Fresh from the OKC Train Show

[Walkercolt]

The InterMoutain Cab-Forward's aren't "vaporware"! We ran one, then two, then double-headed them around our layout for nearly 3 hours with no problems. One pulls about 35 MT 40' reefers with stock wheels on a flat N-TRAK layout (minimum 18" radius curves). Double-headed they pulled 78 reefers just fine. I would expect these numbers to improve a bit with use, rubbing some of the "shiney" off the drivers. Detail is exquisite: Good enough for the boss and TV-star to have been "dumping" his AC-12 Keys (slowly and carefully to make money on them!). Should be on the shelves of shops by late January. Container is loaded on a ship right now, transit time about 4 weeks to US, then US Customs, shipping to Longmont, CO then to distributors and shops.

Great rejoicing from me at the Athearn booth. TWO, yes TWO new 33,000 gallon modern LPG tankers shown in undecorated test-shots. One is an older style with the full-length running board(photo-etched), the other has the "1/3 car length, off-center" platform. Now for the kicker.... there is a THIRD different body style to be announced probably in March! If you are a tankcar nut-job like me, you'll max-out all your credit cards and borrow against our 401K.... ;D


Kato, Atlas, Athearn and more are promising additional new products this year and for at least the next couple of years. Design/engineering is done and time/space reserved for production, so keep those credit-cards in good-standing. Sir Chuck will likely beat me to the board with the official new announcements and details, but I'll be trying too.

[ljudice]

Can't wait for those tanks!

BTW - anyone else hear the "news" that the LBF tooling was sold and will be re-emerging soon???

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Can't wait for those tanks!

BTW - anyone else hear the "news" that the LBF tooling was sold and will be re-emerging soon???

I believe the LBF tooling moving is somehow tied to the winter olympics... every 4 years...

[Denver Road Doug]

Funny, I saw both models there as well, and was equally impressed.

The Athearn LPG cars are state-of-the-art or close to it, and while I'm no expert, the Cab Forward looked awesome.

Athearn also said their F59PHI "upgrades" will probably be announced in the spring/summer and out late next year or early 11.  New mech, DCC, and sound.

There was a guy at the Walthers booth that claimed he was an n-scaler.  I think they fired him after I left.   ;D  Anyway I asked him about a DCC ready GP60 and he said while they weren't starting any new loco tooling until the economy picked up, they might do a run of revamped 60's late next year.  The more interesting thing though, is he went on to say they are looking at doing a GP50!  Again, it would be a while before they even start on it, but that was exciting to hear from anyone!  I was so happy about that I forgot to ask about GP60M's and B's.  I also suggested they do another round of their 4427 covered hoppers and he agreed it was a good idea and said he would bring it up.  I guess they are doing them in HO now, because WSOR bought a bunch of the ATSF cars from BNSF and have them in non-interchange service in their area.  He says it's impossible to find any ATSF in HO or N up there, which is why they are rerunning them (including WSOR-restencils) in HO.

Kato said they would "probably" do El Cap cars in Amtrak at some point.  You might think "duh" but it is Kato after all.

Atlas was kinda mailing it in.  Paul looked bored and pretty much answered everything with "we announce monthly and don't have anything new to report".  He insisted the 20700 tank cars are in shops now--which may be true for all I know--but their website still shows no shipping container date for them or the 25500's.  Just thought that was odd.  Intermountain and Athearn definitely had a buzz going...Atlas not so much.

[Mark5]

Atlas was kinda mailing it in.  Paul looked bored and pretty much answered everything with "we announce monthly and don't have anything new to report".  He insisted the 20700 tank cars are in shops now--which may be true for all I know--but their website still shows no shipping container date for them or the 25500's.  Just thought that was odd. 

What's he smokin? 20,700 in stores? I've been waiting for these! :

Atlas is also camping on the Dec announcements - leading to speculation of a surprise. More likely though that they are simply dragging their arse.

Mark

[bobcat]

I've seen a new run of Atlas 17,360 and Athearn tank cars, but not 20,700s.

[ljudice]

The surprise is - nothing surprising!

Isn't it taking them an awfully long time to announce an actual product deliverable for the new NSC Coil Steel car, though???

It would also be nice to see some of those new flatcars done in HO in N...

[Pomperaugrr]

I keep hoping Atlas will announce that their "O" scale Comet Commuter cars will be produced in HO and N.  I fear that will be a long time coming though.

The modern LPG cars are good news though!   

Eric

[lock4244]

The LPG cars have been on my wish list for years. The forthcoming Athearn cars, and the TLT newsprint cars have whittled my list down to the GP40-2W, which I simply can't believe Atlas would not do in N... unless they've hired some guy from Walthers or Kato to ensure that common sense is ignored.

Gonna have to look for some new stuff to add to the wish list... C630M? MLW C424? Cement tube?

[Mark5]

The LPG cars have been on my wish list for years. The forthcoming Athearn cars, and the TLT newsprint cars have whittled my list down to the GP40-2W, which I simply can't believe Atlas would not do in N... unless they've hired some guy from Walthers or Kato to ensure that common sense is ignored.

It seems the Atlas HO locos are taking longer and longer to filter down to N ...

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hogp40-2w.htm

Mark

[GaryHinshaw]

It seems the Atlas HO locos are taking longer and longer to filter down to N ...

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hogp40-2w.htm

Mark

Standard MSRP:              $179.95
Decoder-Equipped MSRP:  $289.95



The std. model is high enough, but $110 for a decoder? Ouch.

[lock4244]

It seems the Atlas HO locos are taking longer and longer to filter down to N ...

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hogp40-2w.htm

Mark

Standard MSRP:              $179.95
Decoder-Equipped MSRP:  $289.95



The std. model is high enough, but $110 for a decoder? Ouch.

Decoder equipped is of little interest to me, but the standard would be worth every penny.

[wcfn100]

It seems the Atlas HO locos are taking longer and longer to filter down to N ...

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hogp40-2w.htm

Mark

Standard MSRP:              $179.95
Decoder-Equipped MSRP:  $289.95



The std. model is high enough, but $110 for a decoder? Ouch.

Aren't sound decoders still around $100?  I know the Digitrax sound only are $60.


Jason

[SkipGear]

It seems the Atlas HO locos are taking longer and longer to filter down to N ...

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hogp40-2w.htm

Mark

Standard MSRP:              $179.95
Decoder-Equipped MSRP:  $289.95



The std. model is high enough, but $110 for a decoder? Ouch.

Aren't sound decoders still around $100?  I know the Digitrax sound only are $60.


Jason

The Digitrax sound only decoders are just that, sound only, no motor or lighting function and require an additional decoder with the "sound bug plug" for them to plug into. The Tsunami and LocSound full function sound decoders are still $100 for HO size, $140 for N scale micro stuff.

[GaryHinshaw]

Ah ok, just my ignorance of the sound decoder market.  Sorry.  (I didn't read far enough to even see that it was a sound decoder.)

The model looks very nice (HO... must look away...) and I dare say the silent model is probably worth the price, but I'd have a hard time paying $100+ for diesel sound based on what I've heard to date.  Maybe Tsunami is different.