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Post by alcoc430 on Jul 10, 2014 15:15:20 GMT -8
Atlas has been quiet for too long. And with all this wonderment by Rapido and Athearn. I think Atlas is going to make a big splash at this years convention, just like they did a few years ago with the announcement of the GP40-2 and then the lokie available by late August.
My prediction is that they are going to offer a Alco T6.
What's your thoughts
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Post by riogrande on Jul 10, 2014 15:24:02 GMT -8
My thoughts? Until I see a trend, I'm gonna guess with Atlas it's going to continue to be a slow road back to it's former self. But there is nothing wrong with wishing and posting what you'd like to see.
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Post by GP40P-2 on Jul 10, 2014 15:30:31 GMT -8
An S-6 would have alot more road names and popular road names at that. However Atlas hasn't shown any desire to be a player any longer, preferring to sit with Kato on the HO sidelines. Remember that shutting down the forum was suppsed to release the floodgates of new products......
Now a smooth running and crisp GE 70 ton would be a winner if they do want to get back into the game.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 10, 2014 15:38:18 GMT -8
Now a smooth running and crisp GE 70 ton would be a winner if they do want to get back into the game. Oh, my, yes! I just picked up their new Alco S-2 yesterday. It's a sweet little lokey, even if they put the wrong trucks on. The sound is terrific. And it's got Rule 17 lighting. Sorta. I think. I'm quite happy with mine. Ed |
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Post by Brakie on Jul 10, 2014 16:08:25 GMT -8
A T5 would be nice..Not sure about a 70 Tonner since Bachmann's 70 Tonner can be had for $59.00 or less.
A GP35 may be a winner as well as a SD40-2.
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Post by valenciajim on Jul 10, 2014 16:12:45 GMT -8
I think Atlas got creamed by their inability to produce track. That has to be a cash cow for them. With cow generating no milk, no new products could get nourishment. Now that the track is getting back on the market, we will see how Atlas does. With the increased price of the Atlas track, they may not sell as much as they used to since they are not that much cheaper than the competition. We'll see. I hope that they make some exciting announcements. They are a great company.
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Post by Brakie on Jul 10, 2014 16:29:27 GMT -8
Yes,a T6.I hit the wrong key number.
But,could a Atlas GE 44 or 70 tonner compete with a $59.00 Bachmann?
I would probably go with a Atlas 70 or 44 ton.
Atlas did take a pretty good lashing over the lack of track since it was a very long time.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 10, 2014 16:50:23 GMT -8
But,could a Atlas GE 44 or 70 tonner compete with a $59.00 Bachmann? Something to remember is that most people would only need one or two. So payin' the big bucks would be less of a hit. Not like if it were SD40-2's, where ya need jillions of 'em. Ed |
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Post by 12bridge on Jul 10, 2014 17:00:45 GMT -8
Atlas has a great drive, but they really need to step up into the new age when it comes to proper road specific details, that every other company is now doing, for the same prices. The longer Atlas is out of it, the more the other companys will take over. Look at Bowser and there Alco line.....
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Post by mlehman on Jul 10, 2014 17:26:59 GMT -8
But,could a Atlas GE 44 or 70 tonner compete with a $59.00 Bachmann? Something to remember is that most people would only need one or two. So payin' the big bucks would be less of a hit. Not like if it were SD40-2's, where ya need jillions of 'em. Ed If it was convertible to HOn3, like the B-mann, I'd gladly replace all my 70-tonners with a higher quality Atlas, plus add a couple more. That would be a half-dozen right there. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 10, 2014 17:44:37 GMT -8
I figured there's be a few fleet owners.
I note that the truck centers are the same for the S-2 and T-6. So Atlas has the guts ready to go. Sure wish I needed a T-6--nice lookin' locos.
But then, my pals at Overland are possibly going to actually produce the NW5's. So there!
