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Originally Posted by hibar:
Originally Posted by naveenrajan:

David,

Thanks for the link to the flyer. I remember reading, maybe on another post, in the last week, that the cars are supposed to be diecast but the flyer from does not mention it. Does anybody on this forum know if the cars are supposed to be diecast?

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

 
Originally Posted by Rocky Mountaineer:

Here's a link from a press release Atlas published for the NMRA show in Portland...

 

http://www.atlasrr.com/news/08...underson%20flyer.pdf

 

The Atlas-O webpage link at the top of the flyer is not yet active though.

 

David

 

Read the latest Tweet on the Atlas O website dated Aug 28 it specifically states" the die-cast model has been  tooled from the ground up to be the centerpiece of your intermodal fleet"

 

I like that they're die-cast and that the containers are also Masterline.
 
But what about the weight?
In central New Jersey I see them in varying lengths, 25 cars, 50 and sometimes 100+
I'm wondering how many can be pulled.
Maybe Brian from Overland could help, I need some more awesome modern pulling power 
If Atlas can produce modern diesels in Masterline, they have my interest too.
 
 
 
Originally Posted by hibar:
Originally Posted by hibar:
Originally Posted by naveenrajan:

David,

Thanks for the link to the flyer. I remember reading, maybe on another post, in the last week, that the cars are supposed to be diecast but the flyer from does not mention it. Does anybody on this forum know if the cars are supposed to be diecast?

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

 
Originally Posted by Rocky Mountaineer:

Here's a link from a press release Atlas published for the NMRA show in Portland...

 

http://www.atlasrr.com/news/08...underson%20flyer.pdf

 

The Atlas-O webpage link at the top of the flyer is not yet active though.

 

David

 

Read the latest Tweet on the Atlas O website dated Aug 28 it specifically states" the die-cast model has been  tooled from the ground up to be the centerpiece of your intermodal fleet"

 

 

Last edited by MikesRR

hibar,

Thanks for that information. I just visited their website & read the announcement in the Tweets. I hope the entire well-car is diecast unlike Atlas-O’s 62’ & 68’ flat car where only the underframe (or whatever the portion below the deck is called) was diecast.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

 

Originally Posted by hibar:
Read the latest Tweet on the Atlas O website dated Aug 28 it specifically states" the die-cast model has been  tooled from the ground up to be the centerpiece of your intermodal fleet"

 

 

According to Rob Pisani at the NMRA show they should be available for ordering this week or maybe next and the ordering period will be through the York Show next month. All us modern fans better support these well because the conventionalists at Atlas don't think modern stuff will sell well.

 

There will be two different corrugation patterns for the 53' containers but no smoothside at this time.  I did not see opening doors. 

 

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If these do well they will try to update the 40' containers to the modern variety.  Atlas also got the molds for the Weaver 20' containers but did not get the molds for the 53' roadrailers/trailers.

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I have some of the Weaver 20' containers they are not as detailed as the Atlas [no operating doors] but adequate for their purpose. Too bad Atlas did not get the 53' trailers they actually come in 2 styles, true road trailers and the roadrailer style. The former are harder to find but better in my opinion unless you have to have roadrailers, for a while the CSX River line [Selkirk NY to Oak Island and the NJ ports] had standard 53' road trailers riding in well cars on a number of trains,have not seen this in a long time now.

Originally Posted by Rocky Mountaineer:
Originally Posted by hibar:

... containers are a high margin item ...

That is indeed one huge understatement!!!    Even at price-points for the 40/45' containers, Atlas-O had to be raking in a TON of $$$$ on those chunks of plastic -- detailed door hardware or not.  Talk about filling up one's SUV with a bunch of these and not having much to show for the dollars spent!!!  You'd be crying all the way home, given the containers will likely be the worst price/performing item we've seen in quite some time.   

 

We can only imagine pricing for the new 53' containers will increase accordingly.    But perhaps Atlas-O will prove us all wrong.  (Although I wouldn't bet on it.)

 

David

David,

Agree with you on pricing...how are O scalers to survive not that the price increases aren't hitting all scales but something's got to give.

 

Just my opinion.

Al Hummel

Originally Posted by rdunniii:

According to Rob Pisani at the NMRA show they should be available for ordering this week or maybe next and the ordering period will be through the York Show next month. All us modern fans better support these well because the conventionalists at Atlas don't think modern stuff will sell well.

 

There will be two different corrugation patterns for the 53' containers but no smoothside at this time.  I did not see opening doors. 

