New Projects From Atlas

... and a CF7 to balance out your larger SD70.

Bill McBride posted:

... and a CF7 to balance out your larger SD70.

The CF7 is a great candidate for Atlas. They already have the chassis with the right wheelbase, the right trucks, and the right sound sets. The CF7's are still in use in branch line service after more than 45 years since the Cleburne shops started cosmetic surgery on those F-units rather than trading them in, so they have plenty of road names to choose from outside of Santa Fe and LA Junction (ATSF-owned interchange line). They could do the round-top and the Topeka cabs.

The trinity 5161 hopper has been around for quite a few years now, I agree the gondola would be a useful addition to the lineup, unfortunately Atlas product innovation moves at a glacial pace. 

Curtis, Absolutely would love to see Atlas produce the SD70 series in O Scale, including the Spartan cab version, as I model the CN/IC as well!  They certainly would make an incredible locomotive, but having not seen the Dash-8 yet, I highly doubt we'll see an SD70 anytime soon, let alone a Spartan cab variation.  Just not holding my breath.

In terms of the gondola, I can't honestly believe they haven't produced this model already in O scale.

I would love a new gon.  I would like an SD70 too - my first vote would be a GP38/GP40.  

Don

I would also like to see a big, modern stand along well car also.  

Don

I hate to be a downer as I would love to see ANYTHING from Atlas, but I really doubt you will see anything from Atlas except for updated Weaver tooling. Just my opinion and I hope I'm wrong.

If I was voting I would take the following:

Diesels: GE 70 Tonner, GP30, GP40, SW-1

Steam: 4-4-0, 2-6-0, 2-8-0 (Weaver tooling)

Passenger cars: Late 1800's-Early 1900's 50'-65' open vestibule coaches.

B&O Wagon Tops or a Steel water tank (former Weaver or Walthers) would be nice. 

I wonder who got the sanding towers that Weaver had?   I never did get one...

don

One sold on ebay today for $430

I would like to see Atlas get rid of the China drive as most would also., but Jerry Kimble refuses to listen so I refuse to buy anymore locomotives.

Stephen

how about Milwaukee's SDL39.

Dick

I'm ready to buy when somebody presents a prototypically correct..................................................SD70MAC!

Regards, Swafford

jonnyspeed posted:

I hate to be a downer as I would love to see ANYTHING from Atlas, but I really doubt you will see anything from Atlas except for updated Weaver tooling. Just my opinion and I hope I'm wrong. 

I tend to agree between the just announced CZ sets,Gundersons,Troop cars, 20' ex Weaver containers ,maybe even GE8-40 CWs and F7s they have a full plate for quite a while especially since motive power production continues to be a very slow process. Expect additional ex Weaver models in the future that they have tooling for.JMO

If I was voting I would take the following:

Diesels: GE 70 Tonner, GP30, GP40, SW-1

Steam: 4-4-0, 2-6-0, 2-8-0 (Weaver tooling)

Passenger cars: Late 1800's-Early 1900's 50'-65' open vestibule coaches.

We are getting away from the OP's Thrall/Trinity gondola and Spartan cab SD70 diesel projects for his IC to more of "I wish Atlas would make..." focus.  So...

I personally do not need Atlas to bring out a new type of car or engine, but I would love them to reissue items they already have molds for in new road names.  In general, I would like some more late steam era cars in lessor known Eastern roads.

Specifically, I would like Atlas to reissue its F3 Phase 2 Early diesel in the as delivered PRR scheme.  Not sure why they haven't yet (neither has Lionel nor MTH with latest electronics).  Would like both powered and non-powered A and B units so I can put together an ABBA set like the Pennsy initially bought them.  That's not asking too much, is it?

I agree

i could use SD40s and MP15s in the newer dark blue CSX paint schemes also!   I would be very happy with that.   

Also I need the dash 8CWs soon and then a run of the Dash 8Cs with a standard cab in csx.

Thanks!

don

Thanks

I would like to see Atlas come out with CF7s that snap right onto their F9 frames.

Can't help it - got to add my "Yes Please" wish for a GP38-2 and CF7.... more modern freight cars would also be nice - and also to wish Atlas would get away from the 'Already done by A.N.Other in 3-Rail' mentality.

