New Atlas O Maxi IV Articulated Well Car

I just wanted to clarify one point.  The minimum radius on these will be 36" for the 2-Rail version.  The "scale" 3-Rail version will operate on O-72 minimum, but alternate connectors will be provided so the cars can be modified to operate on O-54 curves.

Look for an official announcement (with pricing) very soon!

Rob,

Thank you for the announcement.

I sent you an email with SCL&L&N/Family Lines System,CSX&Seaboard System pictures of 4750 cu ft covered hoppers-did you ever receive them?

Thank you,

Al Hummel

Al,

I don't recall seeing it.  If there are too many large photos attached our system might have rejected it.  Please try again.

Thanks!

For Rob,

Pics of the new Atlas truck sideframe width versus the old versus Protocraft P48 trucks.

Ah yes...as we discussed.  Thank you!

And it was nice meeting you at the show.

Absolutely! Was hoping to see these cars by EOY but seems like a mid to late 2016 offering now?

Someone can correct me, but I believe these have been rumored from Atlas for at least 3 years.  It wasn't until earlier this year that we started to see flyers, samples, etc.. 

Hope we see these in 2016

Good Day Mike,

I know I have campaigned for more than four years. The first major hint was from Atlas O on one of the Forum's post early this year I think.

Regards,

Frank 

https://ogrforum.com/t...articulated-well-car

Thanks Frank. I thought so.  I believe dealers were also talking with Atlas about these for several years.

If you are a Model Railroader subscriber todays newsletter includes a video interview with Rob Pisani from Atlas at the Portland show discussing this new model with the MR rep Cody Grivno.

Originally posted by Martin H:

For example:  The bulkhead gunderson cars were made in the 80's, quickly to be replaced with the Maxi-I prototype in 1988-1990. 

Oh really? HOw many Railroads and Private co's leased into them? I only know of Two TTX and Maersk. Are you sure you are not confused with the Maxi Stack IV? And what do you mean by outdated? The Gunderson Twin Stacks are still rolling. 40' is the Norm for Overseas Containers. Wen't the Maxi Stack I's 48' which has fallen out of flavor? Didn't TTX do a Rebuild Program with manyif not MOST of their 48' well cars including the maxi stack I's to either cut down the wells to 40' or expand the wells to 53'?

The Maxi-I was so successful (while the twin stacks were quickly outdated) such that Gunderson did another run of them in 2001-era.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?

Well I don't know about MTH other than by my observation that they just copied, cheapened, and rode on the success of the Atlas O product. MTH's Twin Stacks debut in 2007 while Atlas O was on a second run for their cars which originally debut in 2005.

I can tell you this from the atlas O perspective that I pitched for these Gunderson Twin Stack cars on way back the Atlas O forum and face to face Jim Weaver at the turn of the century. I picked them because of all the stack cars out there [MTH with the 48' stand alones, K-line with the Thrall articulated as well as the shortened Gundersons, Lionel with their Shortened Gundersons] these Twin Stacks would:

1] stand out in the Intermodal O gauge Model world and

2] came in a variety of RR's and colors and

3] was in the time frame that Jim Weaver was focusing in for Models [the colorful  1970's to the 1990's! 

How colorful was the MAxi Stack 1 again? Perhapse TTX yeller and Maersk Baby Blue?

Agreed, I have no doubt that these cars will sell better and we'll see several runs, especially containers, within a short time period, as with the Trinity 5161's

I am not familiar with posting links, Rob said official announcement with pricing later this month [Sept] and estimated delivery late 1QTR or 2QTR 2016 [good luck with that] he described Jindo containers with different end and door styles, diecast cars with etched parts, very heavy [I am thinking very similar to the Lionel Huskystacks construction]

Most of what Rob stated in the interview has already been shared in the forum or in the flyer.

A couple points I picked up on watching the interview

• Formal Announcement very soon (This month)
• Ordering through end of October (covers the York show)
• Planned Delivery Q1 or Q2 of 2016
• Several modeler installed options (included with cars) for operating cars on tighter radius curves 
• Containers will have a couple variations, ribs, door configuration, etc.

Don,

I'm hearing just in the guys I'm talking with near 53 sets of cars and I lost count of containers.

Interesting...  As I indicated earlier, I may spring for a set or two just for variety.  But I'm a bit puzzled by those folks saying they're enamored with this version of an intermodal car compared to the Gundersons Atlas-O did nearly 10 years ago.  I actually like those better!  So I can certainly understand why Atlas-O may be a bit cautious about how well this car will do.

David

Interesting... my money is on 2H2016.  But nobody will complain if they arrive earlier! 

David

I think it depends on the number ordered, and how big of priority Atlas places on this product in terms scheduling the production.  I'm with you though, thinking it will be mid-year before we see these.

Hi Don, 

What modern engine do you have in mind?

Regards,

Frank

Don,  Certainly wouldn't disagree.  Seems likely we could see ET44 since they would reuse a lot of the same components from previous releases, and multiple manufacturers have produced AC44's, ES44's, etc...

Although not super modern, personally I would like to see an SD40-2, GP40-2, SD40T-2 and SW1500.

I'd prefer to get several new freight car releases (modern reefer, centerbeam flat, oil tank cars, spine cars), some D-style signals, and modern buildings

Hi Mike,

GP40-2.........................Sign me up! As you know, there are many railroad names to pick from. The GP40-2 would be a top seller!

Regards,

Frank

They will probably not make any announcement until after Sept 9 deadline for present model reservations. As far as pricing bear in mind that if Atlas was introducing a stand alone well car Gunderson AP53 it would be at least the list price [119.95] of the latest repaint/rerun 89' intermodal flat car [diecast] which 2 years ago was cancelled for lack of reservations at 109.95.Not that the MAXI-IV will  not get sufficient reservations Just looking at potential pricing.JMO

No disrespect to Atlas,but we still have to have diesels to pull all these new freight cars with.

Al Hummel

I'm glad Atlas O is producing these.

Anyone looking for MTH well cars?

LOL

Hi Naveen,

Sure and I'm sure others will chime as well.

One of the most popular railroads for BRAN/Pacer is UP.   TTX I've seen on just about on all Class I railroads.  FEC I've seen on NS and BNSF.   Sure they can be seen on UP and CSX and well.