Ed
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Tom
Full Member
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Post by Tom on Jul 10, 2014 18:20:45 GMT -8
Atlas has been quiet for too long. And with all this wonderment by Rapido and Athearn. I think Atlas is going to make a big splash at this years convention, just like they did a few years ago with the announcement of the GP40-2 and then the lokie available by late August. My prediction is that they are going to offer a Alco T6. What's your thoughts They announced the GP40-2 (as a new model) at the NERPM in 2009. Offering a T6 would be pretty awesome here (granted, so would a C-415 ...in Weyerhaeuser paint). Confession: I'm only waiting for a multi-phase release of a US F40 worth purchasing. |
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Post by Brakie on Jul 10, 2014 18:46:20 GMT -8
Something to remember is that most people would only need one or two. So payin' the big bucks would be less of a hit. Not like if it were SD40-2's, where ya need jillions of 'em. Ed If it was convertible to HOn3, like the B-mann, I'd gladly replace all my 70-tonners with a higher quality Atlas, plus add a couple more. That would be a half-dozen right there. While my Bachmann 70 Tonner is a smooth runner I too would opt for a Atlas 70 Tonner lettered for Frankfurt & Cincinnati.. |
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 10, 2014 19:22:56 GMT -8
I'd like to see the B30-7s again, particularly in red and gray.
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Post by bdhicks on Jul 10, 2014 20:01:45 GMT -8
If it was convertible to HOn3, like the B-mann, I'd gladly replace all my 70-tonners with a higher quality Atlas, plus add a couple more. That would be a half-dozen right there. I always assumed that the Atlas/Kato style trucks would be pretty a pretty straightforward conversion, since they have those narrow gearboxes and don't have the current collectors in the way like Athearn and clones. I took a look at the 70 tonner conversion a while back and it seemed pretty messy to me, with cutting away at the gearbox and swapping the wrong sized wheels in. |
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Post by keystonefarm on Jul 10, 2014 20:36:14 GMT -8
I'm thinking more towards a late U-28c/early U-30c. They already have the drive and trucks, walkways,handrails and cab. Lok Sound has come out with a very nice early GE sound decoder. All that would be needed is a new long hood. Would fill a missing link in early GE's ---- Ken
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Post by mlehman on Jul 10, 2014 22:13:07 GMT -8
If it was convertible to HOn3, like the B-mann, I'd gladly replace all my 70-tonners with a higher quality Atlas, plus add a couple more. That would be a half-dozen right there. I always assumed that the Atlas/Kato style trucks would be pretty a pretty straightforward conversion, since they have those narrow gearboxes and don't have the current collectors in the way like Athearn and clones. I took a look at the 70 tonner conversion a while back and it seemed pretty messy to me, with cutting away at the gearbox and swapping the wrong sized wheels in. All depends on who shows up to design it. I have a couple of Kato NW HOn3 conversions and they are smooth as silk. The critical thing is the overall width of the gearbox. It needs to be 10 mm or less wide or you end up with an ugly looking hack, if it's possible at all. Yeah, the B-mann hack looks like it could go very wrong any second when you're cutting away at things. Not for the faint of heart. It's surprisingly sturdy, but doesn't help the marginal running qualities of the loco that B-mann made. |
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Post by marknycfan on Jul 11, 2014 1:37:08 GMT -8
Mostly new runs of old rolling stock, loco's are not being announced as I guess they're trying to get Lok-sound in everything, RS-1's are delayed, GP-38/40's and HH600's too.
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Post by bnsf971 on Jul 11, 2014 2:28:53 GMT -8
Mostly new runs of old rolling stock, loco's are not being announced as I guess they're trying to get Lok-sound in everything, RS-1's are delayed, GP-38/40's and HH600's too. The new Dash 8's are supposed to have Titans for sound. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2014 5:56:40 GMT -8
I think Atlas got creamed by their inability to produce track. Creamed? Inability? Isn't that a bit of hyperbole & assumption? Inability isn't an assumption, especially for the dealers. The supply is so inconsistent. My LHS which trains only(HO and N) had nothing but empty wall space for months upon months where the Atlas track was supposed to hang. As the owner said to me and some others, "I can't sell what I can't stock". The store sent out an e-mail to the customers last week announcing the anticipated arrival of Atlas track this week. My LHS has had many of its customers turn to other brands of track like Peco and Micro Engineering which are readily available year round. They've tired of waiting for a better part of a year for Atlas to finally get a restock, which sells out quickly and then the wait begins all over again. |
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Post by stevewagner on Jul 11, 2014 5:56:58 GMT -8
Atlas sent out a News Flash June 27 to people on their e-mail list saying that they'd be releasing an All-Scales Catalog at the National Train Show in Cleveland listing announcements and anticipated arrivals for July through December 2014. For the first time, list prices for all of them will be included. So we should have a batch of news from Atlas within the next ten days or so.