I shan't post my opinion of 3-rail - each to their own etc - but it strangles the development & advancement of 2-rail something chronic.

I had to read up on what a CF7 actually was. (EMD's converted F7 used on the ATSF until 1984). How long did Amtrak use them?

Now that I know I want one too!

I would prefer the Sd70.

Gilly@N&W posted:

B&O Wagon Tops or a Steel water tank (former Weaver or Walthers) would be nice. 

Not sure about the Beano's, but my understanding is that the (former Walthers Cornerstone) Water Tank is not far off.  You and I are sympatico on this item.  I'll put in (another!) plug on our behalf at York next month!

Re the Beano wagon tops....if I thought they'd be offered with the Weaver-design Bettendorf trucks, I'd be pushing a lot harder.  I need a dozen (or more) of the trucks.

However, more recent discussions with an Atlas sales associate leads me to believe that Atlas did NOT acquire the Weaver Bettendorf die cast truck tooling.....although they apparently DID acquire the Allied Full Cushion truck tooling for the troop cars.  (Go figure.....then cry.)

KD 

DKDKRD,

I thought that MTH had been making the Bettendorf plain bearing and roller bearing die cast trucks for Weaver, for quite some time. Now the question is, who, if anybody, purchased the "rights" to market those truck, and will they still be made to Weaver specifications by MTH.

I would like to see Atlas do modern paint Schemes, but when they do Atlas leaves off the ditch lights. They did the modern NS logo on the MP15 but left off the ditch lights. Had they done the model correctly I would have jumped all over them.

Stephen

nw2124 posted:

I would like to see Atlas do modern paint Schemes, but when they do Atlas leaves off the ditch lights. They did the modern NS logo on the MP15 but left off the ditch lights. Had they done the model correctly I would have jumped all over them.

Stephen

Just curious,,,,,,,,did the those Norfolk Southern MP15 units actually have ditch lights?

I'm no expert, but I do have one one order. It appears that, at the very least, at some point the NS MP15DCs had ditch lights on the cab end - there are several pics on rrpicturearchives.net showing them. For example:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=1922292

Hope this is what was being asked, Hot Water.

EDIT: Stephen and Big Train (below): right you are, both ends.

David

Most of the photos I looked it didn't have ditch lights

After 1996, ditch lights are required on any locomotive that exceeds 25 mph and regularly crosses grade crossings.  In my experience with the UP, BNSF, and local shortlines in the Denver area, local switchers whether end cab like the mp15dc or traditional like the gp15-1 or gp38-2, have ditch lights on both ends. Here in Cincinnati, I've seen big NS road switchers with ditch lights on both ends as well. They run a lot of interchange traffic from downtown out to the north side of town, and frequently on these runs I see them running long hood forward.

I have no idea if NS having ditch lights on both ends of road switchers is a vestige left from their days of running long hood forward, or if that only happens on locos equipped for local service.

If you see pictures of mp15dc's without ditch lights, start by checking the date on the photos.  That may explain the difference.

The last run of NS MP15s is the NEW NS logo ( horse head in the strips)  which all had ditch lights on both ends. Not the old NS logo which Atlas produced previously. 

http://www.nslocos.com/ns2400.html  ... new logo with air conditioners, ditch light on the pilots as paint scheme produced by Atlas latest run

Stephen

How about an ALCo T-6?

I really like the tank cars that Atlas makes. Should be easy enough to release in new schemes.

I'd be in for a couple UP Fish oil cars in different numbers....

Engineer-Joe posted:

I had to read up on what a CF7 actually was. (EMD's converted F7 used on the ATSF until 1984). How long did Amtrak use them?

Now that I know I want one too!

I would prefer the Sd70.

Not sure how long Amtrak used them. I last saw one in the early 1990's. They were used in the coach yards to move stuff around.

I can't remember what engines EMD wanted Santa Fe to trade the F-units in for (I think GP35's but don't quote me) but Santa Fe estimated that they could save $90,000 per unit converting them rather than trading them in. Across 200+ units, that was a healthy chunk of change. I had the data somewhere on what it actually cost per unit. I think the actual number was 233 of them from F-unit A's on roster. The B-units remained in service as boosters for a while. The CF7's were sold off in the late 1980's and I've personally seen them on the LA Junction (ATSF Subsidiary that had four of them) in the mid-1990's.

