Still waiting after more than 4 years for a Atlas RS-3

Richard:  Glad you're expressing such understanding about the delivery time.  From what I can tell, all manufacturers are experiencing similar problems.  Not only that there are extended delivery times, but costs are escalating, too.  And, I understand that most of the old line manufacturers in the orient have been increasing their minimum run requirements.  This makes it extremely difficult for these guys to come out with new items.  Some of the production runs are three times what they had been just a few years ago.

 

I understand that several of our regular manufacturers (actually they are importers) have been working on some new sources in countries that were not on their lists just a few years ago.  From what they are saying, these may be new sources for our trains.

 

Paul Fischer

I hear ya  I had the Erie and NJDOT RS-3's on order with Bob Thatcher before he went out of business.

I was waiting on them as well for a while. Then I saw one in person. It didn't look right and I wasn't sure why. Turns out that the long hood is extra tall to accommodate the "china drive" vertical motors. The long wait has given me too much time to think about it... I don't know if I want them now.

Turns out that the long hood is extra tall to accommodate the "china drive" vertical motors. The long wait has given me too much time to think about it... 

 

Johnnyspeed is correct. These Atlas O trainman Rs3's are a bit tall on the hoods. If you are looking for a scale RS3, I would suggest you purchase either a K-line RS3, a weaver RS3 with vertical motors and die cast pilots, or the WBB RS3 and repaint to L&HR. you will probably get it quicker than waiting for the Atlas O RS3.

 

 

It's unsettled times in Asian train manufacturing. Not the first time things have been delayed, but it's more widespread now, apparently, and Atlas seems to have been fairly hard hit. The worst I remember was a number of years ago when a certain MTH caboose took 4 years to show up. Not infrequently when someone was notified their item was in, it had been so long they couldn't remember having ordering it. 

Long Island Railroad C-420's since 1962....I missed out on them a few years back some how.

I ordered a U23B from Atlas back in 2010.  Same story, delayed, reissued, delayed some more.  I am patiently waiting as Atlas is the only show in town with the 4 axle U-boat.  From what I've seen with the earlier produstion runs, it looks like a well built product.  

 

Tom

 

When living in Hawaii a few years ago, I ordered and received from a mainland hobby shop, a UP Atlas engine and was so disappointed with it, I sent it back and got a refund.  I also never pre-order anything, but only purchase what is in stock or readily available. 

 

If Richard E has been waiting 4 years for an engine, he certainly has more patience and understanding than I would have.

This is one of several things going on in this hobby that has me concerned. Have we seen the peak for variety in the 3-rail world? I don't know. I posted more in the Weaver Troop thread but it's summed up by being concerned we are going to lose more people in the hobby than we gain so prices will go up and manufactures are going to have a hard time continuing to offer new toolings and niche paint schemes to a smaller audience. 

Well, that's probably the record wait.

 

 

Assuming you want Proto, of course. If he's been waiting for the Atlas, he probably doesn't.

 

You said it, bazonkers! I too, think variety in the 3-rail world has peaked and is now on the down side. With the majority (over 50%) of 3-railers being baby-bombers and older, I think the steady decline has already begun as we continue to age and disappear. So goes the corresponding variety in 3-rail, proportionate its fading market.

 

Needn't look further than MTH to see a pattern: MTH is looking to expand its HO line, entered (and will try to grow?) S scale, entered the European train market, etc.  It's about SURVIVAL.  For a mfg'er: All your eggs in the 3 rail basket may lead to lean times eventually.

 

 

I was told that the delay is Sound and Command Control circuit boards.

 

Andrew

Richard E, I'm right with you.  I've been waiting for the blue Jersey Central one since they were originally announced way back when!

Production delays are rampant across the board.  Lionel seems to have major issues getting aluminum passenger cars out the door these days with any kind of predictability.

 

And of all things... I'm currently super-puzzled with Lionel's inability to deliver on a simple 60' boxcar:  6-27092 blue CSX with the intermodal logo.  I have 6 on pre-order to use as part of a unit train with MTH's recent CSX Gunderson set (with similar logo on the containers).  

 

Lionel first catalog'd the boxcar in 2012 Volume 1 (which was late 2011), so we're approaching THREE years for a simple boxcar that's already been delayed several times... and the current shipping schedule shows July 2014 which has come and gone, so yet another delay looming... And again, it's just a simple boxcar.  No new tooling as far as I'm aware... zip, zilch, nada.  Go figure.  

