Micro-Trains/Atlas Update - 1/20/26

[nkalanaga]

To historians that may be true.  To many people, the "diesel era" didn't really start until they were more common than steam.  Until then, they were just something different.

And, no, I'm not trying to change the historians' definitions, just pointing out that there are different ways of looking at things.  To many people today, anything from half a century ago is "early", because it's older than they are, and they've never experienced it.  Technology, railroad and otherwise, has changed dramatically since then.

To me, IN 1974, "early diesel" would basically have meant pre-WW II.  F-units and Alcos were common sights in Pasco through the 1970s, as BN couldn't buy new diesels fast enough to keep up with growing traffic.  The Northwest got most of the old and odd stuff, so Pasco engine terminal often looked more like the late 1950s.

[Point353]

As I am sure you know, there is an accepted generational progression rail historians go by. That is what I was reacting to, and something that should be baseline understanding for a manufacturer.

The First Generation of the diesel era lasted from the 1920’s until 1963.  “Early” usually refers to the beginning of that period. The Second Generation of diesels began with the Alco Centuries in 1963 (though some wags argue it began even earlier). That generation took a leap forward in 1972 with the “-2” tech, but the Third Generation was still a ways down the road.

"Early locomotives that directly replaced steam locomotives are referred to as first-generation diesels. This covers the first diesels of the 1920s up to those built through the late 1950s, including all locomotives built by minority builders (Baldwin, Lima, and Fairbanks-Morse)."

"The second generation is marked by increased horsepower and the complete changeover to the road switcher. The usual dividing line for the start of the second generation is marked by GE’s pioneering 2,500-hp U25B of 1959; EMD’s first turbocharged road diesels, the 2,400-hp SD24 (1958) and 2,000-hp GP20 (1960); and Alco’s redesigned Century line, introduced in 1963."

https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/prototype-railroads/diesel-locomotives-by-generation/

[peteski]

To  me the Diesel era begun when the EMD FT locos were introduced. 

[learmoia]

Dear Atlas..

Please review:
https://www.bluford-shops.com/bluford_93_024.htm

To  me the Diesel era begun when the GMD FT locos were introduced. 

Yeah that makes sense..

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  That's part of where the disagreement on meanings comes in.  The historians "generations" may cover particular model features, but "era" covers times, and can have different meanings to different observers.  And I would tend to agree with you.  Diesel locomotives had been around for quite a while, but they were never a major part of railroading.  Once the FT had proven itself, steam was effectively obsolete.

If someone built an exact duplicate of a GP7 today, it would still be a "first generation" diesel, but a "modern era" locomotive.  With various groups building replica steam locomotives, that isn't as odd as it might sound.

[Pizzaparty]

Unrelated but gotta post it anyways I’m sure a few us old farts remember Kalmbach videos being ran on PBS in the mornings

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Luckily a few of these videos have been converted and posted on YouTube

[johnb]

Zombie thread time...some peope use Tomix chassis to power small items like street cars and inrterurbans, the tread and flange require old code 80 standards to operate and will derail on an Atlas Code 55 switch.

[peteski]

How is this even remotely related to the topic of this thread (status of Atlas takeover of MTL)? 

[basementcalling]

How is this even remotely related to the topic of this thread (status of Atlas takeover of MTL)? 

We are going full circle on this one, so in order to get back on topic, we have to travel as far off topic as possible.  As the member who noticed that all RW threads drift on or shortly after the 7th post, you should remember this. 

[peteski]

We are going full circle on this one, so in order to get back on topic, we have to travel as far off topic as possible.  As the member who noticed that all RW threads drift on or shortly after the 7th post, you should remember this. 

And we are up to post #129. 

[pdx1955]

To  me the Diesel era begun when the EMD FT locos were introduced. 

Well, Micro-trains did make FT's ,so maybe this is still tangentially still on track... 

[johnb]

Well, Micro-trains did make FT's ,so maybe this is still tangentially still on track... 

and they made a nice SW1500 that people complained about being 6 inches too wide...

ask women if they complain about six inches

[basementcalling]

and they made a nice SW1500 that people complained about being 6 inches too wide...

ask women if they complain about six inches

No, they just phrase that as "Does this dress make me look fat."

[Maletrain]

Now this thread had completely derailed. 

Does TRW have an autothreadreverser?   

[peteski]

I think there are some rerailers available.