Realistically, Atlas could use the GP7 frame to support the superstructure -- they're pretty close. The prototypes had modified frames because the carbody of the F-units actually partially supported the locomotive like a uni-body car.

At first glance, a CF7 looks like an odd-ball Geep, since few outside of ATSF foamers would recognize it for what it really is, but it's one of those locomotives that's historically significant and in some ways is the precursor of the locomotive remanufacturing industry.

No need to be an ATSF Foamer - as any fan of Short Lines knows, plenty of CF7s went to Regionals & Short Lines, and some are still active. It's a Freelancer's dream loco!!

Thanks for the info!

SundayShunter posted:

No need to be an ATSF Foamer - as any fan of Short Lines knows, plenty of CF7s went to Regionals & Short Lines, and some are still active. It's a Freelancer's dream loco!!

As evidenced by this one.  # 1500 is rostered by the Grafton & Upton Railroad (a local short line here in MA).  I grabbed these two quick shots with my iPhone today in the N. Grafton yard.  Unique-looking locomotive to say the least!

As for me, I'd like to see Atlas offer their Trainman RS3 in the later Lehigh Valley paint scheme shown below.  Tuscan (not Cornell) Red with the white nose stripes.  To the best of my knowledge this hasn't been offered in "O".  I'd buy a couple road #'s and would have a blast super-detailing and weathering them!

A Conrail standard cab SD70 done to Atlas standards would be excellent!

CNJ #1601 posted:

As for me, I'd like to see Atlas offer their Trainman RS3 in the later Lehigh Valley paint scheme shown below.  Tuscan (not Cornell) Red with the white nose stripes.  To the best of my knowledge this hasn't been offered in "O".  I'd buy a couple road #'s and would have a blast super-detailing and weathering them!

 

I would LOVE if the Atlas O scale RS3 looked like that.... instead of with the toylike incorrect handrail mounting that it has now.  I wonder if Atlas will ever make it correct.

Rule292 posted:

CNJ #1601 posted:

As for me, I'd like to see Atlas offer their Trainman RS3 in the later Lehigh Valley paint scheme shown below.  Tuscan (not Cornell) Red with the white nose stripes.  To the best of my knowledge this hasn't been offered in "O".  I'd buy a couple road #'s and would have a blast super-detailing and weathering them!

 

I would LOVE if the Atlas O scale RS3 looked like that.... instead of with the toylike incorrect handrail mounting that it has now.  I wonder if Atlas will ever make it correct.

Yeah, the Trainman RS3 has several issues that aren't to scale. The one that bothers me is the hoods are too high to cover the vertical motors. Once someone pointed that out I wrote them off.

Yes, I have a Trainman RS3 - it was a bargain price here in the UK, but if I'd known about the high hoods beforehand I might have thought twice. They bug me mostly when I look at the shape of the cab center windows. I have replaced the end handrails with home-made longer ones, but have left the main handrails as supplied. The pilots also betray 3-rail origins.

What's annoying is that the Atlas Master RS1 seems to have none of these issues..??

Atlas would have to scrap their current RS3 molds and start over to produce a scale RS3.  Too bad they didn't get the Weaver RS3 molds.

ecd15 posted:

Atlas would have to scrap their current RS3 molds and start over to produce a scale RS3.  Too bad they didn't get the Weaver RS3 molds.

While I don't have an Atlas RS3 I do have both the MTH and the Weaver versions...IMO not a lot of difference between them as far as shape/size of the shell:

Here's some measurements:

Width:

MTH - 1.68"

Weaver - 1.58"

difference - .10", less than 6 scale inches

Height from walkway to top of hull:

MTH - 1-7/8"

Weaver - 1-13/16"

difference - .0625", 3 scale inches

Length of body from end to end of shell:

MTH - 11-7/8"

Weaver - 12"

difference - .125", 6 scale inches

Almost enough so you can't see it standing 2 feet away.

The nose contours everybody says Weaver got right and everybody else got wrong, I don't see a dimes worth of difference between the Weaver and MTH contours.