 

IMG_0371

IMG_0372

IMG_0373

 

If these do well they will try to update the 40' containers to the modern variety.  Atlas also got the molds for the Weaver 20' containers but did not get the molds for the 53' roadrailers/trailers.

rdunniii,

 

If these items don't do well as Atlas indicated in this post,then we modern modelers can expect less modern models in the future. With the prices they want on these models,how can they do well?

As Atlas' puts on their product boxes,"The Future Of O Model Railroading Is Here!"

 

Well I agree with that statement,as of the 3 major companies out there,Atlas seems the most in tune to the modern modeler. But with what Atlas seems to need for their products,who can stand those prices? There's a hefty markup out there,as is proven by a few O Scale hobby dealers that have their products marked at reasonable prices according to the majority of other shops & you older modelers know who I mean. How they get by financially to do this,I have no idea,but even at those prices they're not selling at a loss. Perhaps it costs other dealers more to keep their lights on & can't sell for less,all I know is that the O scale market can't stand these increases.

Just my opinion.

Al Hummel

David,
 
It was me wondering if anyone went to the NTS in Portland, talked to Atlas about these cars because from the looks of it, they did have an early undec sample of the cars in their display case.
 
Latest info from their flyer says they will be announced in the September Catalog Update.   I agree it seems more likely that these cars will be officially announced this month! 
 
Originally Posted by Rocky Mountaineer:
Somebody posted a picture from the recent Portland NMRA event, and it would appear the Atlas-O booth may have had a set of these cars on display.  Hopefully somebody can confirm that.  If so, then a September announcement seems more likely now.

 

Until then, neither the cars nor their containers haven't been officially announced -- nor has there been official word on MSRP pricing.

 

David

 

How can they not do well.  Atlas is offering an actual modern success of rolling stock. 
 
For example:  The bulkhead gunderson cars were made in the 80's, quickly to be replaced with the Maxi-I prototype in 1988-1990.  The Maxi-I was so successful (while the twin stacks were quickly outdated) such that Gunderson did another run of them in 2001-era.  So why did MTH and Atlas make the bulkhead twin stacks?  Were they trying to limit their customer as narrowly as possible?
 
The 89' flats didn't sell well for Atlas.  Why should they?  The railroads realized they were better off shipping trailers on spine cars.  The 89' flats got converted to auto racks etc.
 
The articulated auto carriers weren't that successful, and were eventually surpassed by the Gunderson Auto-Max articulateds.  Why did Atlas choose to make that failed rolling stock?
 
How about front runners?  Another failed prototype with a narrow window of actual usage by the rail roads.  Why did Atlas make that?
 
 
With the Maxi-IV, Atlas has finally chosen to make a successful rolling stock that is proven successful since 2000-2001 build date.  They show no signs of letting up 15 years later and their competitors haven't come up with an "improvement"?  They hit the sweet spot and NSC and Trinity can only make competing products that function identically.
 
I guarantee these will be successful for these reasons.
 
 
Originally Posted by Alan Hummel:

 

rdunniii,

 

If these items don't do well as Atlas indicated in this post,then we modern modelers can expect less modern models in the future. With the prices they want on these models,how can they do well?

As Atlas' puts on their product boxes,"The Future Of O Model Railroading Is Here!"

 

Well I agree with that statement,as of the 3 major companies out there,Atlas seems the most in tune to the modern modeler. But with what Atlas seems to need for their products,who can stand those prices? There's a hefty markup out there,as is proven by a few O Scale hobby dealers that have their products marked at reasonable prices according to the majority of other shops & you older modelers know who I mean. How they get by financially to do this,I have no idea,but even at those prices they're not selling at a loss. Perhaps it costs other dealers more to keep their lights on & can't sell for less,all I know is that the O scale market can't stand these increases.

Just my opinion.

Al Hummel

 

Fantastic photos!  Greatly appreciate the insight from Rob at the show.  It's kind of funny though, I would put their modern 5161 covered hopper at the top of their best seller list?   
 
IMO, you gotta build the market demand much like they did in HO and N scales years ago by producing product that potential buyers want.  There are details and realism you can't achieve in smaller scales, you gotta be willing to go there, test the water as with the 5161, which not only hooks existing modelers but starts to pull new hobbyists in...  Doesn't matter what era you model, how many rails you have, which control system you use... how many times have you seen a model in a different scale and bought it because of some connection with your life, family vacation, time spent with your father, railfanning trip, etc..   
 
