Atlas O California Zephyr Passenger Car Sets Available for Order

Railrunnin posted:

Hi Peter, I agree those cars sure look nice. The answer to your question about overhang on your inner loop depends on your distance from center rail to center rail. The only way to know for sure is take a 21" car on the outer loop and your largest car on the inner loop and hand run them around the curves checking for clearance. You may be OK, you may need to move one of your loops a bit to provide extra room.

If you don't have a 21" car you can always make a mock up by adding length to your longest car that you currently own, or borrowing a 21" car for testing.

I can't pull the trigger on these beautiful cars and somehow know I will kick myself down the road, but I made the decision to stick with 18" cars. Hope this helps.

Paul

Thanks for the tip! I'll check into that.

I know there's a video posted, but I wish there was just a photo or two of the cars somewhere to study before making a decision. It's a lot of money!

Peter

Interesting pic of the Zephyr in 1952 diverting over the SP lead by a cab forward. 

In such instances it was lead by other SP steam and diesels including FP7s as shown on page 300 of "Portrait of A Silver Lady".  That pic is cool having an SP black widow FP7 leading a WP FP7.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr Kimble for responding and thanking me for doing business with his company.  Have to say, this is the first time l have had this happen. This is true customer service!  I've dealt with the parts dept and received the same great service .  Great products and service, as they say It don't get much better!!!!Atlas is number one.  Thanks to all at Atlas!!!

Mike,

I'm a little late in responding with a big "Thank You" to you again. This week has really been busy for all of us at Atlas especially with the order deadline for the California Zephyr occurring on Wednesday, which I'm happy to say the orders for both the Dealer/Distributor sets as well as the Golden Spike Club set have exceeded by a wide margin what we needed to make the production run. The same occurred for the F3 locomotives which will ship after the CZ car sets.

Everyone I didn't answer the Southern Pacific post on being the 7th railroad being involved with the California Zephyr. I do have the book Portrait of a Silver Lady and I knew about the pictures that were pointed out on page 300 of a 4-6-0 SP helper on the front of the CZ along with a SP F-unit Black Widow on the point of the CZ as well. I didn't consider this another railroad involved with the CZ because they were detours and I still haven't found where SP was a friendly participant like the 6 railroad previously mentioned. This is partially explained in the next paragraph. If anyone wants the full document of where I got this send me an e-mail with your address and I'll send it to you free of charge.

Although railroads have a long history of competition, they decided long ago that it made sense to cooperate in times of crisis. To provide a contractual framework for such cooperation, the American Railway Association in 1905 adopted a "Standard Form for Detour Agreement" which railroads could sign to govern emergency operations over each others' lines. Though modified over the years, this modest document, printed on both sides of a single sheet of legal-size paper, continues to control most detour movements today.

This is not meant to insult SP fans as I'm one as well and I had never seen the photograph above with a SP Cab Forward on the point of the CZ, but I wanted to clarify why in my original answer SP wasn't included. Again thanks everyone for your participation in this successful endeavor.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Jerry,

Being the 4th quarter and 'close to being due': any word on when the cars will be sent?

thanks,

Sam

Sam,  The Atlas CZ cars shipped (from China) on September 29th.  Here is the shipping schedule from the Atlas website.

As far as the the diesels... that is another story.  

thanks, Jim,

I hadn't thought of checking their web site!  Figuring via ship (4 weeks), through customs (week), shipping to Atlas and then shipping to us (1-2 weeks), I'm guessing they will probably arrive around Thanksgiving.

As for the engines, with the total cost, I'll be happy on a delay on when they arrive.

Sam

Guys & Gals,

FYI

If you click on the Model Item of my previous post it is a hot link to the item on the Atlas website.

Geese, and to think I got mine two at a time, the hard way. I had to wait for EVER for one of the best looking car sets made. Atlas, Thank You.

Dick

Dick,

You're welcome and this goes to anyone else who has purchased either the Atlas Golden Spike Club 12 car set 2 or 3 rail or one of the Dealer sets which could be ordered either as a 4, 8 or 12 car set.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Jerry,

We ordered the entire commemorative set from Atlas. To-date, we have only owned Atlas freight cars (and, of course, our entire layout is Atlas O) and have never even seen an Atlas passenger car in-person.  So, our anticipation mounts!  