Here's a drawing out of Mainline Modeler, but it doesn't have the dimensions I posted to compare to the real deal:

and something I found that shows the difference between the 3 phases:

Unless you're a proto 48 modeler, I feel just about any (I can only go on the ones I have) RS3 would suffice, although 6" difference is pushing even my acceptance level

I don't know if a true scale RS3 would have the room for any of the can motors being currently used.  The Weaver, being the smaller of the 2, has little room left with the Pittman motor inside.

Rapid Transit Holmes posted:

How about an ALCo T-6?

Yeah!!! How about an Alco T-6!!!

Big Jim posted:

Rapid Transit Holmes posted:

How about an ALCo T-6?

Yeah!!! How about an Alco T-6!!!

How about any Alco switcher with their single motor drive like their EMD switcher?

Originally posted by Bob Delbridge:

The nose contours everybody says Weaver got right and everybody else got wrong, I don't see a dimes worth of 
difference between the Weaver and MTH contours.

Well I do! Look at the nose of the MTH unit. IT's  FLAT!The Weaver Model Nose is more contoured to the real deal!

here is a comparison of the WBB [Former K-line] to Weaver models:

as you can see, the Weaver/Wbb-k-line has that curved "brow" in the front... more so than the MTH unit.

the Mth Railking unit below:

 Unfortunately, the front nose curve issue is something that cannot be corrected with the MTH unit.

And if Atlas O model is going to bring back the Rs11,s and the U25B's I hope they do these "HOT & COLORFUL" schemes!

Not to hijack a thread,did anyone acquire Weaver's RS3 molds

It seems elusive of O scale manufacturers to make an RS2/3 correctly with the handrail stanchions bolted to the top of the walkway as ALCo did on the real ones. 

Even AHM did it right in the 70's on the cheapie HO scale models. 

You understand MTH, Lionel, Menards etc are not "O" scale mfgs/importers, only Atlas and Weaver started their O guage lines as scale "O" with necessary modifications  for producing a 3 rail product also.  When Atlas introduced the Trainman line it was with the purpose of making a more affordable, rugged entry level product, the RS series introduced in 2005 was their first motive power model in this line and it was obvious that the builder made changes in the model to probably meet the price point Atlas was looking for. In a 2006 Model Railroad News report on the new model it mentions the 3/4 " longer frame [ to allow truck swing on the RS4 for 3 rail] but does not note the extra high long and short hoods [vert mount mtrs]. just saying1

'

Since I started this post. I should've added a modern gondola picture.

Atlas makes these in HO I don't know why they can't do a 2 rail O version.

I also found a side picture of the Spartan cab Illinois Central SD70

My own suggestion would be for Atlas to put out a nice 40 to 50 foot steam-era mill gondola (Oh, where, Oh, where did the old Roco molds go? :-p ). Also, as colorful as the New York Central's Jade Green freight car scheme was, could Atlas please paint more of its steam-era freight cars in one or the other of the NYC's older schemes? For those like me building up a late Depression--early post-World War II freight car roster, the Jade Green scheme is too anachronistic.

I'm also hoping for an undec 2-rail RS-1 with DCC.

The Atlas Trainman line is the old Roco line.    At least every one I have seen has an identical superstructure to the old ROCO, this includes the gondola, sliding door box, and plug door box.     Atlas changed the underframes to diecast and changed the trucks to their own design.   

On a separate note, Jerry Kimbel was quoted as stating at the recent "March Meet" in chicago that Atlas would "never do a single motor drive".    I got this second hand, so it may be a rumor.      Every 2 motor loco I have does not run as well as the single motor ones, jerky starts and stops and low speed running.     These are all important to scale operators and operating layouts, so I was disappointed to hear this statement.

CNJ #1601 posted:

SundayShunter posted:

No need to be an ATSF Foamer - as any fan of Short Lines knows, plenty of CF7s went to Regionals & Short Lines, and some are still active. It's a Freelancer's dream loco!!

As evidenced by this one.  # 1500 is rostered by the Grafton & Upton Railroad (a local short line here in MA).  I grabbed these two quick shots with my iPhone today in the N. Grafton yard.  Unique-looking locomotive to say the least!

