Atlas acquires Microtrains

[brokemoto]

Here is a link to the topic on the Reddit nscalemodeltrains sub-Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/nscalemodeltrains/comments/1p1fo8q/atlas_model_railroad_company_acquires_assets_of/

Scroll down to a post by TheFlashJaxx.  It reads like something that an employee of MT might post.  According to this Redditor, they are packing up everything and shipping it off to China and everyone except for a skeletion crew has been laid off.

For now, I take it cum grano salis as Reddit is a haven for trolls, sock puppets and other similarly insidious creatures.

[MK]

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=60318.0

[u18b]

And here I was in this last week or so wondering how much it would cost to get MT to do a special run of a Plywood Plains Railway car.

[MK]

I wonder how well the business models are going to merge (monthly surprises vs. runs with long lead times).

That was my first thought when I read the news.  Seems like two opposites.  And then as mentioned above, look at the track record for BLMA and then Life Like.  Will it be three for three?

[crrcoal]

Wonder how this will affect NSE and the convention too.

[pdx1955]

I suspect that this will be the end of the monthly releases, that will transition into 2 yr waits for product. There is a lot of overlap between the two product lines, so some tooling will just disappear or you wont see it for a decade.Are MTL trucks and couplers going to continue or better maybe Accumates disappear off of Atlas releases. 

I could see this being a meat cleaver to the heart of the N Scale Conventions as MTL has been a major sponsor not to mention a big banquet prize supplier.  What happens to the special runs now ?

Not what I wanted to see at all,  but probably inevitable as consolidation continues in the industry.

[ednadolski]

Sooo... all future Atlas rolling stock now to feature slinky couplers?    Unless I suppose Atlas intends to acquire N-Possible too.... 


"Acquires assets of..."  sounds to me specifically like it does not include any staffing.

Ed

[MK]

"Acquires assets of..."  sounds to me specifically like it does not include any staffing.

Ed

Been through company acquisitions myself.  Staffing is disposable unfortunately.

[NSEGeorge]

It is not going to China, but the tooling is going overseas.

[pdx1955]

While MTL cars weren't the most detailed,  the prices were reasonable. Now that's going to be going away with likely high import duties and Atlas' higher overhead costs. This may also boost the prices of used MTL stock especially from the NSE/collector world if there is going to be no more true USA-based production.

[randgust]

I'm looking for possible positive spin.

Can't find it.

MT was the ray of hope of the last 'tariff resistant' US injection molding master equal to anything overseas.

[MK]

It is not going to China, but the tooling is going overseas.

I'm guessing Vietnam or Malaysia.

[JoeD]

once the dust settles I'll  know what is what.  Its been a good 24 year run for me...proud of the work we did and appreciative of the outpouring of support etc.  No idea how Atlas is going to play this, non of my business frankly.  Time to move on and start doing battle on the boards.. LOL   

Joe

[signalmaintainer]

I'm looking for possible positive spin.

Can't find it.

MT was the ray of hope of the last 'tariff resistant' US injection molding master equal to anything overseas.

This. 👆👆 It's all that really needs to be said about the impending clusterf#%k.

 

[Dave V]

Yep, a terrible day for N scale. I like Atlas enough, but if the BLMA buyout is a template for what'll happen here, well...as others have already pointed out. No es bueno.

I'm glad N scale is only my side-hustle these days. I have the majority of what I need for my current Pennsy project and for now, the secondary MTL market is pretty glutted.

But take a lesson from me as an HOn3 guy who watched the flagship of my gauge/scale combination--Blackstone--go out of production. Some Blackstone engines--used!--are commanding as much as $1000 on eBay and you can hardly find cars for under $90 each now. It's ugly.