Atlas Winter 2020 All Scales Catalog is out

[Cajonpassfan]

Bummer -- no transition era love.
Oh well.

Wolf

Yea, what’s up with that!
Like we no longer matter...😜
Otto

[mat82]

Amazing!! I'm waiting for the Widecab Geeps a very long time.. ever since it apperared in HO scale.
I hope the ditch lights will come on all units as the prototype.

[Scottl]

A wide cab CN geep!  I just have to have some of those in stripes to power a 1990s era intermodal train. I wonder if this will open the door to a GP38-2W if they have a cab tooled?

[basementcalling]

Yea, what’s up with that!
Like we no longer matter...😜
Otto

You transition era guys have had like 70 years to gather your models.   Us modern modelers, just a few decades or years.    

I jest, as Atlas is usually pretty good about hitting a variety of eras each quarter with their releases of new and prior models.

EBay says separate pipe loads would make sense, as the BMLA ones are expensive to win for existing cars. Not sure new ones would be too cheap though, as they seem to add around $15 to the cost of the car's MSRP.

China's days as the source of cheap toys seems to be coming to an end based on prices for new items. They keep increasing in chunks. MSRP of $100 for a 3 pack of cars is high ground, even for MT and other limited run companies.

[crencs]

Interesting that every page of the catalog with a price list also included "PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO A POTENTIAL PRICE INCREASE PENDING FUTURE TARIFF IMPLEMENTATION"

I find the posted MSRP for the remake of the Walther's 41' ballast car too much + a possible increase for tariffs.  I'll pass!!!  I would much rather shell out my $$$ to Micro-Trains Runner packs and Weathered cars.

[wazzou]

I'll be curious what improvements if any have been made to the PS4427 tooling.  I have a few of the Walthers ones that were purchased for about $8 each.
I know it's beating a dead horse but if the models are relatively unchanged, nearly quadruple in price once on the street is still hard to fathom.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I see that Conrail is included in the PS4427 release.  Alas, I have no idea why Atlas chose the road numbers they did.  Hey @Atlas Paul look for Covered Hopper Class CL15A on the Conrail Historical Society web site.  These are the ex LV Bethlehem built clones of the PS 4427 car.  They are are a much better choice than the cars chosen for the artwork.  The artwork car numbers are from a number series for ex EL class CE16B PS 4740 covered hoppers.  Thanks.

Jeff

I also pointed out the H46s would be better matches too.

[ai5629]

I also pointed out the H46s would be better matches too.

H46 is better than whatever Atlas chose, but the PS built H46’s are noticeably taller than the PS 4427 since they are 4650 cubic foot cars.  Bethlehem built CL15A’s are pretty much spot on PS 4427 clones.  I hope The CRHS can convince them to revisit their car choice and artwork.  Thanks.

Jeff

[Ngineer]

Are those Amtrak 41’ BALLAST HOPPERs prototypical? Where they acquired by Amtrak?

   Javier

[thomasjmdavis]

Are those Amtrak 41’ BALLAST HOPPERs prototypical? Where they acquired by Amtrak?

   Javier

I am not an expert on either Amtrak or ballast hoppers, so I will let others argue about specific prototypes and details, but they do have some similar hoppers-
http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/RPOTW031221.html

[asarge]

Maybe a couple 4427's but that's it. Wish they could find a way to do more of the private owner cars besides ADM

[thomasjmdavis]

I'll be curious what improvements if any have been made to the PS4427 tooling.  I have a few of the Walthers ones that were purchased for about $8 each.
I know it's beating a dead horse but if the models are relatively unchanged, nearly quadruple in price once on the street is still hard to fathom.

That lack of information is what killed the 50' single sheathed boxcar, I am sure.  The Walthers models had warped doors (and in many cases warped sides), caused by ENORMOUS amounts of glue (l had the same problem on a model airplane using the same glue, when I was about 8.  I assumed major manufacturers knew better and would use glue meant for styrene).  Not a word from Atlas on what they were doing to fix that, or whether they would offer a choice of several door styles, etc.  Just a "Masterline" price and demand that the pre-order be in by such and such a date.  That's not saying that if you asked them at a train show, you might not get an answer.  But nothing on fixing the issues that I could find in the product description at the time they were offered.  So my interest went from "at least four" to "I will wait until they come out and i can see for myself."  Apparently a lot of people agreed with me, and they cancelled the run due to lack of pre-orders.

So, yes, they need to get info out on the ex-Walthers stuff and what they are doing to make these worth 3 to 5 times the old price.   

[learmoia]

I think the issue may be..the 'market's for the 50' Wood box remembers the door issue and $9.95 MSRP from 20 years ago.

Vs the Walthers line that is modern enough that the 'market' for those cars doesn't (know/remember/wasn't alive yet).. 20 years ago.
And.. They see New Models in new/modern schemes  with pricing in line with current pricing..

~Ian

[nkalanaga]

For the SOO 4427s:  Are those numbers right?  All of the sources, and pictures, I can find show "odd numbers only", but Atlas chose only even numbers.

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/displayrailway.pl?o=soo#covhop

"SOO 70175 Covered Hopper
Number Series: SOO 70151-70249 (odd numbers)
Builder: Pullman-Standard
Acquired: New 1964
1964. Pullman-Standard Photo."

[cbroughton67]

No mention of former BLMA parts - trucks, details, etc. These may not be big money makers for Atlas, but their consistent availability is a big deal to modelers. Walthers doesn't even list the EMD photo-etched fans of any variety at all - not even as "out of stock" or "backorder." The BLMA 100-ton trucks show "No info from vendor." @Atlas Paul - will we be able to count on Atlas to keep these parts available in the future? Craig didn't seem to have this issue, so why does Atlas?

Chris