Or Erie Builts, about the most neglected cab diesel ever!!! Maybe they’ll make them again under the MTH brand. Here’s hoping....
@Ralph4014 posted:Yeah I got the same question. What about the steam engine molds?
It appears Atlas is leaving steam to someone else. They have only produced one steamer and that was a small 0-6-0 switcher. Looks like they are staying with what they know.
Dick
@David Ogletree posted:Or Erie Builts, about the most neglected cab diesel ever!!! Maybe they’ll make them again under the MTH brand. Here’s hoping....
I was into N scale when Atlas made the Erie Builds ...
I found a Pennsy dummy for my FM collection ....
rather find a Milwaukee Rd or CNW , in the future ...
For the sake of OGR I hope the Atlas advertising increases to compensate for the magazine's loss of MTH advertising.
Publishing a special interest magazine is a tough business to be in.
I didn't want to derail this thread, but my tangentially-related thread question was deleted and I was instructed to come here, so here goes:
With Atlas not buying the Rail King molds as part of its purchase, one can assume Atlas only wanted the scale models (and only diesel for that matter). Does anyone want to speculate on what will happen to the Rail King molds for engines and rolling stock?
Other than a little cherry picking, I can't see them being acquired and used. Lionel has near or exact equivalents in its traditional line, often multiple.....my entry into Rail King was more out of interest for DCS and less on appearance or wheel arrangement availability. Same for WBB. They've got plenty of semi-scale models and don't appear to be making those anyway recently, so why buy more? Sure, Rail King has more detail, but is that enough to convince WBB to retire its O27 Hudson molds for example and using Rail King bodies? And both Lionel and WBB have enough rolling stock molds to not need Rail King. Maybe some cherry picking here or there, but I can't see the entire Rail King set of molds as appealing to either of these competitors.
Whose left? 3rd Rail seems positioned in high-end, detailed scale engine making, so unless they want to diversify, Rail King doesn't seem like a fit for them.
Menards? If not, unless a newcomer wants to enter the middle of the 3 rail market, I fear Rail King is dead, sad to say. Anyone else have more hopeful opinions.
I will be very sad if Rail King is truly dead! But as I've posted elsewhere, I suspect it was not a profitable line, so I suspect it may be true. 
If you read through some early discussions, it stated some of the RailKing line has been bought by another group, with an announcement in about a month. Hang tight, there is hope for you guys and RailKing!
"For the sake of OGR I hope the Atlas advertising increases to compensate for the magazine's loss of MTH advertising."
Agree. But MTH hasn't been doing much advertising in print media, as you've probably noted. Whereas Atlas has often had a full page in both magazines. Personally, I prefer print media to electronic for reading, so I'm hoping the magazines survive as long as I do 
. I recently resubscribed to two of the three major SF mags, for this reason.
@Jeff78rr posted:If you read through some early discussions, it stated some of the RailKing line has been bought by another group, with an announcement in about a month. Hang tight, there is hope for you guys and RailKing!
Thanks! I missed that despite thinking I've read it all. Can you post a link or quote (or is there minimal detail beyond what you already stated?).
This is becoming almost as fun as speculating NFL free agent signings and draft choices.
@Landsteiner posted:... Personally, I prefer print media to electronic for reading, so I'm hoping the magazines survive as long as I do
I enjoy my magazines in print form, too. I even drive to the hobby shop to buy them. I'm old.
Anyway .... I guess no chance of those MTH Premier engines coming from Atlas with an option of ESU Loksound DCC, like their other 2-rail engines. I shouldn't be greedy.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Atlas O does 2 rail stuff. I know only because I've almost accidentally bid on woodside reefers that were 2 rail instead of 3 rail. As far as their engines, I've admired them at hobby shops and Trainfest but did not pursue them because they were not DCS. That changes now.
Well I figured there was a lot going on behind the scenes, but of course this is certainly an interesting development. Since the majority of the S and HO scale line were sold off separately I guess it really should not comes as a surprise that O gauge line is breaking up.
- First thought - Atlas are you kidding me? I don't buy their product now because it astronomically priced, and they have a reputation of taking forever to bring anything to market. Are $450 diesels about to become $700 diesels? O gauge costs dearly now, I can't imagine what this will do.
- second thought, hmmm, if they are hiring some of the people maybe things will speed up.
- cost to consumer is going to depend a whole lot on tooling cost to Atlas. The molds aren't brand new so depreciation should be involved in the sales price.
- licensee to dcs huh? - okay well that's interesting. clearly dcs isn't dying today - Yea!
