Remember when AtlasO Trainman was affordable?

True.....so true.

I see they also cancelled the autoracks and the 8K tank car runs announced a few months ago. That stinks, because I ordered some of both.

They raised the price of the trinity hoppers another $5 too. I'm sorry but 90 bucks for a hopper is just out there.

Do any of you guys go food shopping?  It will open your eyes with high prices on everything.  It's not just trains.  You can't print an extra one trillion a year and not have inflation and we have been doing it for 4 yrs now with no end in sight.  

I am amazed that the prices are not even higher, especially on engines.  Boxcars are getting expensive.  Go to train shows and buy them used, that is what I do. 

Hate to introduce facts into the discussion, but the 5-year average of the CPI (1.9%) is at the lowest it has been since about 1967.  Monetary policy is not causing inflation at the moment.

The cost of getting stuff made in China has been increasing sharply, but that has more to do with China's internal markets.

When Industrial Rail stuff was made by UMD I bought them for $10 each.....now this was my buddys cost to his hobby shop..... but still why have these gone up at many times the rate of inflation?? The tooling was paid for in the 1990's ......

You must have gone to some sort of big discount shows. That was a one time deal.

How many box cars are you actually going to purchase and run on tracks?

The prices are set because they can only produce and sell so many in a year's time.

There are roadnames to appeal to each corner of the USA. Pick one roadname, buy two roadnumbers and enjoy that.

http://www.atlastrainman.com/F...t/tmo40sldboxcar.htm

Andrew

The lowest price for Industrial Rail cars at hobby shops and train shows in Western Michigan was $25. That was it, because the hobby shop or the seller had to make money as well.

Andrew

The only roadname that I would definitely buy out of the 5 listed is Ann Arbor.

Who is wearing out their plastic O Scale boxcars and has to buy new duplicates each year?

Andrew

"Hate to introduce facts into the discussion, but the 5-year average of the CPI (1.9%) is at the lowest it has been since about 1967.  Monetary policy is not causing inflation at the moment.

The cost of getting stuff made in China has been increasing sharply, but that has more to do with China's internal markets."

I disagree.   I have been told that in the 90s the government removed food and energy from the inflation calculations because "it was too volatile".   Well guess what, most of us seniors spend most of our budget on food and energy directly or indirectly.   Inflation because of the deflated dollar is rampant.   that is why the cost of stuff coming out china goes up.   It takes more dollars to equal the same number of yen.

Is it possible to make Atlas O TrainMan cars and Industrial Rail cars in the USA as soon as possible?

The production delays and cost increases are getting everybody in a dour mood.

Andrew

The original concept of the Atlas O Trainman line was that it be affordable enough for a hobby shop to carry it in-stock and make a profit.  The operative words being "carry in-stock".

At this retail price point, I do not see how a hobby shop can afford to keep too much of this product "in-stock".  It basically has to be turned over just like any other product.

Right now, it's priced the same as most of the MTH Premier Line.  And, they're not supposed to be comparable.

Fred

The CPI includes food and energy, and as I stated is very low by historic standards.

The Federal Reserve does favor "core inflation" - not including food and energy - as a long-term measure of inflation, because food and energy prices are extremely volatile compared to other items.  Changes in food and energy prices are least likely to reflect influence of monetary policy.

Remember, the market sets the price. Don't buy them and the price will go down. Look at RMT, they have adjusted their prices and marketing strategy. Who would pay full price for RMT now.

Professor Chaos is dead on.

Although the media portrays Fed policy as inflation inducing, that has absolutely not been the case. Food prices have risen for lots of reasons that have little to do with Fed policy. The Chinese Yuan was 13 to the dollar five or six years ago. Now it is less than half that.

As the Chinese currency changes, so do the prices these manufacturers have to pay and pass on to us.

If we are going to share opinions on economic issues, let's at least use the facts.

Professor Chaos knows his stuff. I know, I worked at the NY Fed for three years and focused much work on inflation.

Scrappy

One example.... an online LHS has this Atlas Trainman car for $38. I have one and it's very nice. Just depends upon what you're looking for... as for affordable, that's why I have a ton of Weaver rolling stock.

Gilly

I have a few of their boxcars.They will roll with the best of them.Meaning boxcars maded by other companys.The most I paid for the cars was about $21.00.

Define "affordable."  What may not be affordable to me may very well be chump change to you or someone else.  It's relative only to one's individual circumstances (and hobby budget).

I buy used Atlas Freight cars some right here on the forum for $25, 30-35+ a piece some of have never been used. Tons of used out there that's the way I go.

cost of a gallon of diesel fuel, $4.45.

If you continually bottom feed you can find motivated sellers. I went to a show in Lindenhurst a few weeks ago and found some NEW Weaver and several Atlas Trainman cars for $20 each.  Once you amass a collection then you can be very selective on your purchases. 

Interesting to see how the prices at York will be in April

Funny how this past weekend at the Merchantville, NJ O scale Train show, I just picked up a MIB Railking Scale N5c for $10.00 [Would have gotten the second one if Pete Trunk didn't grab it.]

Someone else was selling a NYC ACF Cylindrical hopper by Atlas O Masterline for $28.00.

You gotta think outside the box sometimes for some good deals!

This looks like an opportunity to show my ignorance.  I have some older O scale Atlas boxcars, and some newer MTH Premier boxcars.  They are both 1/48 scale, and the detail is impressive.  Don't have any of the newer Trainman cars.

What is the big difference between Trainman and MTH Premier?

Atlas Trainman is still the best and most affordable scale car on the market .  Most of my recent purchases are either Trainman or Weaver

The Atlas Tman line is built to accurate 1/4 scale proportions W/H/L,[within reason] the level of detailing separates the Masterline from the Tman products most of the MTH and Lionel products are not as accurately dimensioned[the old mantra if its not O-27 it must be O Scale]. That is not to say there are not some nice models very close to scale from these importers. As far as the aftermarket is concerned the truth is plastic goes low if somebody wants to move it Weaver being at the bottom for most of there line[with the exception of there newer higher detailed line] most of the current O scale meets feature lots of plastic.

According to Merriam-Webster, affordable is defined as "being within the financial means of most people."

Key word:  most people.

There's another point to consider when talking about what's expensive to some and affordable to others.  While there certainly are those who are in a financial position to consider the Trainman line's current pricing "chump change,"  there are also those that may consider them "overpriced" regardless of their personal financial status.

I failed to restrict my question to 3-rail, so consider it done.