Scarcity of Atlas O Scale Track

There's a whole thread on the forum about how they had switch everything from one overseas manufacturer to another. This was a major disruption to their production. There's a whole letter from Atlas on this in the thread and the latest issue of OGR magazine.

You should still be able to get a lot of track on eBay. Almost all of mine is eBay and the FSoT forum. There's no reason to buy new if you don't have to.

I don't know where you are looking and what type of track sections you are looking for  here are some below:

 

http://www.nassauhobby.com/XC4...s-Track-Accessories/

 

http://www.petersensupply.com/category-s/81.htm

 

http://www.publicdeliverytrack.com/track/

 

http://www.trainworld.com/sear...ry=92&byscale=37

 

http://www.nicholassmithtrains...6-TRACK-ACCESSORIES/

 

http://www.westerndepot.com/ad...mp;extra_value_id10=

Thanks, PRR for the links. They are helpful. Being in Canada doesn't help as most FSoT sellers are not willing to ship up here.

I was unable to find the thread Scott refers to though.

I got the impression from other threads here that availability of Atlas track was a definite problem right now.

I've had orders by Nicholas Smith, Western Depot and Trainworld shipped to Canada by USPS several times.

Yes, new Atlas track is hard to get your hands on.  I haven't tried used.  I'm hoping that Atlas will have things moving again about the same time I'm ready to start buying and building.

I know nothing about the shipping to Canada, other than others have reported it's expensive, but my LHS here in the Midwest US has been able to get me straights and curves all along when I needed them. They just got some 10" straights to replace the ones they had until I cleaned them out a few weeks ago. Switches are a totally different story, those are quite difficult to find.

 

As others have said, Atlas has had difficulties with their Asian manufacturers and have switched to different factories. They are now caught up with their HO & N track (at least at my LHS anyway) and hopefully the O track and switches will be coming soon. My LHS was out of a lot of Atlas HO & N track for quite some time and could not get any from their suppliers.

 

You could also try posting here in the 'Wanted to Buy' forum if you are ok with the idea of purchasing used track. You might even flush out some switches that way?

This is the thread which discusses Atlas's manufacturing problems:

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...-greatly-exaggerated

 

 

As Scott pointed out above, eBay is a good source for new and used lots of Atlas track and virtually all sellers will ship to Canada, unlike many of the OGRR FSoT forum sellers.

Terry:

 

Are you on the west or east coast of Canada.

 

There are some shops in Canada that carry track so you might find some in stock.

Depends which end of the country you are at.

 

And if you are able to find a good company in US with most of what you need a lot of folks get stuff sent to a mailbox in a US border town and drive across and pick up the order there. This saves a bundle in shipping costs, much less to ship in US then Canada and do not have to pay the customs Brokerage fees.

 

There are some good shops within a days drive of the border as well depending on your location.

 

In Canada there are a number of good shops that have various amounts of stock in.

Just off hand here are a few, Central Hobbies Vancouver area, Kellys Kaboose Kamloops, Chinook hobbies in Calgary 2 stores West and East, Toy Train workshop in Ontario, Niagara hobbies, George's Trains, sure there are a few more any others with suggestions?

 

Also you might try http://www.canadiantoytrains.org/

Or join or subscribe on line to the news letter.

Monthly meetings swaps and auctions.

There have been liquidations of estates or other sales which have included track etc.

 

I picked up a lot of my track Atlas etc. from here.

 

Or you might consider a different track system. MTH is in at many of the Cdn stores.

Gargraves and Ross switches is another good way to go a bit cheaper for the Gargraves track.

Terry's profile indicates he lives on the east coast in Nova Scotia. He won't be anywhere within reasonable driving distance of a Canadian dealer of anything O gauge.

 

I also live in Canada, and can sympathize with Terry's plight at having to import most everything he needs from the US, which comes along with the high costs of shipping and (currently) a rather poor exchange rate. I have dealt at one time or another with most of the Canadian retailers kj356 listed above - but most sell with a significant price premium to account for their own costs to import product. It usually is far less expensive for me to import product myself by purchasing directly from retailers that sponsor this forum. 

Someone just posted that Atlas has gotten a shipment of 40" straight track and it will be going to dealers next week. Here's to hoping the rest will soon follow, including switches.

I was at nicholas smith trains within the last couple of weeks and they had boxes of atlas track of various sizes.

Terry,

 

I just noticed your thread as I was getting ready to place my ad for Atlas O track.

 

Its over at https://ogrforum.com/t...rail-track-available  if you're interested. 

 

Kevin

Atlas isn't totally caught up with HO track either.  In their code 100 line, #4 right-hand, all #6 and #8 switches are unobtainium right now.

Again, many thanks for all these replies. My dealer, one of those mentioned here, has a small order of track to be drop shipped directly to me from his distributor. Enough to get a train running but I will require at lot more.

 

On the topic of sellers not shipping to Canada, I present this expired ebay listing:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brass-...rksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Unfortunate for me as I am looking for one of these. Unfortunate for the seller as I would have readly offered a higher bid than he got. MUCH higher!

C'est la vie.

Nothing to do with track though.

 

Terry

Just a thought, I am in the US and don't know the details of shipping to Canada, but sometimes a seller will make exceptions if you contact them? I don't buy much on ebay other than the cheap electronics from the Asian suppliers, but it might be worth a shot, especially if you would have paid more for it?

If an eBay seller doesn't specify they won't ship outside the US I agree - it certainly is worth asking. When I've done this in the past, most have agreed after realizing shipping to Canada is no more difficult that shipping to the lower 48 except that (a) it costs a lot more and (b) you need to take the extra step of attaching a USPS export form.

 

However, if the seller is like the one Terry provided an example for above where the description clearly states at the very top "I will ship this item to lower 48 state addresses only, please, no bidders outside of the lower 48" I don't usually bother asking. eBay sellers that ship outside the US do assume some additional risk by doing so, and given eBay's ever more stringent requirements for "seller performance" I can understand why they may be very reluctant to do so. I suspect a fair number of OGRR FSoT forum sellers have the same concerns even though (assuming they insist on a cash sale) they don't face the same level of risk as eBay sellers who have to accept a Paypal or credit card payment.

Granted they did say 'no bidders outside the lower 48'. So I would not just place a bid if I was not in that location. However, if I really wanted the item and was willing to pay a premium for it I would ask the seller if they would make an exception. Worst they can do is say no, if they do say no then that's fine, I would continue the search. People change their minds all the time, the only way to find out is to ask. No harm done in asking.

As an ebay seller we do not like to ship to Canada as 98% of the time the buyer will ask us to forge documents to avoid the VAT tax.  They bid and win assuming we will forge something then get quite upset when we will not.  It became easier just to say no.

If it is at all possible, avoid the crap shoot with shipping and customs when importing by mail/courier.  I understand that access to the US might not be the easiest from Nova Scotia but if you can swing a weekend trip to Maine you could probably save a lot of money and aggravation picking up an order in the US.  We're allowed $800 duty free after 48 hours but that doesn't mean you're restricted to that amount.

 

Unfortunately, it won't do you any good no matter which method as long as Atlas product remains unobtainium.  I'm close to Georges and know for a fact they have little Atlas track left and no switches unless you're needing 2 rail.  Seems the only games in town these days is Lionel Fastrack and Ross/Gargraves.

 

Bruce

Anyone interested in excellent Atlas O track can contact me.

I have some 40" and curves.

 

Scrappy