 

In this shot you captured one of the key spotting features -- the round extension on the pilot exposes it's F-unit roots. The others are four in-line stacks, the F-unit fuel/water tanks and the stubby short hood. At first glance, looks like a low-nose Geep, but to the CF7 or ATSF fan, it's like spotting an old friend. When I did an image search on CF7's, over a hundred photos popped up. They're everywhere. Atlas could produce a couple of pairs every year for more than 20 years and still not hit all of them..

prrjim posted:

The Atlas Trainman line is the old Roco line.    At least every one I have seen has an identical superstructure to the old ROCO, this includes the gondola, sliding door box, and plug door box.     Atlas changed the underframes to diecast and changed the trucks to their own design.   

On a separate note, Jerry Kimbel was quoted as stating at the recent "March Meet" in chicago that Atlas would "never do a single motor drive".    I got this second hand, so it may be a rumor.      Every 2 motor loco I have does not run as well as the single motor ones, jerky starts and stops and low speed running.     These are all important to scale operators and operating layouts, so I was disappointed to hear this statement.

That probably makes sense.  Engineering work is expensive and requires research and/or practical experience. Atlas no longer designs and manufactures trains, they simply import them from the orient. 

Nearly all of their products were originally engineered and produced by someone else.  They simply hand them offshore to build and paint and they come back RTR.

I think I heard that Atlas did design the Roco built cars.    The story I heard was that Ted Stepek from the Wash DC area did a  lot of the original drawings for them.

AGHRMatt posted:

CNJ #1601 posted:

SundayShunter posted:

No need to be an ATSF Foamer - as any fan of Short Lines knows, plenty of CF7s went to Regionals & Short Lines, and some are still active. It's a Freelancer's dream loco!!

As evidenced by this one.  # 1500 is rostered by the Grafton & Upton Railroad (a local short line here in MA).  I grabbed these two quick shots with my iPhone today in the N. Grafton yard.  Unique-looking locomotive to say the least!

 

In this shot you captured one of the key spotting features -- the round extension on the pilot exposes it's F-unit roots. The others are four in-line stacks, the F-unit fuel/water tanks and the stubby short hood. At first glance, looks like a low-nose Geep, but to the CF7 or ATSF fan, it's like spotting an old friend. When I did an image search on CF7's, over a hundred photos popped up. They're everywhere. Atlas could produce a couple of pairs every year for more than 20 years and still not hit all of them..

Matt, thanks very much for sharing you knowledge about these these unique locomotives.  Much appreciated!

prrjim posted:

I think I heard that Atlas did design the Roco built cars.    The story I heard was that Ted Stepek from the Wash DC area did a  lot of the original drawings for them.

The tooling on those is crisp and accurate even by 2016 standards, I had a few of the undec Bev-Bel shells and they were gorgeous.   Too bad they were designed in the 1970's with molded on details. 

In my very humble opinion the Atlas 40' Trainman boxcar has some of the most accurately done car ends and roof of any O scale car.  It's survived the test of time and worthy of the late Thaddeus Stepek name. 

Too bad it can't be cloned to a 2016 model without the oversize molded on details and the huge round lugs for mounting the ladders, running boards and brake gear.  In that aspect the current direction of Atlas of never improving on glaring outdated design  flaws  is kind of sad. 

Nevertheless, the car is the star of the Trainman lineup. 

For a little more background info on the 1970's era Atlas/Roco line see my recent Atlas 1970's post on the 3RS forum. Ted Stepek and John Armstrong brought me into O scale from HO back in 1971 and I consider Ted to be my PRR modelling mentor along with a very dear friend, Ray Jury .  On Friday nights at Ted's we often would see pre-production Atlas products running on Ted's O scale 2 rail railroad.  Once he rain an endurance test of the Atlas Plymouth diesel.  He mounted a mechanical counter on the body of the Plymouth and ran it non stop for a week or so around his layout until the drive train gave out due to bearing surface wear.  Knowing the length of his continuous mainline and the lap count he was able to repot back to Atlas owner Steve Shaffen (SP??) and Roco how many miles the locomotive ran and what elements in the mechanism failed.  Early in the development of the Atlas/Roco O scale product line Steve and Ted flew to Austria to meet with Roco management and designers.

Out of interest, how accurate a model is the old Atlas/Roco WDT Plymouth?

