Product news and photos from Springfield

[sirenwerks]

Looks like Bob (TrainCat) was there with NYC cabooses (plural) and new bridges and signal bridges too.

[bbussey]

For those of you who are not able to attend the Springfield show this weekend, here is some of the new product info revealed this weekend.  Due to my schedule today and the meetings I had to attend, I was unable to reach all of the manufacturers.  But I was able to see those who I had business with in addition to some others.  Some of the noteworthy news:

Atlas - New 85' trash container flatcar announced, test shots of the containers were on display.  Lots of new decos for motive power (SD7, SD9, SD60, GP7, GP9, GP15, GP30, GP35, VO1000 and MP15)  and freight releases pending.  The 2011 1st Quarter catalog has been released.

BLMA - Test shots of the Trinity reefer and final proofs of the ACF gondolas were on display, as well as the new brass bridges.  The gons feature detail on top of the cords and drop ends, a feature that isn't evident in any previous photos of the model.  The coupler pocket of the reefer is slightly different than the previous models due to the use of a 1016 knuckle.  Both models look exquisite.

Con-Cor - Has green-lighted the New Haven Comet in N, to be released at the end of the year.

ExactRail - The newly-released low-side PS CD4427 cars were present, as well as a new Evans 5527 boxcar in five roadnames.  Both models feature herald placards made of thin brass and do stand at the correct height and look good.  The Pillsbury 4427 in particular with its thin placard and crisp masking looks exceptionally good.  Chris Clune is indeed retiring from the company, in full, to spend more time with family.  The company is moving to body-mounts and will focus on more prototypically-correct schemes moving forward.

Fox Valley - Final proof of the spectacular Hiawatha locomotive and consist was on display, as well as diagrams for the B&O Wagontop boxcar.  The Wagontop will feature body-mounted MTL 1016 couplers and new Bettendorf truck frames with FVM brass wheelsets.  Two different bodystyles due to the different door sill configurations to go with the two door styles will be available.  Look for the ribbed boxcars to start featuring body-mounts before long.

InterMountain - final proofs of new passenger cars, including the observations, were present.  Details on the roof vary due to the prototype.

Kato - final proofs of the Viewliner and Amfleet cars were present.  The Amfleet cars will be released in numerous deco variations and groupings (singles, two-packs, three-packs, mixed consists) throughout the year.  The axle mounting on the Amfleets does not impede their rolling ability.

Micro-Trains - test shot of the high-side PS CD4427 was present.  Roofwalk is stamped from a fabricated compound and is see-through, much better than the plastic used on the current MTL covered hopper models.  Couplers are 1016 boxes attached to the underframe that has a built-in 1016 "lid" included.  The next heavyweight bodystyle is scheduled to debut in August/September.

Rapido - Pullman Bradley cars definitely will be done in N, just a matter of when at this point.  Same with the Turbo Train.  Three other passenger car models are proceeding in N.  They weren't mentioned by name, but I assume they will be from the group that the company has done in HO.

You can see some photos of the above mentioned products here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bbussey61/2011AmherstShowWestSpringfieldMA?feat=directlink

[asarge]

Thanks for the pics and news!

[bbussey]

That's not just weird, that's WTF weird. It's gotta either be a stand-in or MT is trying to help out the after-market detail manufacturers, that or we should seriously doubt MT product development team's mental health.

It's not wood per se, it is some composite form that is a wood by-product.  It didn't look bad and it is see through, much better than the plastic used on the other covered hoppers.  I posted a thread before I saw this one - there are pics of the car there.

[Puddington]

Yes Brian; many, many thanks.... those FVM Hiawatha's look out of this world and some of the new Exact Rail and Atlas boxcars look exciting; the new high side looks nice too; although I shall leave it to those "in the know" to thumbs up or down" the model.....................

[bbussey]

Yes Brian; many, many thanks.... those FVM Hiawatha's look out of this world and some of the new Exact Rail and Atlas boxcars look exciting; the new high side looks nice too; although I shall leave it to those "in the know" to thumbs up or down" the model.....................

