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

[Rockysgn]

Talked with a Atlas employee. He stated that MTL will not be made in the USA and they have no time frame as to when they will be releasing anything.

[peteski]

Talked with a Atlas employee. He stated that MTL will not be made in the USA . . .

Well that fact was presented by Atlas early after the acquisition. As I understand the products will be made in Vietnam.

[Point353]

As I understand the products will be made in Vietnam.

Will the company slogan be revised from "The Cadillac of N Scale Models" to, perhaps, "The VinFast of N Scale Models"?

[bbunge]

I hope my hoard holds out until their trucks and couplers are back on the shelves. 

I finished this batch of homemade hoppers and used the last of my hoard.  Traditionally I've built these for about $7 per car.  I think this batch gets me over 50. 

I hope Ed and company are right, but I'll cringe the day we get an email announcing:

1) They can't produce them.  Pick one: supply chain to complex, materials aren't available, machines are wore out, product line is too complex;
2) It will be another year at least.  (this one I can imagine pretty easily);
3) A ten pack of trucks with couplers is priced at $120;
4) No email at all.  One day there will be a posting here on RR linking to a product page.

I suspect number four is the most likely.

[Point353]

I hope Ed and company are right, but I'll cringe the day we get an email announcing:

1) They can't produce them.  Pick one: supply chain to complex, materials aren't available, machines are wore out, product line is too complex;
2) It will be another year at least.  (this one I can imagine pretty easily);
3) A ten pack of trucks with couplers is priced at $120;
4) No email at all.  One day there will be a posting here on RR linking to a product page.

I suspect number four is the most likely.

1a) Tooling lost in transit to Vietnam.

[delamaize]

1a) Tooling lost in transit to Vietnam.

Why do I have the feeling this is going to be the outcome, and they are going to swoop in with their crapumate couplers, and try to pawn them off as being a good replacement,.....

[lock4244]

Atlas now owns the MT coupler, but only licenses the Accumate (iirc). More incentive to drop the latter for the former over time.

[Mark5]

I'm sure I'll be stoned for this, but I kinda like Accumates. 

[SAH]

I'm sure I'll be stoned for this, but I kinda like Accumates. 

Me too.  100% converted to Accumates.

[Rossford Yard]

Why do I have the feeling this is going to be the outcome, and they are going to swoop in with their crapumate couplers, and try to pawn them off as being a good replacement,.....

I disagree.  A business needs to be good to survive, as there is always competition.  In the case of couplers, the next generation of N scale couplers is already here (N-possible)  If they drop MT couplers for anything, it will probably be to come up with a closer to scale version that gets rid of their slinky effect at the same time.

As to competition, who among us would have believed 20 years ago that there would be a new locomotive mfg that could unseat Kato and Atlas as the primo mfgs for locos?

[peteski]

As to competition, who among us would have believed 20 years ago that there would be a new locomotive mfg that could unseat Kato and Atlas as the primo mfgs for locos?

Who is that?  Scale Trains?  Sure, but at a different price point. Still, none of the Chinese-made models come close to Kato quality (but most modelers don't notice or care).
We also have Rapido Trains and BLI.

[Dupesy]

Me too.  100% converted to Accumates.

Same here, for the most part.  I even put Accumate couplers in the coupler boxes on MTL trucks to get rid of the slinky effect on cars I can't/not interested in body-mounting.

[robertjohndavis]

Who is that?  Scale Trains?  Sure, but at a different price point. Still, none of the Chinese-made models come close to Kato quality (but most modelers don't notice or care).
We also have Rapido Trains and BLI.

Kato drive? Sure.

Kato appearance? Can’t hold a candle to ST.

The new SD70ACU shows no advancement in finish or detail. And it ain’t cheap.

[milw156]

Me too.  100% converted to Accumates.

I have a bunch I've cut off trucks, I'd be very happy to forward them to you if you so desire

[crrcoal]

If Steve doesn't want them, I'd be interested.

I have a bunch I've cut off trucks, I'd be very happy to forward them to you if you so desire