No Atlas O 2 rail track in 2014

Molds need to be manufactured?...hmmm Atlas is already producing track....New molds I wonder?  New manufacturer?...weird.  Well there is Micro Engineering. 

It is a very frustrating time, Atlas right now and MTH with their Scaletrax...it just goes on and on.

Micro-Engineering is much bette looking track.  It comes weather and unweathered and I think at least 2 different rail sizes.   It is all flex track.   

I would suggest Beth Marshal, but I don't have contact info. Perhaps someone can help with that.

Don

That's different information then I was given in an email inquiry to Atlas about 3 rail in January.  I was told track would be in stock 1st quarter this year.  But then I never checked because I wasn't ready to buy track yet.  I just finished designing my layout for Atlas track.  I'd rather not have to redo it for another track system because Atlas has messed something up or quit.

If you're going to use MicroEngineering track, use the NON-weathered. Bending the weathered track is..."interesting."

Yes sir. Molds. Totally threw me too. That's what I said to the guy....MOLDS??? I was under the impression that the track would be available soon as well.  I believe and don't quote me, I talked to a rep by the name of Steve. Either way, I am so frustrated with the industry as a whole.  Whenever you call some of these manufacturers they seem ticked off and not interested in the "hang in there with us approach".  If there's a problem state it! I would stick with a manufacturer through hard times if they were forth coming and not leave us in the dark.  I honestly love this hobby, and I'm trying not to take it too seriously, but I'm so frustrated with the OUT OF STOCK messages I get that I'm thinking of getting back into guns or radio control.

Hey Matt.  Even the non Weathered track is interesting.  I think it looks great, but a little interesting to say the least.

Sounds to me like something that someone here who will be attending the York Meet needs to check out face-to-face with the Atlas O reps there.  Best to get the info first hand from those who will really know, and who can provide details.

From what I understand the whole issue started when the parent company of Sanda Kan closed manufacturering to all model train companies except for Bachman.  Sanda Kan was the largest contract manufacturer on the planet for our model trains and when the factory closed the dies where kept.  This could be why they have to produce new molds. 

Alan, I agree with you, and if this is the worst thing I have to be concerned with I think I'm doing okay.  But, whatever happened to communicating with ones customers? No mention of anything anywhere on their site, these forums or anywhere else.  And it's not just Atlas. It seems to be the norm for this industry to just blow off their customer base and hope for the best. I rarely speak my mind on these open forums, but I needed to get this off my chest. Just irritated with how the manufacturers seem to get away with such poor customer service and communication. I think what sparked my irritation was the lack luster response from my phone call this morning. I've had my little rant, now back to doing something productive.. 

Don't beat yourself up, Marc.  If it's true (and I have no doubt it is what your were told), this is information that is important to folks in the 2-rail world (not to mention the 3-rail world).  Hopefully, someone will dig a bit deeper--again, at York where the info can be conveyed face-to-face--and get the full story as well as the story behind the story.

I have used Micro-Engineering's On30 track and liked it very much.  A very well made product.  I don't have any experience with their 2-rail O gauge line, but I assume it is of equally quality.  The key to flex-track, at least in my experience with the smaller scales, is to create a plywood template for each of the desired curve sizes and to carefully work the track to conform to the template.  There are "formulas" for determining the precise size to make these templates so the track will conform to a specific radius, but I don't recall where I found them years ago.  Again, at that time I actually was working with HO.  I never did make templates for the On30.

It isn't that they don't care about us.  More likely, they have discovered that there is no profit in O Scale, 2-rail.  Microscale would still be printing if we were buying.

Last time I saw prices on 2- rail flextrack, I knew I would never be able to justify the expense.  If others feel that way, it is a downward spiral to zero availability.  If they thought it would sell like hotcakes, it would be available yesterday.

Opinion

I just tried to order Atlas 2 rail switches today from a LHS and was told switches won't be available until mid-summer 2014.  I was lucky enough to get some Atlas  40" flex track ordered and some curved track.  I hope they don't end up pulling the plug on 2 rail track altogether.

I was lucky enough to sell all my Aristocraft G scale track before they went out of business and procured Gargraves G scale track.

Heyyyyyy, Gargraves makes 2 rail O scale...don't they?

Rick

I use MicroScale Engineering two rail track. It is excellent. You get what you pay for.....

I guess I'll just focus more on On30 and HO. I wonder if they will get it going again in 2015? It would be interesting to know if the 2 rail track line is profitable or not.

I was thinking to add a 2R 0-80 loop outside my future 3R layout to try out my scale wheeled locos and I have not decided which 2R track to go with. May be I will just remove the center rail from Scaletrax and use it instead?

I think the first thing that model train companies look at is "making a profit" before they even develop a product (and of course that it the right thing to do), so if they are not sure they will make a profit they will delay/cancel such product. If they have to re-invest in new molds and they do not have a lot of money to pour into these molds then of course they have a problem and so do we. May be Atlas is thinking of a new system since they will have to create new molds anyway..this could be a good thing. May be we will have a perfect scale 2R system???

I completely understand the frustration.  I also wish there was more information being put out by the manufacturers about this stuff, the good and the bad.  It has been my experience that given the information most folks are pretty understanding of things and will ride it out, but the lack of info certainly causes some stress.  98% of my layout is hand layed but I have a few spots where I went with ME code .148....ah hem flex track....which took care of my needs.  But after working with the ME and trying to flex it I gotta say that I think I revoked my man card..... 

Mike P.  Thanks for that information, that would certainly explain the production problems.