Atlas S-2

[Joetrain59]

Got ship confirm from BLW for second E-L #, and undec!
 Joe D

[reinhardtjh]

DCC Non-sounds decoed units listed as in stock at M.B. Klein's

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/N-Scale-S1-S2-S4-Locomotives-s/1697.htm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1697&show=30&page=1&brand=Atlas%20Master%20Line

Although I never checked, maybe these were always still in stock?

[reinhardtjh]

I emailed Pete at BLW with my updated CC info (exp dates had changed between pre-order date and now) and he wrote back saying that he received no Gold (sound) units this shipment, only straight DCC.

It appears they arrived with the June container and shipped July 1st with the GP40, GP40-2 and other July shipments.
http://www.atlasrr.com/ordership.htm

[MVW]

Are these still from the first run? Or part of the second run?

Jim

[R L Smith]

DCC Non-sounds decoed units listed as in stock at M.B. Klein's

I emailed Pete at BLW with my updated CC info (exp dates had changed between pre-order date and now) and he wrote back saying that he received no Gold (sound) units this shipment, only straight DCC.

It appears they arrived with the June container and shipped July 1st with the GP40, GP40-2 and other July shipments.
http://www.atlasrr.com/ordership.htm

I don't believe the Silver Series locos are DCC.  The Atlas website describes them as DCC-ready.

Ron

[reinhardtjh]

I don't believe the Silver Series locos are DCC.  The Atlas website describes them as DCC-ready.

Ron

Oops.  You are correct.  It was a long night. 

[reinhardtjh]

Are these still from the first run? Or part of the second run?

Jim

More partial shipment of the first run.  I am not sure, but I expect there will be another shipment of the first run items since non of the Gold (sound equipped) units were included.

[C855B]

I forgot that I ordered one. The invoice for it showed-up in my in-box a half hour ago.

[MVW]

More partial shipment of the first run.  I am not sure, but I expect there will be another shipment of the first run items since non of the Gold (sound equipped) units were included.

Thanks. I need to get an order in on a C&NW unit from the second run.

Jim

[GN Fan]

I spoke with Paul Graf (Atlas big-wig) at the N Scale Enthusiast convention in Sacramento.  He said that for reasons unknown to him the wheels arrive with a slight oil coating.  He said clean the wheels and it should run just great.

Tom Todd

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Oops.  You are correct.  It was a long night. 

I don't know... sounds more like a long wait...

[reinhardtjh]

I spoke with Paul Graf (Atlas big-wig) at the N Scale Enthusiast convention in Sacramento.  He said that for reasons unknown to him the wheels arrive with a slight oil coating.  He said clean the wheels and it should run just great.

Tom Todd

Some kind of coating, that's for sure.  Both of my sound units that I have run so far started out very herky-jerky, but 2-3 hours of running on the Unitrack test loop smoothed them out considerably.  I should try cleaning the wheels as well.

The interesting thing was when I was sliding them around on some track to take photos comparing them to my Arnold S2's and other recent switchers (MT SW1500, LL SW1200, Bachmann S4) I noticed that they definitely had a lot more drag to them than the others did.  This was before the break in period so the wheels still had whatever coating on them.  Odd that if it was an oil that they should feel more "draggy".  I was hoping it translated into a really good pulling capacity, but if it wears off then it probably won't make a difference.  Not that they don't pull well to begin with.

By the way (pun intended),  here are the weight comparisons I came up with using our electronic kitchen scale:

Model	Weight (grams)
Arnold S2 w/DCC	61
Atlas S2 w/sound	58
MT SW1500	49
Life Like SW1200/900	48
Bachmann S4 w/DCC	45

[Joetrain59]

Thanks for that comparison Tom. My 2 locos showed up today, 1 day ahead of what lousy USPS tracking showed. Just got undec unit out. End rails in one bag. Horn, 2 stack options, and cab side rails in another bag. You can see what's metal and plastic by the finish. It ran well out of box, my track is fairly clean. No real "herky-jerky", but headlight flicker. Cleaned wheels, and running just that much better now.
 Now my thoughts are, what road to paint it for? First instinct is LIRR, but Atlas will likely do those at some point.

Newly arrived E-L unit running great out of box, no headlight flicker.
Next, I'll see how they speed match/run well together.
 Joe D

Speed match is very close. New E-L loco (533) headlight is not as bright as my other two. LED not focused on lens?

[C855B]

I forgot that I ordered one. The invoice for it showed-up in my in-box a half hour ago.

No wonder I forgot. I ordered it in March 2013. Over two years ago!

In the five years I've been formally tracking my pre-orders and their eventual delivery, this one is a "personal best" at 851 days.

[arbomambo]

two stack options?