New Atlas 89' flat?

[James Costello]

The chances of the latter happening are MUCHO better. You might win the lottery before you see the former done. You might get struck by lightning before you see new tooling from Athearn anytime in the near future.

Any reason why their shutting up the tooling shop Andy?

[bbussey]

Detailed close-up photos of the Atlas TOFC are in Jonh Sing's latest NMRA photo dump:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/image/136289318/original
http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/image/136289321/original
http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/image/136289323/original
http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/image/136289325/original

[asarge]

Any reason why their shutting up the tooling shop Andy?

Who said they are shutting up the tooling shop? They are one of the big Kahuna HO manufacturers and they are investing major $$$$$ in a few HO projects. In the current environment, there isn't alot left over for other things at the moment. Get the other projects done and then maybe they can get some other things going.

However, given their current philosophy towards N scale that may be supported by the numbers they see every day, they are not jumping too do new N scale tooling.  They are probably gonna get everything they can out of the current tooling first.

[Mark5]

IIRC, the Atlas HO 89' is based on a design that first appeared in the early 1970s.

Re: the Atlas HO model:
"The ACF® 89' 4" flat car was introduced in the late 60s as a result of a continuing need for more intermodal platform capacity. The Atlas model is based on the 1973 version that was originally designed to carry two trailers or combinations with containers. The cars have been used by Trailer Train and various railroads in intermodal service since that time. Many of these were modified in the late 80s to accept longer trailers. Most of those remaining in TTX service, today, have been modified with three hitches to accommodate up to three shorter package trailers."

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOFreight/ho894flatcar2.htm

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Thank God this is outside my modeling interest... more money for those Bachmann Light 2-10-2s... LOL

[wm3798]

I just wrote the waybills for TOFC service on the layout... I could use a half dozen more cars or so...  No dedicated pig trains in my era, but more and more blocks of them would be showing up in the Alpha Jets by 1971...

Lee

[Dave V]

...to accommodate up to three shorter packages...

TWSS.

[unittrain]

I really hope Athearn will produce more, IMO they have some really good models with the LPG tank cars and the ACF covered hoppers. I was thinking they were going to do 89' flat being since they did the trailers. Maybe they will suprise us. You know another one that has been quite is Exactrail they have had tons of HO and only the one release of new paint schemes for their PS-4000's.

[Denver Road Doug]

You know another one that has been quite is Exactrail they have had tons of HO and only the one release of new paint schemes for their PS-4000's.

I've heard this comment a few times about an Exactrail "disappearing act".   Has everyone forgotten about the 4427's?  Granted only one run thus far, but this is one of the more significant releases in n-scale in 2011.  (QC issues notwithstanding)

[bbussey]

Is Atlas just duplicating yet another MTL car or is this a different prototype?
Jason

Out of curiosity, what other prototypes has Atlas released after MTL, other than the USRA wood boxcars (which have more detail and ride at a proper scale height)?  The twin hopper isn't the same prototype AFAIK - if it is, then it is a more accurate model because there are differences between the two.  This TOFC will have more detail and ride at the correct height and is an upgrade over older tooling - just as the MTL centerflows and 90t hopper were an improvement over older tooling.

 

[Mark5]

Hmmm, this model may spur me to unload my MTL 89' flats ...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hmmm, this model may spur me to unload my MTL 89' flats ...

I've been thinking EXACTLY the same thing. I just haven't been able to get the newest runner pack ones to run as well as I need.

But I haven't tried bodymounting them like the other ones I have (thanks Drew...) yet.

[Sokramiketes]

I've been thinking EXACTLY the same thing. I just haven't been able to get the newest runner pack ones to run as well as I need.

But I haven't tried bodymounting them like the other ones I have (thanks Drew...) yet.

The coupler mount isn't letting the trucks pivot properly.  Pull them off, body mount the couplers and continue on your merry way.  I'm really surprised MTL hasn't fixed these yet.