I’m so happy for Atlas. They’ve been in the model train business for a LONG time...a good, solid company. Unfortunately, they ran into a series of well-documented overseas manufacturing problems after getting involved in the “O” gauge/scale business that at times has brought production—especially locomotives—to a halt. IMO, they’ve built great products (strong, reliable performance) when they’ve actually been able to get them to market.
Being able to have the newly-acquired MTH tooling produced at MTH’s well-established production facility is a HUGE win for Atlas. They are almost instantly “back in the “O” game”...and have already indicated so by saying they’ll be announcing their first product next week. Think about it. These will be the same products that have been produced at the same facilities for many years, except now they will have an Atlas box instead of MTH. That’s pretty turn key if you ask me!
And I’m so happy for all of us with an interest in “O” because competition should now remain, and I view that as a very good thing. Having Lionel, AtlasO, Sunset/3rd Rail...and possibly some newly-formed or reconfigured company producing/selling the MTH RailKing and other remaining products...that sounds great to me.
Congratulations and best of luck to Atlas!