I'd always understood it was pretty good dimensionally, not "enlarged" to fill out the loading gauge like a lot of HO & N Plymouths were. But lately I've seen it described as based on a narrow-gauge prototype, or just dismissed altogether as a "toy". The blind center wheels aren't great, obviously, but then are quite well hidden by the outside frames, which as far as I can make out from websites like rrpicturearchives, aren't totally unprototypical, but weren't as common as inside frames & exposed wheels.

Comments welcome!!

SundayShunter posted:

Out of interest, how accurate a model is the old Atlas/Roco WDT Plymouth?

I'd always understood it was pretty good dimensionally, not "enlarged" to fill out the loading gauge like a lot of HO & N Plymouths were. But lately I've seen it described as based on a narrow-gauge prototype, or just dismissed altogether as a "toy". The blind center wheels aren't great, obviously, but then are quite well hidden by the outside frames, which as far as I can make out from websites like rrpicturearchives, aren't totally unprototypical, but weren't as common as inside frames & exposed wheels.

Comments welcome!!

The old Atlas O Plymouth is fairly representative of a generic Plymouth locomotive.  These switchers were available in various tonnage, gauges and sizes to suit the customer needs.

There is certainly nothing wrong with it's scale proportions.

Rusty

I recall Ted Stepek saying the Atlas Plymouth was significantly oversize.  Being an extreme SPF rivet counter, Ted wouldn't want one on his railroad other than for testing.    However Ted's close friend (and collaborator on Atlas layout books) John Armstrong  used a pair of coupled Atlas Plymouths on his Canandaigua Southern  to move cuts of very heavy  Atlas ore cars (weighted with taconite pellets!) between the main line and  a hidden interchange track.  A thrifty Scot to the core, John probably found the Atlas Plymouths to be the most cost effective motive power solution available at the time.

For what it's worth, here's a page from a reprint of a Plymouth catalog.  The M series were 4 wheel, W series were 6 wheel:

I don't have a model to measure against, but looks like Atlas got things pretty close.  If the O scale WDT model is oversized, it's not grossly oversized like its HO and N cousins.

Rusty

$20 Bucks!! I've read how cheap the Atlas range was here in the UK in the early 1970s, not sure what the £-$ exchange rate was back then, but probably better than it is now!! 

The two I have aren't silky smooth runners, although the growl is quite convincing, & they are nearly as old as me, after all. I like 'em anyway.

I'd like a Rebuild .........................

Keystoned Ed posted:

I recall Ted Stepek saying the Atlas Plymouth was significantly oversize.  Being an extreme SPF rivet counter, Ted wouldn't want one on his railroad other than for testing. ...

I always thought the WDT was scaled around 1:43 instead of 1:48. I have a couple and they don't look quite big enough to be representative of a 3-foot gauge (like MTH did with the Galloping Goose).

I would even take an SDL39 or two with the dreaded  china drive.

Dick

1890-1915 era wooden passenger cars. But I realize that they would only sell very few. I've build choOCH GN cars and they nice , but they take a lot of time and effort to built. They are great looking when finished.  Also there is a lack of motive power for that era . The Sunset Limited or the Yellow Kid would look great !!  I've also built labelle kits and they are nice, but same problem, a lot of time to produce a nice model.  

After much thought, I probably mis-spoke about Atlas' Roco gondolas. I do have some buried somewhere, but now that I think about it, Roco may have made them for AHM.

Anyhow, they are missed.

Mister_Lee posted:

After much thought, I probably mis-spoke about Atlas' Roco gondolas. I do have some buried somewhere, but now that I think about it, Roco may have made them for AHM.

 

Anyhow, they are missed.

Pola made the O scale cars for AHM.

Rusty

I have rebuilt two Atlas Plymouth WDT's in years past. The loco is too long. Even with the front porch removed, the rear one makes the loco several feet too long. If you can overlook this, the compressor bulges are on both sides where only one is prototypical and 99% of standard gauge units had inside frames. Atlas used a narrow gauge unit to copy! This is easy to fix however, since the frame sides simply pop out giving a much more prototypical look. Nevertheless, this loco is fairly easy to bash and do some correcting on unless you are a rivet counter. Simply removing the frame sides and hand rails does wonders. I don't think I have ever seen a photo of one of these units, except mine, with the frame sides removed.Looks far more prototypical that way.