 

David

I find it very hard to believe that Atlas of all the mfrs would make an incorrect size hood to fit motors.   They are the only ones that are devoted to prototype drawings.   Marc alluded that the Atlas hoods are high and then displayed a K-Line PRR hammerhead RS3 which is a little misleading  That hood is high to match the prototype.  Since nobody has a production Atlas RS3 I would wait before I judge them.

The windows over the hoods are noticeably lower in height that the prototype photos show. When the first run of these units were delivered the late Jim Weaver admitted the builder had changed he height of the hoods [apparanently the preproduction sample shown to Atlas was made without a drive test fitted] at this point the only option for Atlas was to accept delivery or see the builder repackage the run for another importer,a comparison with the Weaver units will show the difference.

Four years is a long time, I agree.  But everything seems to take forever now.  The MTh Premier ATSF 3460s that were released a month or so back were in their 2011 catalog - three years.  

 

I truly is taking forever now. 

Maybe some of the train manufacturers  will say " let's try to bring some of the dies back to the US and try to make them here" Good luck with that!

That Lionel CSX Heritage 60' Boxcar is listed like this.

 

Product Number	Product Name	Ship Date	Catalog
6-27092	CSX Heritage 60' Boxcar	Jul, 14	'12 V1

 

It is supposed to be available soon.

 

Andrew

With dwindling sales at the hobby shop I work at I had to cancel all backorders/preorders with little regard for what they were. Orders were showing up that I had placed 1 1/2 years ago with stuff I preorders 6 months ago. We decided to manage our inventory based on immediate need. We may miss out on some good stuff but what good is having it if nobody is buying it

Andrew, care to elaborate? 

 

I'd actually feel better if the boxcar wasn't listed on the schedule anymore.  THEN I'd think it's actually coming soon, since that's Lionel's modus operandi for items that have shipped.

 

But as it stands, listing July 2014 when the month has come and gone just leaves us wondering.    After all, the 990 Legacy kits also have an ETA of July 2014, and we all know the sordid history behind those jewels!!!  

 

If you know more details on the boxcar, please let us in on the scoop.  Thx...

 

David

Richard......you are very patient........I would have lost track of the pre-order by now! I hope it comes soon for you!

 

Peter

This will sound silly, perhaps, but in a way I like the waiting and the unknown period you will have to wait until they arrive.  It makes it kind of like waiting for Santa Claus when I was a kid.  I'm resigned to it being this way and just patiently wait, the anticipation being something I enjoy a bit.

 

Right now I am wondering if MTH has really shipped the Premier S-1s.  they are still showing "June 2014" on their site, but some folks have told me they shipped.  Regardless, I can't wait . . . but I have too!

At the end of the day, waiting is all any of us can do. It's become a standard part of the toy train world overseas manufacuring dynamics these days. 

 

Normally, I just go with the flow on it... but every now and then, it's tough to ignore the glaring anomolies.  And right now, the two that stand out in my mind are the silly-super-simple Lionel CSX 60' boxcar w/intermodal logo, and the overly extended (6 years and counting) timeframe it's taking Atlas-O to deliver a complete CZ passenger train.

 

But wait...  then there's the ongoing saga of Lionel's 990 Legacy sets... And aluminum passenger cars that never ship. I suppose we can all name a few more and go on and on.  It's just a crazy time right now despite the broad variety of product that's been catalog'd.  

 

David

I too am disappointed on the delay, but I am sure not as much as Atlas is. Like Brother Ben, we ordered ours from Bob, and since have reordered them ourselves. Looking forward to them.

Lee - our PRR S1s arrived today and we are boxing them up to send to customers. Call and I'd be happy to set one aside for you.

Yes, as sad as it is, because we wouldn't like the prices and therefore wouldn't buy enough of the product to justify production.

I'm surprised that the manufacturers need to raise the hood just to accommodate the motors. Don't motors come in different sizes? Of course, if the builder in China is making decisions behind the importer/brand owner's back, the builder could just be saving himself the time and trouble of procuring a shorter motor. 

Sounds like a real problem, given that Lionel is going to "build to order" on many items.

My new way for buying new items:

Make a list of all the new offerings I would like to purchase.

Instead of waiting for orders ti be filled months or years later,

I just look for those items at York! Bam! no unexpected deliveries, balances due etc.

Plus I get the thrill of a York purchase and cross it off my list

yes