The announcement of more HO 42' GSC pulpwood cars Atlas posted some months ago has photos of N scale models, which don't have separate hand grabs. I haven't yet had a reply from a friend at Atlas as to whether the HO cars will still have the grabs in a separate bag for modelers to install or will have them pre-installed, and as to whether the HO models will include the newer style of pulpwood load with smaller logs than the one supplied with N scale models has.
My main wish for an Atlas product is for a couple of the improved Alco S-2 switchers decorated for the Delaware & Hudson, with the end stripes they wore for most of their D&H service.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2014 6:00:54 GMT -8
Atlas has been quiet for too long. And with all this wonderment by Rapido and Athearn. I think Atlas is going to make a big splash at this years convention, just like they did a few years ago with the announcement of the GP40-2 and then the lokie available by late August. My prediction is that they are going to offer a Alco T6. What's your thoughts I predict the silence of chirping crickets. When the big announcement from the dealers is some Atlas track has finally after months and months of being out of stock and delayed is anticipated to be available this week, how can Atlas launch a newly tooled locomotive? |
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Post by alcoc430 on Jul 11, 2014 6:27:16 GMT -8
New 44 or 77 tonner? Maybe in this small production and high price manufacturing model but not from Atlas at this time. They don't need the embarrassment of cancelling the announcement in case they cant get enough preorders. They would have to compete with the years worth of prior production out there from Bachmann. They also cant take the chance that Bachmann will, out of spite, retool and release their switchers before Atlas can get theirs to market.
The Atlas GP40-2 and GP40-2W has been eclipsed by Athearn, their last run of GP38-2s were immediately at clearance at $50. They need locomotives without competition that's why a T6, S6 and C415 is a good fit. They have to get going before their market dies off.
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Post by grabbem88 on Jul 11, 2014 6:42:20 GMT -8
Atlas needs to stop "reprinting/painting" and throwing in a better sound decoder and calling it good.
An unique road specific with lots of correct detail loco would be the smart thing to do.
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Post by alcoc430 on Jul 11, 2014 6:42:51 GMT -8
Creamed? Inability? Isn't that a bit of hyperbole & assumption? Inability isn't an assumption, especially for the dealers. The supply is so inconsistent. My LHS which trains only(HO and N) had nothing but empty wall space for months upon months where the Atlas track was supposed to hang. As the owner said to me and some others, "I can't sell what I can't stock". The store sent out an e-mail to the customers last week announcing the anticipated arrival of Atlas track this week. My LHS has had many of its customers turn to other brands of track like Peco and Micro Engineering which are readily available year round. They've tired of waiting for a better part of a year for Atlas to finally get a restock, which sells out quickly and then the wait begins all over again. They had a big shipment of track come in earlier in the year as well, plus the genset II, S2 and RS3 and other products have been coming in, so they're getting back on track also Paul Graf needs to make some money to pay for Tom H's retirement. so I think it is a perfect time for them do something now. Although I would not be surprised if they do nothing. |
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Post by mlehman on Jul 11, 2014 6:55:13 GMT -8
New 44 or 77 tonner? Maybe in this small production and high price manufacturing model but not from Atlas at this time. They don't need the embarrassment of cancelling the announcement in case they cant get enough preorders. They would have to compete with the years worth of prior production out there from Bachmann. They also cant take the chance that Bachmann will, out of spite, retool and release their switchers before Atlas can get theirs to market. SNIP Yeah, good points. On the other hand, the large installed base of B-mann locos means there's an almost equally large base of folks unhappy with the performance of the B-mann versions. Many of them would have no problem paying twice as much for a much better version. Both are iconic short line and switching service veterans, in use over a long period of time, that were in widespread use, including for a few Class 1s. B-mann has updated these locos several times