Found a picture of a Plymouth WDT with outside frames, in Mexico, I think.  And lookie, it's even got a front porch like the Atlas model:

It's even in Warbonnet!

The Atlas model may have had some inaccuracies, but back in the day it was an attractive locomotive at an attractive price.

Rusty

Rusty,

That is a 44 ton Plymouth WDT in Puerto Rico and it is narrow gauge unit. 

Hi from New Zealand Folks,

Stumbled across this thread while searching for info on Weaver O U25B, one of which I recently acquired off eBay.

Tom is there any chance of uploading some images of your Plymouth switchers, I have one that I will one day upgrade the drive on and convert to be a private operator plant switcher to be representative rather than completely prototypical. I'm interested in what you have done to yours, in particular to the motor which on mine has an incredible amount of motor drive shaft movement when changing direction i.e. the shaft moves about 1/4" up and down through the bushes and winds the worm gear across the crown gear causing a 'lag' it just needs a bush to take our the slack but I haven't given any real thought to how to do that. I'd also replace the pickups with phosphorous bronze rod running on the top of the wheels.  

On the Weaver U25B, there seems to be very little coverage in the O scale space, forums or otherwise which is a shame as it's a great looking and running loco. This one, currently in a nice yellow and green Reading Lines scheme (but not far off being detailed and repainted into ConRail colours), has the 'infamous' China dual motor drive which I find can be simply made to run beautifully noting I use Digitrax DCC.

To do this I tweak the locos both mechanically where required (make sure the truck drives are free running) and through the hard school of knocks from running them at public exhibitions, I now always solder the motor and pickup connections to the dog bone CctBd (the little plastic wire retainers are just too unreliable). Where I've converted the loco from 3 Rail, the new CctBds I make use plugs with soldered connections to the pins, so they are 'plug and play' to allow easy disassembly if required. 

Reds Brent

Curtis1983 posted:

Since I started this post. I should've added a modern gondola picture.

Atlas makes these in HO I don't know why they can't do a 2 rail O version.

I also found a side picture of the Spartan cab Illinois Central SD70

We used to see the IC SD70s in Sioux City quite often. We have CN here now and see a lot of CN paint with IC letters on the bottom of the cab.

My comments have to do with the GP40-2. When the Atlas had their forum up and running the topic with the most comments as I remember was for a GP40 and -2s. Still they ignore us. Yes, I know  they say they don't want to build repeats as others but enough with the F units,

Dick

I would very much like to see Atlas re-run some of the models they have done before but not for a while - I'd love the Alco Century 424/425 in British Columbia Railway green (to go with the RS3s) and the GP-35 in Soo Line, Milwaukee Road or Chicago North-Western.  Given the trouble they've had recently getting new products to market, something easier for them to do that gets nice locos into the shops in a reasonable time would be a worthy goal.

Regards, Bevis.

Either one

bluelinec4 posted:

Either one

Ben, that center cab would be sweet... too bad, it'll probably never be made in plastic.

All well and good for new things. Not to change the subject, but I would like to see Atlas O maintain their parts supply. Small detail parts like brake hoses, etc. are out-of-stock and Atlas O says they cannot confirm they will be in stock any time soon, if ever. 

One of the obvious results of BTO is minimal to none reserve stock and spare parts, its been 7+ years since Atlas and Sanda Kan parted ways and Atlas continues to struggle with diesel power production from their present MFG. The only really new model they had tooling made for has been 7 years getting in to production, according to Rob Pisani it will go into production next, so the chances of anything new [motive power]getting on the schedule in the foreseeable future are remote,it seems a lot just to get repainted reruns on any kind of a schedule.JMO