People often model what they grew up with, see the most, etc... You certainly aren't going to pull in new hobbyists with mostly steam era and a lot of transition era stuff.  Sure that's a big part of today's existing market but as we see on forums like this, the modern era is growing which needs to keep being fed to allow it to build into the larger market base in the future otherwise your existing base will continue to decrease until you're out of the market and your potential future base went elsewhere.
 
Atlas thank you for delivering modern products that we are asking for.  Keep them coming!        
 
Originally Posted by rdunniii:

Car pics

 

 

IMG_0385

IMG_0380

IMG_0379

IMG_0378

IMG_0377

 

IMG_0376

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IMG_0374

 

 

Originally Posted by rdunniii:

 

There will be two different corrugation patterns for the 53' containers but no smoothside at this time.  I did not see opening doors. 

 

 

IMG_0372

 

 

 

 

Spot-on, Atlas!  That's exactly they way they need to do it! 

 

I can see the Schneider markings on those orange prototypes in my mind.  Just like the CIMC prototypes you see on the roads and rails.

Last edited by Martin H
Martin,
 
Absolutely agree.  no need to worry about opening doors if the price is lower  Will definitely help with the $$$ for supporting 6 per set.
 
I can already see a wall of containers rolling down the rails
 
Originally Posted by Martin H:
Originally Posted by rdunniii:

 

There will be two different corrugation patterns for the 53' containers but no smoothside at this time.  I did not see opening doors. 

 

 

IMG_0372

 

 

 

 

Spot-on, Atlas!  That's exactly they way they need to do it! 

 

I can see the Schneider markings on those orange prototypes in my mind.  Just like the CIMC prototypes you see on the roads and rails.

 

Originally Posted by Martin H:
How can they not do well.  Atlas is offering an actual modern success of rolling stock. 
 
For example:  The bulkhead gunderson cars were made in the 80's, quickly to be replaced with the Maxi-I prototype in 1988-1990.  The Maxi-I was so successful (while the twin stacks were quickly outdated) such that Gunderson did another run of them in 2001-era.  So why did MTH and Atlas make the bulkhead twin stacks?  Were they trying to limit their customer as narrowly as possible?
 
The 89' flats didn't sell well for Atlas.  Why should they?  The railroads realized they were better off shipping trailers on spine cars.  The 89' flats got converted to auto racks etc.
 
The articulated auto carriers weren't that successful, and were eventually surpassed by the Gunderson Auto-Max articulateds.  Why did Atlas choose to make that failed rolling stock?
 
How about front runners?  Another failed prototype with a narrow window of actual usage by the rail roads.  Why did Atlas make that?
 
 
With the Maxi-IV, Atlas has finally chosen to make a successful rolling stock that is proven successful since 2000-2001 build date.  They show no signs of letting up 15 years later and their competitors haven't come up with an "improvement"?  They hit the sweet spot and NSC and Trinity can only make competing products that function identically.
 
I guarantee these will be successful for these reasons.
 
 
Originally Posted by Alan Hummel:

 

rdunniii,

 

If these items don't do well as Atlas indicated in this post,then we modern modelers can expect less modern models in the future. With the prices they want on these models,how can they do well?

As Atlas' puts on their product boxes,"The Future Of O Model Railroading Is Here!"

 

Well I agree with that statement,as of the 3 major companies out there,Atlas seems the most in tune to the modern modeler. But with what Atlas seems to need for their products,who can stand those prices? There's a hefty markup out there,as is proven by a few O Scale hobby dealers that have their products marked at reasonable prices according to the majority of other shops & you older modelers know who I mean. How they get by financially to do this,I have no idea,but even at those prices they're not selling at a loss. Perhaps it costs other dealers more to keep their lights on & can't sell for less,all I know is that the O scale market can't stand these increases.

Just my opinion.

Al Hummel

 

Bear in mind Atlas introduced these products 2001-2003 when nothing like this was available, the TT flats were run 5 times until the 2013 run was cancelled and the early runs were much larger than current BTO runs, all these products were quite successful for Atlas business plan by advertising repainted/reruns they are able to predetermine market interest if insufficient the product does not get rerun. Obviously new product introduction entails risk.

As with any business, to grow taking risks are necessary.  It's the ones that pay off that usually get noticed first by consumers, while those that don't pay off get noticed first by the manufacturer.  
 
As pointed out by hibar, many of the prototypes chosen for past models in O Scale haven't produced as much success as likely projected.   But there are big success stories out there as well...   
 
 
The MAXI-IV will no doubt be successful! Need to keep feeding the growth of modern O Scale!
 
