

 

As for the 89' flats with trailers... let's see what happens this time.  Last time, both the flats AND accompanying trailers were cancelled.  And now that prices have ticked up a bit, where's the incentive to buy these?    Wouldn't be surprised to see these canceled again.  But one never knows in this business. 

 

Again... the big disappointment here is no Maxi IV well cars and containers in these pages.  With all the excitement that the previews generated on this forum alone -- not to mention interest outside the forum... how the official announcement with follow-up details could have not been included here in the catalog is unforgivable.  I can't wait to even hear the party line from Atlas-O regarding its omission in the catalog.    This was Atlas-O's big opportunity to hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded with two outs.  Instead, they struck out. 

 

David

Bummer.... How many more months ......?

I'll be more positive then all the previous post.  I see a number of items that will lighten my wallet.  I'm happy to see the Iowa Interstate Trinity hopper and "The Rock"  PS-1 50' boxcar.
James

I am also not as negative as everyone else. 

 

However, are they already re-running the cz dome chair cars?  Shouldn't they complete the train with the baggage cars, etc before doing runs of previous releases with different decorating?

 

 

Well, those trinity covered hoppers were priced ridiculously at $96 now they're $110. And another run of train man flat cars, great but I'm still waiting for my Dash 8C's from the last 4 catalogs. Thoroughly unimpressed with Atlas, it's clear they can make flat cars and trinity covered hoppers but not much else, and they are pulling off the CZ.

Have I missed something from a previous catalog?  I can't help but wonder what other cars will be offered for the Alaska Rail Road?

Showing a couple more cars would have shown a greater commitment and a plan for this train.

I don't want to get into a onesy  twosey situation over a couple of years and maybe see a cancellation of the set.

A four car announcement (at least) for the ARR would have been more appropriate I think. 

 

Norm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlas-O did already announce baggage cars for delivery.  I think they're next up for arrival in the next passenger car shipment... hopefully!!!

 

As to re-running dome chair cars... the new catalog states "new road numbers", so I just assumed these are cars with names they haven't produced yet.  Don't quote me on that, 'cause I didn't check after I was ticked off at the stuff I mentioned above. 

 

David

Excellent point, Norm.  That's yet another reason I think this Alaska RR "announcement" is gonna be a non-starter.  Who in their right minds is gonna go through another "one-sy/two-sy" set of offerings now that the tooling has already been developed???  I certainly wouldn't.

 

At a reasonable price-point for these fine cars, I can't believe Atlas-O isn't close enough to their customer market to realize that customers who want passenger trains like these will pay for the whole train at once rather than piecemeal over several years -- ESPECIALLY given the increased instabilities in the overseas manufacturing industry that have burned just about all the importers recently. 

 

Look at how Sunset/GGD packaged the recent El Cap, for example...  $2K for the base 8-car set, with another 3 or 4 ala carte offerings to bring many folks' outlay to the $2,500-$3,000 range.  Far from chump-change by any stretch of the imagination.  Yet there's already talk of a second-run, since the first-run sold out instantly.  THAT's how you market a scale passenger train to today's scale-oriented consumers.

 

Admittedly, some of this stuff can be tricky... it's not all easy.  But when a path has already been paved by other importers, don't re-invent the wheel.  Some of this stuff really isn't rocket science.

 

David

Not too impressed with this latest Atlas O catalog. Outside of the O Master 40' Steel Reefer (in the PFE colors), the O Master Santa Fe/Rio Grande PS-1 Boxcars, O Trainman Santa Fe "Grand Canyon" 40' Sliding Door Boxcar, O Master Southern Pacific 17,600 Gallon Corn Syrup Tank car, and the Santa Fe U23B, not much in here that I would look into.

 

Out of what I listed above, I might get several of the PFE reefers, two of the Santa Fe or Rio Grande PS-1 boxcars, and at least one (if room in the budget allows, possibly two) Santa Fe U23B diesels. I'll have to drop by The Western Depot in Yuba City and see if I can place an order this weekend. If only Atlas O would offer a U25B in SP or UP colors....I'd buy one so fast it wouldn't even be funny (even the high-hood U25B's that UP owned). 

 

Pretty pathetic Atlas....offerings and prices!

I am happy that we are getting the Conductors Window dome car,maybe it will come soon after the Baggage and Dome Lounge and Buffet Car.