Peter

Peter,

Thank you as well for your patronage of Atlas products mentioned in your post.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Jerry,

I too will be a first time atlas passenger car customer. I ordered the GSC set and I can't wait!!! I also own a lot of atlas freight cars and they are the best! 

I saw that the container shipped, when do you anticipate its arrival? 

Also, I cannot wait to find out what passenger train Atlas will be producing next... my vote is in for the Super Chief! I think it would be a home run as the Santa Fe cars could be used to make a wide variety of Santa Fe passenger trains and would provide execelent bang for the buck as far as tooling goes. 

Big John,

Thank you on ordering the Golden Spike Club (GSC) 12 car California Zephyr set which are expected to arrive October 31.

We don't discuss future product until the tooling is done and the product is in production, but thank you for your suggestion nonetheless.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Jerry Kimble posted:

Big John,

Thank you on ordering the Golden Spike Club (GSC) 12 car California Zephyr set which are expected to arrive October 31.

We don't discuss future product until the tooling is done and the product is in production, but thank you for your suggestion nonetheless.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

GSC 12 car CZ set - That's the name of what we ordered - thanks Big John! 

Question for Atlas - my understanding is that the passenger cars will not come with tiny little passengers. Do y'all make little Atlas people with which to populate the cars?  From the looks of it, I'll need a bevy of folks - people who like to sit, a couple of drunkards wandering around, folks in pajamas, porters and a few with a cigar or pipe just enjoying the ride from the observation car. 

Peter

A little off topic but does anybody know if the container mounting pins are currently available from Atlas, I have sent a couple of Emails but have had no response [ I guess the span filter is set on high].

Jerry Kimble posted:

...

Thank you on ordering the Golden Spike Club (GSC) 12 car California Zephyr set which are expected to arrive October 31.

...

Jerry, that's great news about the CZ sets arriving October 31 (which is next week). 

Question though... the Atlas-O shipping schedule shows a container ship date of 9/29/2016 for the GSC CZ sets and the Commemorative Edition CZ sets.  October 31 is just 4 weeks from 9/29.  And looking thru the schedule, it seems 7-8 weeks is more the norm from the time product leaves China to the time Atlas-O ships to their dealers.  Is Atlas-O doing something different to get the product here in just one month's time?  Just curious...

David

Peter,

You're correct we didn't populate the cars with people for a variety of reasons with cost being number #1 on the list. There are model railroaders that will populate the cars for you if you don't feel up to the task such as some of the fine craftsmen that belonging to the Colorado O Scale Modeler's. Click on their website link to find out more here: http://coloradooscale.org/grou...s-modeling-projects/

Also check out this OGR link on the 2-rail scale side of the house where you can view some photographs of people inside passenger cars here: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...a-zephyr-photo-album

David we didn't do anything different to shorten the shipment schedule other than to impress upon our supplier how important it was that we had the California Zephyr sets before Christmas and they responded by stepping on the gas, thanks.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Jerry Kimble posted:

 

David we didn't do anything different to shorten the shipment schedule other than to impress upon our supplier how important it was that we had the California Zephyr sets before Christmas and they responded by stepping on the gas, thanks.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Safe to say there are no red-light cameras bobbing around in the ocean.  Weather looks good, no storms, so it should be smooth sailing.  

Got a call from Atlas this morning confirming the payment & delivery of the GSC set. Was told that the shipment would be going out in the next day or two and be delivered UPS with signature required.

That's cool fellas 

California Zephyr Dreamin'

Thanks for the info.  I figured I'd save them time calling me and called them.  Talked to Steve, he took my MC and they will go out on Friday via UPS and I must sign for them.

cool.

Not sure if anyone mentioned this, but when Steve at Atlas called, he told me that the special metal plate thing that's part of the GSC 12 car set will be sent separately.  He said my set gets sent via UPS today/tomorrow and the metal plate should arrive in a week.  

My first Atlas passenger cars.  Cautiously excited.  Hoping they are as advertised and defect free.  

Peter

RootBeerRail posted:

Got a call from Atlas this morning confirming the payment & delivery of the GSC set. Was told that the shipment would be going out in the next day or two and be delivered UPS with signature required.