-No steam engines, that's odd, then again, Atlas doesn't usually make steam engines so maybe that means nothing
- Still waiting for independent dcs company announcement. What is happening with dcs as a stand alone company and what are the exciting products that were teased? Inquiring minds want to know!!
- Looks like there was a spoiler alert - railking going else where - that's very good news.
- Following the rest of these developments will be exciting, but still bittersweet.
- My guess is that WBB may step up for the railking line, but I guess we will see.
For me, the main question is whether the Atlas locos will be offered in both DCS and TMCC. I use only TMCC, and will be first in line to order a Genesis diesel if it is offered in TMCC. (I have the Williams version, but it doesn't hold a candle to the old MTH version)
@jhz563 posted:- Looks like there was a spoiler alert - railking going else where - that's very good news.
I believe the quote was "some" of the railking line. IMO the Railking line seemed to be a pretty good line for folks who wanted a nice engine with all the DCS goodies but didn't have the room or didn't want to spend the money on the premier engines. I hope they find a home for the entire line just not some of it.
@Landsteiner posted:"For the sake of OGR I hope the Atlas advertising increases to compensate for the magazine's loss of MTH advertising."
Agree. But MTH hasn't been doing much advertising in print media, as you've probably noted. Whereas Atlas has often had a full page in both magazines. Personally, I prefer print media to electronic for reading, so I'm hoping the magazines survive as long as I do
Thanks to you and to Andrew for your support of our print publication, which is the foundation of our business. As you noted, MTH has never been a strong supporter of print, but that was their choice. That certainly did not help OGR or the O gauge segment hobby as a whole, but we have survived thanks to other very supportive advertisers who have stayed with us through thick and thin. We have a very good relationship with Atlas, and I am hopeful that, together, we can help grow this wonderful hobby even further and faster.
@raising4daughters posted:I didn't want to derail this thread, but my tangentially-related thread question was deleted and I was instructed to come here, so here goes:
With Atlas not buying the Rail King molds as part of its purchase, one can assume Atlas only wanted the scale models (and only diesel for that matter). Does anyone want to speculate on what will happen to the Rail King molds for engines and rolling stock?
Other than a little cherry picking, I can't see them being acquired and used. Lionel has near or exact equivalents in its traditional line, often multiple.....my entry into Rail King was more out of interest for DCS and less on appearance or wheel arrangement availability. Same for WBB. They've got plenty of semi-scale models and don't appear to be making those anyway recently, so why buy more? Sure, Rail King has more detail, but is that enough to convince WBB to retire its O27 Hudson molds for example and using Rail King bodies? And both Lionel and WBB have enough rolling stock molds to not need Rail King. Maybe some cherry picking here or there, but I can't see the entire Rail King set of molds as appealing to either of these competitors.
Whose left? 3rd Rail seems positioned in high-end, detailed scale engine making, so unless they want to diversify, Rail King doesn't seem like a fit for them.
Menards? If not, unless a newcomer wants to enter the middle of the 3 rail market, I fear Rail King is dead, sad to say. Anyone else have more hopeful opinions.
From my understanding of dealer posts on this site non-atlas items will continue to be made via mth. This doesn’t make sense, considering mth is supposedly going out of business, but would be good news.
MTH is about to leave the Maryland facility and has new office space set up for continuing business releasing the already announced products and new unannounced short-run projects. Understandably, these products were intended to keep the factory and it's employees busy as usual. In the meantime there will be many more product announcements with the tooling that has not already been acquired by other manufacturers.
MTH asked us (and probably other dealers) approximately 8 months ago about what custom run projects we wanted to do. I gave them a long list of projects we were serious about having produced, and probably other dealers did too. Be advised that any short-run items will be "Built-To-Order". At this time, we are excited about yesterdays Atlas news and news that will be announced within the next month or so.
Stay optimistic!
Thank you JR Junction for clarifying. Mr. Muffin Trains explained it the exact same way. It's a new day in O Gauge!
I presume that whomever is producing the DCS components now (a factory in China?) will continue to be called upon to produce them going forward.
Good news and a nice surprise.
As someone who sticks to 36' reefers and 19th century offerings, this news doesn't do much for me other than provide hope for DCS.
Yes, DCS is continuing. Mike and the new DCS company that was previously announced will continue to produce the DCS system and technology, which will now be marketed by Atlas O and who ever else is licensed to distribute it.
Again, this is good news for the DCS and Proto-Sound 3.0 support of existing products through the service network. Atlas is and always has been very good working with dealers in product support.