Both models (EXR and MTL) looked good to me.  I picked both of them up and inspected them.  The MTL roofwalk is slightly thicker than etched brass, I don't think many will notice.  And I wouldn't be surprised if the EXR roofwalk (which is etched) fits the MTL model.

I have to say also that the EXR CD4427 hopper and Evans 5527 boxcar are the best two models they've made to date in my opinion (along with the Siddley Hawker gondola in CP Rail).  They are listening to the critiques, and adjusting.  I also forgot to mention that the existing N models will be modified to have body-mounts as they are re-released.
 

[Puddington]

Why does the following make me uncomfortable...............

From the A Board:

Paul Graf


 Posted - 01/29/2011 :  21:34:43      
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quote:
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Originally posted by sirenwerks

I had heard Atlas had bought one of the popular laser cut firms. It looks like something good will come out of that. I hope the injection molded shingles means the windows and doors will be castings too, Laser cut window muntins are always too big.

Bryan

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Atlas has NOT purchased any laser cut firms. We are working on a deal for the Branchline HO freight and passenger car tooling, but the laser cut structure line will remain with Branchline.



 
Paul Graf
Atlas Model Railroad Company

Branchline does outstanding passenger cars and those of us who are passenger nuts hoped they'd wake up and see n scale as their next market...Atlas will not; period. And before the flames come; I'm sick and tired of Atlas not recognizing n scale passenger potential and will feel free to slag them for it every chance I get; so my bias is clear and stated....

This isn't good news for anyone IMHO
 

[bbussey]

Branchline is moving into the distribution-only business.  As far as the product lines are concerned, I haven't heard the fate of the laser cut products but I'm sure they will find a home.

[SkipGear]

I'm glad to see that it seems most have figured out how to move the coupler box back and use 1016's instead of 1015's for body mounting. It should allow the cars to work on tighter corners for those that need it without sacrafacing close coupling. It also allows the trucks a slight bit of rotational freedom because the nose of the coupler box is narrower.

Matt's B&O Wagontop has really stirred up the B&O yahoo group. More posts today than there has been all week combined.

[ArtinCA]

Great pics Brian! The roofwalk on the M-T car looks pretty good.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Wonder if it might bode well for N-scalers to see some heavyweights yet being done by Atlas, hopefully as a compliment to MTs offerings.

[Dave V]

Bryan, I think you have the captions for the MTL PRR parlor and sleeper swapped.  They look great, though!

[wazzou]

Thank you for the report/photos Bryan.

[bbussey]

... Branchline does outstanding passenger cars and those of us who are passenger nuts hoped they'd wake up and see n scale as their next market...Atlas will not; period. And before the flames come; I'm sick and tired of Atlas not recognizing n scale passenger potential and will feel free to slag them for it every chance I get; so my bias is clear and stated....

This isn't good news for anyone IMHO

Pud, I don't know why you're letting this bother you.  For forty years there was one manufacturer (for the most part) of N heavyweight passenger cars.  Now there finally is another manufacturer making N heavyweights that meet today's standards.  The Atlas product lines include motive power, freight equipment, structures, vehicles and track in multiple iterations - in three scales - that is far more than anyone else does.  Why do they have to do the passenger equipment also, when there are three other manufacturers concentrating on that category?  Just be happy that Atlas is acquiring the Branchline heavyweight passenger product line.  I think there is a better chance of Atlas migrating the line to N scale than there was of Branchline doing it.  And if not, Micro-Trains is doing a good job not only in establishing the line, but in trying to get multiples in terms of quantities and bodystyles of a railroad to market within a month or two so modelers have a chance of building a consist in a reasonable timeframe.  Also it makes little sense for Atlas to bring a heavyweight configuration to market that Micro-Trains already has released, and the two MTL sleepers are in the Branchline HO line.

[bbussey]

Bryan, I think you have the captions for the MTL PRR parlor and sleeper swapped.  They look great, though!

Fixed.  Thanks Dave.

Also, the car# on the parlor was correct (unlike the photo in the Micro-News).