 
 
Originally Posted by hibar:
Bear in mind Atlas introduced these products 2001-2003 when nothing like this was available, the TT flats were run 5 times until the 2013 run was cancelled and the early runs were much larger than current BTO runs, all these products were quite successful for Atlas business plan by advertising repainted/reruns they are able to predetermine market interest if insufficient the product does not get rerun. Obviously new product introduction entails risk.

 

Originally Posted by Martin H:
...
 
How about front runners?  Another failed prototype with a narrow window of actual usage by the rail roads.  Why did Atlas make that?
...

Say what you want about the front-runners... but I have the entire "city series", and you won't see those making an appearance in my "collection-thinning, forum for-sale ads" any time soon!  Those are definite keepers!!! 

 

David

Just looking at these photos makes me want to get multiple sets of these cars--

 

Look for instance at the MTH Premier husky stacks- these cars were made in so many roads, all of them for the 48' cars, (many not prototypical to say the least) and most of them are sold out at every level and hard to find. Not only that, they command hefty prices on eBay when they are offered there. 

 

Just looking at these cars gives the impression of first-line, top notch quality and realism in every essence. 

Jeff,
 
You are so right!  Couldn't agree more with you!
 
Originally Posted by Jeff78rr:

Just looking at these photos makes me want to get multiple sets of these cars--

 

Look for instance at the MTH Premier husky stacks- these cars were made in so many roads, all of them for the 48' cars, (many not prototypical to say the least) and most of them are sold out at every level and hard to find. Not only that, they command hefty prices on eBay when they are offered there. 

 

Just looking at these cars gives the impression of first-line, top notch quality and realism in every essence. 

 

I'm excited about these cars, and I believe they will sell very well. I believe these will not only be purchased by O scalers, but also by modelers in other scales if only for displays, similar to what was done with the Trinity 5161 hoppers.

 

I have a friend who's employed by BNSF, and who is also an avid model railroader in HO scale. I remember him calling me looking for a few Atlas O BNSF Trinity 5161 hoppers, wanting to make a display after the 1st run came out. He eventually found 3 cars to replace his HO display. He mentioned how there was a frantic search among some of his coworkers for the O scale version of the 5161 hopper to replace the HO scale versions. 

 

The Atlas O 5161 hoppers sold very well because it was/is a superbly detailed model of a modern and current prototype. The Atlas Maxi IV will make a statement probably bolder than the 5161 hoppers and grab the attention of other hobbyist and model railroaders in other scales. These new cars can potentially open the flood gates for more modern articulated cars, which would be nice!

 

Now how about some Trinity RD-4 hoppers, 64' reefer, 3281 hopper, PC&F 62' insulated boxcar. 

David,
 
I hear ya.  I like the Front Runners too.   I'm only guessing, but when deciding to do the Front Runner, was the decision based on the size of the car and ease of negotiating tighter radius curves?  Only Atlas knows.  Being that it's a non standard truck I know many have had less than ideal results operating them in all scales.  At that stage Atlas could have offered a similar TOFC conversion flat as MTH and others offered, but chose to go outside the box a bit.   Even still the ratio of front runners to 89' cars and spine cars at that time was fairly low for TOFC movement.
 
What I find odd though, is why didn't Atlas do a spine car for all those pines trailers, really only had the 89' flats and the front runner from atlas for TOFC?   Spine cars would have gone around tight radius, easily upgradable to more cars, and uses a standard truck.  A lot more operational appeal for me as well.  The longer 53' and 57' spine cars are still in broad use today.  
 
Originally Posted by Rocky Mountaineer:
Originally Posted by Martin H:
...
 
How about front runners?  Another failed prototype with a narrow window of actual usage by the rail roads.  Why did Atlas make that?
...

Say what you want about the front-runners... but I have the entire "city series", and you won't see those making an appearance in my "collection-thinning, forum for-sale ads" any time soon!  Those are definite keepers!!! 

 

David

 

Last edited by Mike DeBerg
David, you do realize that your wording below is almost verbatim what somebody argues when defending their purchase of a "fantasy scheme", on the "toy train" forum, right?
 
 
Originally Posted by Rocky Mountaineer:
 

Say what you want about the front-runners... but I have the entire "city series", and you won't see those making an appearance in my "collection-thinning, forum for-sale ads" any time soon!  Those are definite keepers!!! 

