Atlas acquires Microtrains

[Ike the BN Freak]

There was a portion of FVM's tooling (including acquisitions from Deluxe and Red Cabooose) that was not included in the ScaleTrains sale and instead went to Des Plaines Hobbies, which they sell as Scale America.https://shopfvm.com/ Is it possible those tools ended up there instead?

My understanding is that only the FVM original tooling went to ScaleTrains. The former Deluxe, Red Caboose, Precious Masters, etc stayed and sold under the Scale America line

[lock4244]

Atlas acquired the N & HO assets of True Line Trains in 2020, makers of the N scale NSC paperbox (the smooth sided ones, not the exterior post car that Atlas did). No release of those cars since. Admittedly they would benefit from a few changes (bodymounted couplers for one), and I remain hopeful they will see the light of day once more.

[wm3798]

It could always be worse.  Remember those great Rowa passenger cars back in the 80s?

And all the Rivarossi tooling?

Bankruptcies, international intrigue, and sloppy handling and poof!  All that stuff went completely invisible.  Sure, technology moved on, but imagine if those guys that were top of the line back in the day followed it?

At least we know where Micro Trains' stuff is.  I was far more worried about MT's future when @JoeD  was reporting from his desk that everything around the facility was on fire. 

Lee

[ridinshotgun]

In all this I find it interesting to see the reactions of some on this thread and then compare them to their reactions on when hatton’s purchased MBK. It presents as a dichotomy. 

[Olivani]

Atlas posted a statement that the tooling is not going to China.

Vietnam isn't in China   

[C855B]

I was far more worried about MT's future when @JoeD  was reporting from his desk that everything around the facility was on fire.

I'll second that. I was following the fire hour by hour. It came too damn close to MTL's facility. My brother lives in an exurb about a half-hour northeast of Medford, and it was really touch and go.

Wishing successes to all and the best outcomes, all considered.

[robertjohndavis]

Vietnam isn't in China   

Yet...

[Olivani]

In all this I find it interesting to see the reactions of some on this thread and then compare them to their reactions on when hatton’s purchased MBK. It presents as a dichotomy. 

Had to google that   

Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

dichotomy

/dʌɪˈkɒtəmi,dɪˈkɒtəmi/
noun
noun: dichotomy; plural noun: dichotomies

    1.
    a division or contrast between two things that are, or are represented as being, opposed or entirely different.
    "a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism"
    h
    Similar:
    division  separation  divorce  split  gulf  chasm  difference  contrast  disjunction  polarity  lack of consistency  contradiction  antagonism  conflict  contrariety

    2.
    Botany
    repeated branching into two equal parts.

Origin
late 16th century: via modern Latin from Greek dikhotomia, from dikho- ‘in two, apart’ + -tomia (see -tomy).
Use over time for: dichotomy

[jpwisc]

@jdcolombo  great way of looking at it, and I was just up at Mark Ryan a few weeks ago. The new location is awesome, I love the motorcycles inside!

I also hear the complaints about BLMA parts not being available. I’ve been able to get most of what I need still, but no ones mentioned how TrainWorx stepped up and filled that market with even better parts. The markets will evolve and new businesses will fill gaps that develop. I’m not worried in the least.

[u18b]

Guys, I am one of those with mixed feelings.

I also love MT products.   But I haven't bought many in a while.   Just one or two here and there.   But that's because I bought every boxcar for southeast railroads they made for years.
Valdosta Southern, Mississippi Export, Ala State Docks, Meridian and Bigbee,  Harford and Slocumb, Bay Line... and on and on.   I love them.
(The main one I was still waiting on was Moscow and St. Augustine).

So yes, I'm concerned about where this will go.

But I also like Atlas.   I don't have the same negative feelings that some have.  My experience has been different.   Like others, I have a lot of Atlas locos.... and have a lot more I still want.   I also have had a good deal of personal contact with Atlas dating all the way back to 1989 when I met Paul Graf at the NMRA Houston Convention (we were going to room together before the hurricane forced out early).  I've done some consulting work for Atlas and helped them with a few projects over the years.

I remember how I kept lovingly nagging Paul about Chessie vermillion.   He finally said... OK Ron... you come up with a formula/paint color.  I did, and they modified their color.

Steve Woodward from Atlas contacted me about a noise problem with the GP30/35.  I helped identify the problem.   I've helped with a few other locos.