Curtis,

I'm with you. I believe we're due for a modern car or two. While I campaigned on the Atlas forum for the 73ft or 64ft Center Partition Flats and the 34k gallon LPG Tank Cars, a Trinity gondola (or Gunderson or Thrall, what ever) either 50ft, 55ft or 65-70ft (Mill) would be welcome. Atlas does a great job for the money with their Master Line freight cars and it doesn't take much to tweak them to P-48 or a excellent O5W model. The 60ft Trinity T-box would be another great car to have rather than repainting the Berwick Forge car over and over again.  I'd also like to see a re-run or new numbers for the first run Trainman 68ft Bulkhead Flats: TTX and UP. Like some other posters, I have felt that Atlas locomotive production, well, it just takes awhile. Okay, maybe, if you're 27, not so much if you are a cranky 62 y.o. grumpy old man. However, having said that, it Atlas were to produce a much better SD70 series locomotive(s) that the K-Line model, I'd bite.....and I could always use some more SP and Rio Grande GP60s. Might even get some extra Santa Fe units. Truly, it seems to me that the market is flooded with RS somethings F units (F45, FP45, and F40PH I, II, and III excepted). Another current prototype freight car would be a breathe of fresh air. Like Swafford says, "Ready to buy when you supply!"

Originally posted by Swafford: 

I'd like a Rebuild .........................

Well Here you go!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RS3M-R...6:g:EewAAOSw7GRZC8zd

NOw get to work!

Mike Caddell posted:

Curtis,

I'm with you. I believe we're due for a modern car or two. While I campaigned on the Atlas forum for the 73ft or 64ft Center Partition Flats and the 34k gallon LPG Tank Cars, a Trinity gondola (or Gunderson or Thrall, what ever) either 50ft, 55ft or 65-70ft (Mill) would be welcome. Atlas does a great job for the money with their Master Line freight cars and it doesn't take much to tweak them to P-48 or a excellent O5W model. The 60ft Trinity T-box would be another great car to have rather than repainting the Berwick Forge car over and over again.  I'd also like to see a re-run or new numbers for the first run Trainman 68ft Bulkhead Flats: TTX and UP. Like some other posters, I have felt that Atlas locomotive production, well, it just takes awhile. Okay, maybe, if you're 27, not so much if you are a cranky 62 y.o. grumpy old man. However, having said that, it Atlas were to produce a much better SD70 series locomotive(s) that the K-Line model, I'd bite.....and I could always use some more SP and Rio Grande GP60s. Might even get some extra Santa Fe units. Truly, it seems to me that the market is flooded with RS somethings F units (F45, FP45, and F40PH I, II, and III excepted). Another current prototype freight car would be a breathe of fresh air. Like Swafford says, "Ready to buy when you supply!"

Modern stuff is definitely where it's at.  Unfortunately with Atlas's current lead time it's a safer bet that someone else will come out with it first.

Someone on the modern end needs to do the equivalent of Ted Culotta's steam/transition era "Essential Freight Car" series.  That might give you somewhat of a compass on what has been done and what would best to be done in the future.

Anyway, the problem has never been too many RS somethings... it's too many RS somethings that are all inaccurate out of the box.    I guess E and F units still sell well since they range from Atlas all the way up to Key and 3rd Rail announced the E6. 

Mike Caddell posted:

Curtis,

I'm with you. I believe we're due for a modern car or two. While I campaigned on the Atlas forum for the 73ft or 64ft Center Partition Flats and the 34k gallon LPG Tank Cars, a Trinity gondola (or Gunderson or Thrall, what ever) either 50ft, 55ft or 65-70ft (Mill) would be welcome. Atlas does a great job for the money with their Master Line freight cars and it doesn't take much to tweak them to P-48 or a excellent O5W model. The 60ft Trinity T-box would be another great car to have rather than repainting the Berwick Forge car over and over again.  I'd also like to see a re-run or new numbers for the first run Trainman 68ft Bulkhead Flats: TTX and UP. Like some other posters, I have felt that Atlas locomotive production, well, it just takes awhile. Okay, maybe, if you're 27, not so much if you are a cranky 62 y.o. grumpy old man. However, having said that, it Atlas were to produce a much better SD70 series locomotive(s) that the K-Line model, I'd bite.....and I could always use some more SP and Rio Grande GP60s. Might even get some extra Santa Fe units. Truly, it seems to me that the market is flooded with RS somethings F units (F45, FP45, and F40PH I, II, and III excepted). Another current prototype freight car would be a breathe of fresh air. Like Swafford says, "Ready to buy when you supply!"

In full agreement with above, get a grip Atlas!

nick

I personally would like Atlas to release a Pennsylvania version of their latest F3.  Not sure why they have not done that.  As delivered would be my choice.