already, so couldn't put it past them again, especially if Atlas brings one to market. But really that's all Atlas needs to do, get out of the gate with a quality unit before the competition. The quality will keep an Atlas version selling plenty (don't forget there's a bajillion roadnames it could be painted as) even as B-mann keeps pumping out theirs. Even the prototype-sensitive crowd could be satisfied. There are several variations that could be captured by just tooling a new shell. That way the investment could be spread over time and you would have a pretty fresh product again each time a new variant is introduced. That really hasn't been done for these locos, except in brass, and I'm pretty sure that's something B-mann would never do with theirs. This is one loco that is economically viable from several mfgs, especially if they are at different price/quality points. |
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Post by thebessemerkid on Jul 11, 2014 7:34:12 GMT -8
U33B / U36B
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Post by lajrmdlr on Jul 11, 2014 9:22:19 GMT -8
"I just picked up their new Alco S-2 yesterday. It's a sweet little lokey, even if they put the wrong trucks on. The sound is terrific. And it's got Rule 17 lighting. Sorta. I think. I'm quite happy with mine.
ED"
Did your loco come w/ the ALCO Blunt trucks? That was the stock ones for most RRs that had S-2s.
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Post by Judge Doom on Jul 11, 2014 9:37:15 GMT -8
Creamed? Inability? Isn't that a bit of hyperbole & assumption? Inability isn't an assumption, especially for the dealers. The supply is so inconsistent. My LHS which trains only(HO and N) had nothing but empty wall space for months upon months where the Atlas track was supposed to hang. As the owner said to me and some others, "I can't sell what I can't stock". The store sent out an e-mail to the customers last week announcing the anticipated arrival of Atlas track this week. My LHS has had many of its customers turn to other brands of track like Peco and Micro Engineering which are readily available year round. They've tired of waiting for a better part of a year for Atlas to finally get a restock, which sells out quickly and then the wait begins all over again. This was in the last Rapido newsletter. It offers some good insight into the China track situation, and why everyone's eggs shouldn't be put in the same basket... "Bendy Track Update We announced Bendy Track last year to much fanfare, promising to deliver it in the fall. We delivered a bunch of Code 100 Bendy Track around Christmas and then nothing else. So what happened? To put it bluntly, despite the assurances from our suppliers we fell victim to the same issues facing most track manufacturers. The suppliers in China simply aren't delivering track in the quantities needed. Most track made in China has traditionally come from one factory, and that factory is facing its own problems. The result is that there are track machines sitting idle while we in North America are all clamouring for more track!I am going to China in August and one of the purposes of my trip is to work on the solution to our track supply issues. Hopefully I will have good news for you following that visit. In the meantime, if you need track now I highly recommend Peco North American Code 83. It's carried by hundreds of dealers across North America and as it's made in the UK they don't have the same supply issues that the rest of us are facing in China. Contact your dealer for more info." |
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Post by Spikre on Jul 11, 2014 10:18:20 GMT -8
 Alco S-5 Phs-1,there was only 1 built,Alco Plant switcher #-6. built either late 51 or early 52,it was scrapped before 1960. this unit had an RS-3 cab and long hood,was a complete one -off. Alco S-5 Phase-2,all built in one month during 1954,7 or 8 total depending on which info is read. these had the configuration of the later S-6s,but the frames don't seem as bulky,maybe due to lighter weight of the 800HP rating ? S-6 had 900 HP,and many options,including Cow and Calf units,but only bought by Oliver Mineing,2 sets,4 units total. T-6,1000HP and a more road worthy electric system,the last 2 units finished at Alco during 1/69 were T-6s for N&SS. note that the Alco Plant actually closed 12/30/68,but these units were close to completion. the DL-535E units for WP&Y were shipped to MLW as they weren't as close to being completed,so they didn't become the last units assembled by Alco. don't expect to see the S-5 Phs-1 from Atlas,but maybe in Brass or Resin some day ? Spikre 
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