I remember how fellow modelers on the Atlas board demonstrated the feasibility of an N scale 44 Tonner.   I heard years later that Atlas explored making one- though decoded not to.  Bachmann followed up and did it.  But Atlas was listening to us.

I remember how on this very board years ago, many of us convinced Cory to do a second run of the B30-7/B36-7 and provided him with paint schemes, road numbers and possibilities----- and Atlas made those locos as a result of the interactions with this board.  (the thread is still here).

So I have a lot of personal experience with Atlas and have been very supportive of their work.  My experience has been positive.  Yes, the waits have been long at times... (like that time waiting for another run of Shays).... but I love their products (and yes, there are a few I would love for them to improve…… GP40-2).

So I wish them well in the challenges they face into the future.

[BruceStikkers]

Lowell Smith sent out this about the Micro-Trains sale which is encouraging. It also had a logo stating it will be called Micro-Trains by atlas.

From the Smith email:

Micro-Trains Transition

Atlas Model Railroad Acquires Micro-Trains Line

This week brought the news that Atlas is now the new owner of Micro-Trains. More of that news is available on the internet. For now, we are excited for what this brings for all involved, including us!  We have spoken with Atlas and we are very optimistic and hopeful for our Special Run projects. We will keep you updated here on eNews.   Be sure to read more related specifics in the story below about the OCS!  Also, tune in Saturday morning for Train Talk as this will be a hot topic as well. See that link below, and if you have never joined us, you will be glad you did.

Bruce Stikkers
St. Joseph, IL

[bbussey]

Something to point out bc im kinda tired of hearing it, is that while Atlas has ( and continues) to fumble the BLMA detail parts, they have run all of the freight cars that they had acquired from BLMA.  If you're going to recoup your investment, are you going to run $8 packs of horns and etchings, or are you going to run $40 freight cars ?

THIS. I was going to mention this. The rolling stock has been released multiple times. The three truck variations are readily available. I don’t consider the BLMA acquisition a fumble because the important product lines have continued to be released and available. I suspect there would have been greater umbrage if the trucks were unavailable.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have let this sink in for a day, and here are some thoughts:

1. There is no way low run, monthly releases can continue if sourcing from offshore. It just can't happen.

2. I feel Atlas is getting stuck with far too much tooling to reasonably use as a company its size.

3. Atlas, Athearn, IM and others have suffered a malaise in recent years: orders are pushed back, reduced or canceled altogether. Blame supply chain issues, or soft demand. It does not matter. MTL was bright spot that predicably produced new models every month.

4. Something is really off. MTL just announced the GONX gondolas. If they were struggling, you wouldn't see new tooling - certainly not tooling announced, but not introduced, before the sale.

5. This is the logical conclusion to "boomer logic". That is to say, things were better before and we can make this country better by returning to manufacturing. That era has past. You can't make America great again if the rest of the world is different. You just die out. Blame globalization. Blame the death of unions. Blame the few who have everything only to leave the world crumbs. Blame anything you like. It won't change reality.

6. Similar note - MTL as a collectable is dead. The collectability ties to their US-based construction. Vietnam or Thailand may produce the cars in the same quality, but the connection is gone. Does Atlas really think they will keep their MTL collectors who are MAGA? Because they won't if they offshore. Everything is now political and has to be looked at from that vantage point.

7. This sale is pretty much exactly why people don't train for skilled labor. Imagine training for 6 months just to make part of a toy. You train and learn the intricacies of the machinery though the years. Only to have the owner tell you it's all over and to go home totally out of the blue. No pensions. No guardrails. No accountability. You wonder why younger generations have no loyalty? Why go though all that if flipping a burger pays only $2 less an hour and your job is more secure.

8. The model railroad industry is collapsing. Fewer manufacturers hold ever larger parts of a shrinking pie. Models have been gaining 10-20% prices yearly. That may keep the revenue level for a while, but most modelers are absolutely strained beyond their means.

Yeah, I think I'm about done with this hobby. 

[bbussey]

Atlas acquired the N & HO assets of True Line Trains in 2020, makers of the N scale NSC paperbox (the smooth sided ones, not the exterior post car that Atlas did). No release of those cars since. Admittedly they would benefit from a few changes (bodymounted couplers for one), and I remain hopeful they will see the light of day once more.

Could have sworn the HO slab side hoppers have been released since the acquisition. Those N scale NSC paperbox models are a disaster and would require a body retool. Atlas would get eviscerated if they reissued that model as is.

[Doug G.]

It's amusing watching the panic.

Doug