Mikey

Saw several interesting items, but with those prices, I'll be looking on the secondary side. I can wait.

 

I also don't see much of interest in the catalog for me either.

 

Also disappointed that the Maxi-stacks were listed.  Since they were not listed, guess the ETA will be last half of 2016?

 

Jim

If I am not mistaken the long awaited GE-8 40CW has been pushed back to 2nd Q 2016.

I thought it was just me... Hardly anything new that I'm interested in. There's always next year... Which actually gives my wallet a break so it's not too bad. I just hope Atlas comes with a stronger catalog next time.

And the switches will be shipping when? It's been two plus years now!

The PFE and Erie reefers are nice.  And a new Reading coal hopper always gets my interest.  Nothing other than that.  Still waiting for a Trainman 60' NYC observation car.

 

I'm unimpressed by the catalog....and yes where's the switches?

O27 3-rail switch would be nice to compliment the rest of their track line.

 

1) very glad after some nasty rumors that Atlas is still producing excellent top of the line models.

 

2) please stop ignoring EJ&E!

I'll be brief, no Maxi IV well cars...  No dollars from me.

I was also under the impression the Maxi IV cars were going to be in this catalog; the wait  for the catalog and nothing in these regards is bad.  Real bad. Wait several more months with no reassurance in sight? I'm skeptical just a bit. 

David - Is this the one?

 

It was a pretty easy search.

 

Nice catalog I guess if you don’t have the items offered and are willing to pay high prices.

But most roads and cars have been made by others already.

I would like to see some new box car tooling.

 

I guess 2 railers will still buy the items offered, but it looks like 3r sales are much less these days if any.

It doesn’t seem like they have an aggressive and competitive business plan in O for the future.

Elliot,  thank you.  Yes, that is the thread where the Atlas-O rep indicated they hoped to have production samples (and post photos) "in a few weeks if all goes well", from which they could then feel more comfortable with costs and quoting MSRP's.  That was April 24, and here we are on July 27 with no production sample photos that I've seen posted here yet.  So I guess all is not well in the land of Well Cars. 

 

I missed attending April 2015 York, but I thought some folks here posted that one or two dealers were taking pre-orders at York and had pricing written on a flyer.  But without an official product announcement and no further details in this latest catalog, we're all still in limbo.

 

Oh well... (no pun intended ).

 

Thanks again, Elliot!!! 

 

David

I'll probably get a couple of the Penn Central gondolas and a PC cabin. 

 

I have had the PC U23B on order for longer than I can remember.  I'm not holding my breath on 3Q 15 delivery.  Just another set of numbers in the box.  I'll believe it when I'm holding it in my hands.

 

Tom 

I don't understand this company.

 

Atlas and track were always synonymous to my mind.

Switches??? I can't even get Atlas track!!!

I have ordered O-108 direct from them only to be told "it could be a few months before we get them in."

 

I read that as "we have no clue." 

 

Earlier this year, I waited a couple of months for some O-72, 10" straights and some flex.

Something's seriously wrong with this company. I don't see how they can survive in the track business this way.

 

I wish I had chosen another brand.

 

 

No Gundersons. Bummer. Sure hate I missed out the last time they actually offered them. Oh well, gives me time to increase my engine fleet in the meantime.

 

Wasn't aware of the track crisis either....though I do have some Atlas long straight sections and curves I'm glad to plan on going with a different track system.

Hard to believe I still have some Made in America Atlas HO track still in the packet. They ran into all kinds of supplier problems as I recall.

I see a couple of items of interest, but they're pricey. I see Atlas is testing the "Isle of Denial" waters with their "Alternate History" paint schemes on some items.

I like what I see on page 132......

Gary

• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway

   Click on screen shot to enlarge.

I would like the ILLINOIS CENTRAL and MSN 53' box cars.

 

It would be great to get the ILLINOIS CENTRAL GULF PS-4427 Low-sided hoppers.

 

The ROCK PS-1 50' Box Car would match my other scale The Rock cars.

 

Andrew

This time they have to have the 45' Pines Trailers with refrigeration units produced.

 

I would like to get an ATSF Santa Fe and D&RGW Rio Grande 89' flat cars to match the trailers.

 

Andrew

Also like what i see on page 133.

Gary

• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway

   Click on screen shot to enlarge.

Nothing that I saw was a must have at those prices. 

 

    Bill T.