 

David

 

As a note, while the day long Columbia gorge tour was awesome at the NMRA, the half day tour of the Gunderson manufacturing facility was just the awesomeest.  They were busy making 40' stack cars, OBTW, a car is 5 wells.  Gunderson does BTO just like Lionel, etal and they have an order from TTX for 1300 cars.  They were cranking out 18 finished cars a day.

 

Got to see the entire process from plasma cutting the steel sheets to assembly and finishing.  They don't do steel casting locally but they do assemble castings, like the wheels and trucks.  The single use wheels are made from a very hard steel and we were shown a special carbide/diamond reamer that is used to machine the wheel bore to within 1/10000th of an inch. Also, the wheels are gauged to within 1/1000th of an inch. 

 

It really was just like watching someone build a craftsman car from scratch.

 

They requested no pictures be taken inside the facility and I respected that request so I have none.

 

So the Maxi Stack I still lives.  I suggested to Rob to cut the ends off of their old cars and they can add the latest and greatest to their catalog. 

Model Railroad Hobbyist website has a great report from the Portland show with a number of high res pics of the new Atlas MAXI-IV cars although the author has mislabeled the well and container size at 48' I posted a correction comment on this and yes the 2 rail versions should have cut levers as the previous Trinity cars. These are only test samples as the author noted Atlas had a problem fitting the containers into the wells.

Interesting.. The Atlas 53' Thrall set in HO had the same issue with the containers.
 
Originally Posted by hibar:

Model Railroad Hobbyist website has a great report from the Portland show with a number of high res pics of the new Atlas MAXI-IV cars although the author has mislabeled the well and container size at 48' I posted a correction comment on this and yes the 2 rail versions should have cut levers as the previous Trinity cars. These are only test samples as the author noted Atlas had a problem fitting the containers into the wells.

 

Absolutely see a lot of Maxi-I's today primarily due to international/overseas shipping using the smaller containers.
 
Bring it on!
 
Originally Posted by rdunniii:

As a note, while the day long Columbia gorge tour was awesome at the NMRA, the half day tour of the Gunderson manufacturing facility was just the awesomeest.  They were busy making 40' stack cars, OBTW, a car is 5 wells.  Gunderson does BTO just like Lionel, etal and they have an order from TTX for 1300 cars.  They were cranking out 18 finished cars a day.

 

Got to see the entire process from plasma cutting the steel sheets to assembly and finishing.  They don't do steel casting locally but they do assemble castings, like the wheels and trucks.  The single use wheels are made from a very hard steel and we were shown a special carbide/diamond reamer that is used to machine the wheel bore to within 1/10000th of an inch. Also, the wheels are gauged to within 1/1000th of an inch. 

 

It really was just like watching someone build a craftsman car from scratch.

 

They requested no pictures be taken inside the facility and I respected that request so I have none.

 

So the Maxi Stack I still lives.  I suggested to Rob to cut the ends off of their old cars and they can add the latest and greatest to their catalog. 

 

I think these will be great sellers in both the 2R and 3R communities.  Especially since they are easy to see in real life and no one has yet made scale models of these cars.

 

I'm chomping at the bit to preorder 4 or 5 sets (3R).  I'm looking forward to die-cast and am confident they will be as well constructed as the Gundersons were.  Luckily for me, because of tunnel restrictions, I still prototypically see single stack cars. 

 

Jim

Originally Posted by superpower:

I'm excited about these cars, and I believe they will sell very well. I believe these will not only be purchased by O scalers, but also by modelers in other scales if only for displays, similar to what was done with the Trinity 5161 hoppers.

 

I have a friend who's employed by BNSF, and who is also an avid model railroader in HO scale. I remember him calling me looking for a few Atlas O BNSF Trinity 5161 hoppers, wanting to make a display after the 1st run came out. He eventually found 3 cars to replace his HO display. He mentioned how there was a frantic search among some of his coworkers for the O scale version of the 5161 hopper to replace the HO scale versions. 

 

The Atlas O 5161 hoppers sold very well because it was/is a superbly detailed model of a modern and current prototype. The Atlas Maxi IV will make a statement probably bolder than the 5161 hoppers and grab the attention of other hobbyist and model railroaders in other scales. These new cars can potentially open the flood gates for more modern articulated cars, which would be nice!

 

Now how about some Trinity RD-4 hoppers, 64' reefer, 3281 hopper, PC&F 62' insulated boxcar. 

Add to the "wish list," GP 40-2s,38-2s,centerbeam lumber cars,&Trinity 2 bay covered hoppers,like American Limited now has for sale in HO.

Al Hummel

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