Athearn Cancels Ton of Projects

[mu26aeh]

The CSXT waffles are just marked out of stock, nothing mentioned being cancelled

[Mark5]

Strange that Athearn hasn't issued any official communication about this  (well, I haven't received any and I am on their mailing list).

[Mark5]

Some of the announced cancellations are:
 
 - 53' GSC Bulkhead Flat Cars
 - 28' Wedge Trailers
 - 53' CMC Containers
 - 50' Waffle Box Cars
 - 65' Mill Gondolas
 - 52' Mill Gondolas
 - 20' Corrugated Containers
 - Bay Window Cabooses
 - 53' Stoughton Containers
 - 30k Ethanol Tank Cars
 - 40' Pfaudler Wood Milk Cars
 - 50' PS-1 1-Door Box Cars
 - 48' Containers
 - F89F Bi-Level Autoracks

I have been waiting for the DODX tankers:

https://www.athearn.com/product/n-ath-30k-ethanol-tank-car-dodx-14401/ATH-2421.html

No cancellation indication there (yet)

[Ike the BN Freak]

Wonder what the run of 48' containers was cancelled, all the ones on their site show out of stock and contact your dealer

[CBQ Fan]

It felt like to me that Athearn had announced a bunch of cars that had already had multiple runs.  For example the number of covered hoppers in CBQ felt excessive. Seems like they went to well one time to many in too short of a timeframe.

[thomasjmdavis]

It felt like to me that Athearn had announced a bunch of cars that had already had multiple runs.  For example the number of covered hoppers in CBQ felt excessive. Seems like they went to well one time to many in too short of a timeframe.

I think you may be on to something. When I looked at the cancelled items, I could break it down into 'cars that I can't use in my layout timeframe' and 'cars I already have enough of'.  No new tooling I'm aware of for prototypes in the 1920-1956 time period (all of the freight cars I own other than a few earlier cars for 'character'), and at best a few new roadnames/paint schemes to be anonymous cars in a freight train. 

[Tad_T]

This would have been the second run of the MP bulkhead flats. I have the two from the first run.

[Englewood]

Everybody and their grandma makes containers these days, not surprised to see them cancelled. And their trailers are pretty expensive, considering they don't make the tractors for them. The Great Northern F45 I pre-ordered  over two years ago shows an ETA of December 2039. I guess I should be glad it hasn't been cancelled?

[nkalanaga]

2039?  14 years from now? 

[Ike the BN Freak]

Everybody and their grandma makes containers these days, not surprised to see them cancelled.

Except they were the only ones making smooth side 48' containers,  Deluxe is long gone, and FVM/ScaleAmerica isn't in any position to do any runs anytime soon

[Englewood]

2039?  14 years from now?

Yes. ATH19087

[GaryHinshaw]

Side thread continues here.

[mu26aeh]

I just find it highly unusual that the same items in BOTH scales did not meet sufficient pre order numbers to be produced.

[Maletrain]

I hope that the people who decide to still make model train products will realize that preordering in not going to be a reliable predictor of sales from now on.  Their unreliability has killed the preorder process.  No matter how much I want something, I will wait for it to be offered from a U.S. dealer's actual stock, going forward.  And, I expect that to be a common reaction.

[nickelplate759]

I hope that the people who decide to still make model train products will realize that preordering in not going to be a reliable predictor of sales from now on.  Their unreliability has killed the preorder process.  No matter how much I want something, I will wait for it to be offered from a U.S. dealer's actual stock, going forward.  And, I expect that to be a common reaction.

Mostly this, with the exception that for those vendors that I have found to be reliable I'm still willing to preorder.    So far that's Lowell Smith, and Rapido.
Rapido gets points for being transparent - they tell you up front that they will or won't produce based on preorders up to some specific date.

The other issue with preorders is that some vendors deliver something somewhat different than what was advertised for pre-order, and not in a good way.  I'm thinking of someone in Colorado right now.   Haven't preordered from them since.