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Post by carrman on Feb 17, 2018 9:06:45 GMT -8
Atlas acts like they are on life support.
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Post by Brakie on Feb 17, 2018 11:28:56 GMT -8
Atlas acts like they are on life support. I truly doubt that..Atlas will be around for years to come unless Horizon or Walthers buys them out. Athearn is rushing things out the door with QA/QC issues. Can this be a good thing?  BTW..I hear the same thing about several other manufacturers. |
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Post by carrman on Feb 17, 2018 12:36:38 GMT -8
I think ER is in the same boat. Only thing all new Atlas has done is that damned NJ commuter train. Anything beyond that is rehashed road names on existing models.
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Post by Brakie on Feb 17, 2018 13:34:14 GMT -8
I think ER is in the same boat. Only thing all new Atlas has done is that damned NJ commuter train. Anything beyond that is rehashed road names on existing models. Maybe Atlas has something up their sleeve like buying another company? The hobby is getting to fat with manufacturers and sooner or later they will step on each other's production which will boil down to the best model made one will win the other will lose. Reminds of the upstart brass locomotive importers of the 60s..Alco Models, Trains Inc. and Hallmark Models was in a race to out produce each other. I've got a bad feeling when the smoke clears there will be three to four manufacturers/importers left. Atlas did retool some of their older engines. IMHO Atlas could fill the gaps with(say) SD18s,SW1001 and the early U boats. |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 17, 2018 13:59:22 GMT -8
I didn't really sense any companies were on the ropes. Atlas has been a bit slow since the Chinese factory upheaval but has pick up somewhat since then. Exactrail has slowed down since around 2015 but continued at a slow burn. There seems to be more product on coming out than I can financially keep up with so as long as that continues, I'm in in above my head. *shrugs* I'm getting to the point where I only need to tweak what I have to fill in some gaps so I don't know. Mostly I'm buying from Tangent, Moloco and Intermountain lately, some Atlas, some Exactrail and Athearn too. Wheels of Time for the flat cars.
I think the next thing due out from Atlas that I want are the all new 5503 double door box cars.
I can't really complain.
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Feb 17, 2018 14:41:35 GMT -8
There is a positive side. Atlas came out with two different Gensets some years ago, the upgraded Alco S2 and EMD GP7, various boxcars, and the assembled Branchline passenger cars.
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Feb 18, 2018 6:25:44 GMT -8
Atlas lack of new products, even re-releases may seem like the company is on the ropes. But at the same time this company has survived a long time. To my eyes, the company seemed to pull in its horns first with the factory debacle and then the Great Recession. Even as the manufacturing side straightened out, the economic health of the country seems to have put a damper on their announcements. It may very well be the family which owns and runs the company is playing it close to the vest. Why spend tons of money to keep making many different models, while having some of it end up sitting on warehouse shelves. There is also the reality in which there is only so much money in the hobby to go around. You have other companies, like Athearn, which is just pumping out new products like a broken fire hydrant gushing water.
Atlas still has its track line which has served them well for 50 years plus. Personally, I'd like to see some new SD24's, SDP35's, etc. models which haven't been done in a long time.
Let us also not forget Atlas has bought up Branchline and BLMA. They have integrating those lines of models into the stream. The commuter train from the east coast though is a bit of a head scratchier for any of us living west of Philadelphia. Atlas has had some personel changes too which may have an impact.
I'd say lets revisit the topic in a few years as to whether Atlas is healthy or sick.
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Post by riogrande on Feb 18, 2018 6:37:28 GMT -8
One could say the HO model train market is fairly saturated with product during the past 5 years, what with Bowser going great guns, Intermountain as well, and Athearn. Tangent has been kicking out more releases in the past few years.Trainworx and Wheels of Time have entered the HO market with some really nice items. Exactrail has slowed down but still putting out 6 releases in 2016 and 4 in 2017. Yes, some companies have slowed down a bit but at present there are more choices than ever on the market.
Agreed Jim. Atlas may be just being conservative, and as you pointed out Atlas has absorbed Branchline and BLMA and continued to produce models from their line. There is an all new BLMA box car coming from Atlas this year. I've purchased a number of the Atlas former Branchline cars; Atlas's release of them have far superior painting and lettering. The colorful IPD box cars Atlas has made in the last few years have been favorites of mine and I hope they continue with more in that line.
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Post by Brakie on Feb 18, 2018 8:00:12 GMT -8
One could say the HO model train market is fairly saturated with product during the past 5 years, what with Bowser going great guns, Intermountain as well, and Athearn. Tangent has been kicking out more releases in the past few years.Trainworx and Wheels of Time have entered the HO market with some really nice items. Exactrail has slowed down but still putting out 6 releases in 2016 and 4 in 2017. Yes, some companies have slowed down a bit but at present there are more choices than ever on the market. Agreed Jim. Atlas may be just being conservative, and as you pointed out Atlas has absorbed Branchline and BLMA and continued to produce models from their line. There is an all new BLMA box car coming from Atlas this year. I've purchased a number of the Atlas former Branchline cars; Atlas's release of them have far superior painting and lettering. The colorful IPD box cars Atlas has made in the last few years have been favorites of mine and I hope they continue with more in that line. Jim,I agree with your assessment and of late I lean toward Atlas cars and locomotives and the last Atlas engine I bought was the upgraded DCC/Sound SCL Alco S-2.Its a top notch engine. The last three Atlas cars I bought was the FMC 5347s double door boxcar and like the S-2 they was perfect from the box. As far as those colorful IPD box cars,they can become a habit. |
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Post by milgentrains on Feb 18, 2018 10:34:49 GMT -8
I've been thinking about getting an DCC/Sound PC S-2.
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Post by riogrande on Feb 18, 2018 10:47:48 GMT -8
Larry, those Atlas ipd cars can be habit forming for sure. Hopefully they will announce more!
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Post by lvrr325 on Feb 19, 2018 11:07:06 GMT -8
I've been thinking about getting an DCC/Sound PC S-2. Already sold out on my end. I don't know why anyone would think they're "on the ropes" with tons of track products available most any time and runs of various products including all new things like the U33/36B and the commuter stuff coming in every other month or so. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Feb 19, 2018 13:00:01 GMT -8
I've been thinking about getting an DCC/Sound PC S-2. Already sold out on my end. I don't know why anyone would think they're "on the ropes" with tons of track products available most any time and runs of various products including all new things like the U33/36B and the commuter stuff coming in every other month or so. Maybe those people think because Atlas isn't flooding the market with product those particular people want, it must mean Atlas is circling the drain. |
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Post by riogrande on Feb 19, 2018 13:49:53 GMT -8
people think because Atlas isn't flooding the market with product those particular people want, it must mean Atlas is circling the drain. That would be my guess to. |
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 19, 2018 14:56:25 GMT -8
I don't have a problem with the amount of product Atlas is releasing. For one thing I'm interested in seeing how they integrate the BLMA signals and their own signals into a single compatible product line.
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Post by Brakie on Feb 19, 2018 14:58:02 GMT -8
people think because Atlas isn't flooding the market with product those particular people want, it must mean Atlas is circling the drain. That would be my guess to. Jim, More then likely. Many HO modelers seems to forget Atlas also supplies N Scale and O Scale modelers.. Like I said earlier I'm leaning more toward Atlas engines and freight cars.. My Atlas/Roco S4s runs as smooth as my newer Atlas/China S-2..Seems to me Atlas has kept a quality drive throughout the years starting with that Roco drive. |
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