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

[robertjohndavis]

Bringing us back to the topic at hand, N Scale Supply is teasing new Atlas/MTL news. I have high expectations but will be glad to see any positive motion. I guess we just have to stay tuned.

[robert3985]

...I also don't understand this hate for the trip pins.  To me they do somewhat resemble the air hoses on 1:1 trains.  While the appearance of the coupler itself and the trip pin is not to scale, but still, there is some resemblance.  We also seem to forget how much better they looked (and operated) than the rapido couplers.

I don't "hate" them, but, they cause problems and are just another thing ya gotta check when wanting reliably running trains on possibly substandard track like at NTRAK setups, especially when other clubs are invited to participate.

Also, with loooong trains, MTL couplers have a tendency to tip up or down when under a really heavy load.  This makes the drooping coupler's magnetic dongle too low, and it does catch on turnout frogs, grade crossing, etc.

Although the dongles fill the gap between cars on the underside of couplers, they're connected to the couplers (not the car bodies like prototype air hoses) and, if left alone, are shiny, or copper colored and are not round.  Although the "perfect" N-scale air hose hasn't been manufactured yet...y'know, one that has tiny magnets in the ends that couple together automatically when cars are coupled up, but are weak enough to easily break free when uncoupling (I think that wold be a detriment however when attempting to spot a car)...sooo, I'm pretty happy with MTL's True-Scale air hoses (not completely), and with N-Possible air hoses, although my faves are Precision Scale's and old BLMA ones.

Incidentlly, the non-dongle air hoses don't cause problems because they don't droop or work their way out of adjustment...and, they look a helluva lot better.  I prefer the brass ones, since the injection molded ones break fairly easily...but, they're a lot cheaper than brass and look just as good until they snap off.

Speaking of layout railhead to floor heights.  When designing my modular standards around the turn of the Century, my son and I built a 6' test module which would allow us to move it up and down.  We took about a week, moving it up and down, comparing heights and 51", for whatever reason, was markedly better for both of us (my son at 5' 10" and me at 6' 0") for viewing and for operation, although when setting up at shows, the adjustable glides on the bottom of the legs allows plus/minus 2" to compensate for possible floor unevenness.  Right now, I'm setting it up in my great room at 51.5" because of the floor's unevenness, and that's still good.  However, when working on it, I often have to use my 10" tall stepping stool.  So, it's nice to look at and operate at that height, but a bit tall to easily work on. However, the extra effort to use a stepping stool is well worth it.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[nkalanaga]

For layout heights, your experience seems to match mine.  Your heights are 70 and 72 inches, and best layout height is 51 inches, about 20 inches less.

My track is at 48 inches.  I'm 64 inches tall.  It looks nice, but if I did it again, I would build lower.  It's easier to bend to watch the train than to stretch for layout work.  About 44 inches seems more like what I would have wanted - again, 20 inches less than my height.

[Maletrain]

When designing layout height, don't forget about visitors - - if you plan to have any.

[robert3985]

When designing layout height, don't forget about visitors - - if you plan to have any.

Having survived the low layout height standard of NTRAK for years, because the standards are for easy viewing by children...I purposely completely ignored this option when determining my own layout's railhead-to-floor distance.

Since it's ME who is spending all of the time and money to build my layout (not a single visitor has given me a single dime), it's up to them to adapt to my standards, not ME to adapt to their possible shortness.

But, when taking my layout to shows in the past, my show partner and I have made several elevated viewing platforms for kids and short visitors to view our layout from.  Really short kids get a ride on their fathers' shoulders when viewing, which also keeps their little fingers from trying to grab trains from the layout.

Photo (1) - My son Ben with a visitor when set up at the Evanston Roundhouse Festival a few years ago:


My layout resides in my home the rest of the time.  I work on it.  I build it.  I run it.  I build it for my pleasure, not for the random visitor and their kids, and the viewing platforms stay in storage.

Just sayin'...

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[robertjohndavis]

Having survived the low layout height standard of NTRAK for years, because the standards are for easy viewing by children...I purposely completely ignored this option when determining my own layout's railhead-to-floor distance.

I did a double take reading this. My display layout height is lower than I wanted but it is still pretty high, and kids get the shoulder ride. Part of the height reason is my son Ben. He’s 6’5”+ and I am 6’2”. Our layout. Our back pain if it’s too low!

Rob

[nkalanaga]

The keywords there are "if you plan to have visitors".  I usually don't, and when I do, they're usually taller than me.

[crrcoal]

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

Sent you a PM

[robertjohndavis]

And here’s the first release!

https://download.atlasrr.com/MN0626/MSRP-MTA-MNEWS-2606.pdf

I have made a significant pre-order - partly because there are some good looking cars - and partly to signal my support for Atlas’ first release.

I was very concerned about what would happen, but that’s because I wanted things to work out. This is a good sign.

Rob

[Maletrain]

Looks like the first products are weathered cars coming from the ex-MTL folks in Oregon.

The thing that I most liked to see is the trucks and couplers section at the end, including the gauges and jigs.  No commitment on date, but a very good sign of things to not be left in the dirt.

[robert3985]

Looks like the Oregon facility is meant to stay there...which is good news.

However, not a single transition era car...so, I won't be buying anything.  Time to get some more FineN-scale resin kits before they go out of production methinks.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Ngineer]

And here’s the first release!

Yes, some nice models. I'll try to get at least that Great Northern model. 

But while I certainly appreciate being able to buy nicely weathered models, I would REALLY like to see more models that fit into 1960 to 1970. Meaning not too much dirt, just a few chalk marks, no KarTrak (ACI) label and certainly no wheel inspection dots.

These models are somewhat overlooked by the manufacturers.

Javier

(I had to edit two errors in "much" and "wheel".)

[bbunge]

This truck sort of matches what I've been getting 10 packs of from MTL.  It would be nice if Atlas also offered packs.  Perhaps I should try one or two of these. 

[nkalanaga]

Ngineer:  "No ACI labels":  I model 1974, when everything had them, but I agree with you.  Unless a model is intended to represent a particular date, after being in service a while, I believe it should be painted and lettered as it came from the shop.  If it was painted before ACI labels, no labels on the model.

I had a very hard time removing "lube plates" from MT's GN ACF Center-Flo cars.  They didn't come from the paint shop with them, and they didn't have them in 1974.  The same models DIDN'T have the ACI labels, which they should have, so must have been based on a photo from after those came off.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Admittedly I’m also a little surprised at the love for Accumates. I appreciate the lack of the justifiably-maligned “slinky effect,” but Accumates almost always leave a trip pin somewhere to derail the next train or explode when looked at incorrectly, at least in my experience. If they had more integrity I’d probably be onboard.

I wonder if it's because other people, like me, just remove the trip pins.

I similarly like Accumates. No slinky and they're easy to repair in the field.

Also, installing Accumates in a locomotive is far easier than assembling a 1015. The pre-assembled ones make that easier, but if you have to open that pocket, lord help you.