Good to know.  I suspect that I'll be getting an email from Mr Muffin in the not too distant future. 

Just got my UPS notice: 3 packages totaling 19 lbs due Friday.

SantaFeJim posted:

RootBeerRail posted:

Got a call from Atlas this morning confirming the payment & delivery of the GSC set. Was told that the shipment would be going out in the next day or two and be delivered UPS with signature required.

Good to know.  I suspect that I'll be getting an email from Mr Muffin in the not too distant future. 

Jim, any chance this beautiful train will be polishing the rails at the Hi Railers in Griffith IN??!!

BIGTRUCKPETE,

YES, 100% chance that the CZ will be polishing the Griffith rails.  

We already have one member running the CZ with CB&Q power.  Mine will have WP F's on the point.

WOW, I'm impressed!!! 

The Chinese factory must have added an extra propeller to help the shipping freighter get these sets here quickly.  According to Atlas-O's website, these jewels began their journey from China on 9/29... and on 11/16 or thereabouts Atlas-O will be shipping them to customers.  Not bad at all. 

David

SantaFeJim posted:

BIGTRUCKPETE,

YES, 100% chance that the CZ will be polishing the Griffith rails.  

We already have one member running the CZ with CB&Q power.  Mine will have WP F's on the point.

AWESOME!! Nothing like seeing this on a huge layout with a chance to stretch the legs out. 

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

WOW, I'm impressed!!! 

The Chinese factory must have added an extra propeller to help the shipping freighter get these sets here quickly.  According to Atlas-O's website, these jewels began their journey from China on 9/29... and on 11/16 or thereabouts Atlas-O will be shipping them to customers.  Not bad at all. 

David

Really?  Don't know where this notion arose that everything shipped from Asia supposedly takes forever. Shipping time is very dependent on the level of service paid for.  To wit, my former company shipped two fully assembled coal-fired boilers - - which are gigantic (7 story) and incredibly heavy (1,000s of tons) buildings -- from Malaysia to NYC  (made it under the Golden Gate and George Washington bridges with not too much room to spare) and that first-ever, very slow-going, nail-biting endeavor took less than 2 weeks.  This is just one example, where special considerations slowed shipping time enormously.  We, as do very many other businesses, ship to/receive from the Far East daily - and it takes days, not weeks or months.  Just trying to dispel a myth...

In any event, I'm just happy an "Atlas Christmas" is coming early this year!  My packages are set to arrive today. Now if only someone is home to sign for them I'll be as happy as a pig in sh...

Hey, my original guess was close, less than a week off! (posted 10/20/16)

"I hadn't thought of checking their web site!  Figuring via ship (4 weeks), through customs (week), shipping to Atlas and then shipping to us (1-2 weeks), I'm guessing they will probably arrive around Thanksgiving."

PJB posted:

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

WOW, I'm impressed!!! 

The Chinese factory must have added an extra propeller to help the shipping freighter get these sets here quickly.  According to Atlas-O's website, these jewels began their journey from China on 9/29... and on 11/16 or thereabouts Atlas-O will be shipping them to customers.  Not bad at all. 

David

Really?  Don't know where this notion arose that everything shipped from Asia supposedly takes forever. Shipping time is very dependent on the level of service paid for.  ...

In any event, I'm just happy an "Atlas Christmas" is coming early this year!  My packages are set to arrive today. Now if only someone is home to sign for them I'll be as happy as a pig in sh...

Nobody here said it ALWAYS takes forever... I was just comparing to "normal" Atlas-O shipping times being 8 weeks or so, as noted by past history in their shipping matrix.  Lionel and MTH seem to have similar shipping times also.

As for needing a signature upon delivery, why fret about it?  If there's any doubt, just have the shipment routed to a (hopefully) nearby UPS Store, FedEx printing office, or major depot (although the latter might not be as convenient).  Doesn't cost a dime for that service. Then pick it up on your way home from work, or the next day or two.  (They'll hold your package for a week.)

David

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

PJB posted:

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

WOW, I'm impressed!!! 

The Chinese factory must have added an extra propeller to help the shipping freighter get these sets here quickly.  According to Atlas-O's website, these jewels began their journey from China on 9/29... and on 11/16 or thereabouts Atlas-O will be shipping them to customers.  Not bad at all. 

David

Really?  Don't know where this notion arose that everything shipped from Asia supposedly takes forever. Shipping time is very dependent on the level of service paid for.  ...

In any event, I'm just happy an "Atlas Christmas" is coming early this year!  My packages are set to arrive today. Now if only someone is home to sign for them I'll be as happy as a pig in sh...

Nobody here said it ALWAYS takes forever... I was just comparing to "normal" Atlas-O shipping times being 8 weeks or so, as noted by past history in their shipping matrix.  Lionel and MTH seem to have similar shipping times also.

As for needing a signature upon delivery, why fret about it?  If there's any doubt, just have the shipment routed to a (hopefully) nearby UPS Store, FedEx printing office, or major depot (although the latter might not be as convenient).  Doesn't cost a dime for that service. Then pick it up on your way home from work, or the next day or two.  (They'll hold your package for a week.)

David

Hey David - my bad. I've just seen so many threads where some folks think "coming from China" or "the Orient" is akin to coming from Mars.  

Thanks for the UPS heads up. Didn't know they did that. I guess I call the main number and let them know to leave at local store?  

Peter

PJB posted:

... Thanks for the UPS heads up. Didn't know they did that. I guess I call the main number and let them know to leave at local store?  

Peter

Peter, you should be able to do that online, if you know the package tracking number.  For UPS, you might need to register/sign-in to their UPS My Choice system.  For FedEx, you can do it by just knowing the tracking ID.  With both companies, the online systems will show you your choice of locations to have packages held.  I have stuff held locally all the time, and it usually doesn't affect the delivery date at all.  Just try to make the request before the estimated delivery date.  Best of luck!

David

PJB posted:

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

PJB posted:

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

WOW, I'm impressed!!! 

The Chinese factory must have added an extra propeller to help the shipping freighter get these sets here quickly.  According to Atlas-O's website, these jewels began their journey from China on 9/29... and on 11/16 or thereabouts Atlas-O will be shipping them to customers.  Not bad at all. 

David

Really?  Don't know where this notion arose that everything shipped from Asia supposedly takes forever. Shipping time is very dependent on the level of service paid for.  ...

In any event, I'm just happy an "Atlas Christmas" is coming early this year!  My packages are set to arrive today. Now if only someone is home to sign for them I'll be as happy as a pig in sh...

Nobody here said it ALWAYS takes forever... I was just comparing to "normal" Atlas-O shipping times being 8 weeks or so, as noted by past history in their shipping matrix.  Lionel and MTH seem to have similar shipping times also.

As for needing a signature upon delivery, why fret about it?  If there's any doubt, just have the shipment routed to a (hopefully) nearby UPS Store, FedEx printing office, or major depot (although the latter might not be as convenient).  Doesn't cost a dime for that service. Then pick it up on your way home from work, or the next day or two.  (They'll hold your package for a week.)

David

Hey David - my bad. I've just seen so many threads where some folks think "coming from China" or "the Orient" is akin to coming from Mars.  

Thanks for the UPS heads up. Didn't know they did that. I guess I call the main number and let them know to leave at local store?  

Peter

Bear in mind Atlas posted dates both container and A-Z shipping schedules tend to be estimated and not always that current, some schedules are slow to up date. just saying!

If you have a UPS account you can waive the "Signature Required" and they'll leave the package(s) wherever you tell them. I do that all of the time.

Just got home.  UPS delivered around 1 p.m.  Not going to get a chance to get into this tonight (a bday party to go to), but even the weight of the boxes is impressive. 

Those kind of remind me of the boxes that my 89' flat cars and Gunderson Maxi IV's were packed in. Lots of weight and that's another reason why I love Atlas O products.

bigtruckpete posted:

SantaFeJim posted:

BIGTRUCKPETE,

YES, 100% chance that the CZ will be polishing the Griffith rails.  

We already have one member running the CZ with CB&Q power.  Mine will have WP F's on the point.

AWESOME!! Nothing like seeing this on a huge layout with a chance to stretch the legs out. 

BIGTRUCKPETE and All Others...

Know anybody that ordered the CZ in the DRG&W scheme?

Might be fun to have him/her visit our club's layout and we could run all three CZ'a at once.   

UPS just arrived

Sorry about some of the pictures being blurry.