Waiting almost 7 years for an Atlas RS-3

A friend received his GM&O Atlas RS-1 in September or so; he had waited 5 years. Doesn't help you, I realize, but, FWIW, his is a very nice engine.

How long is long enough to wait? I'm sorry but 7 years is ridiculous. I am sure that there are people who ordered this and have died in the interim time span. Honestly I would have forgotten or moved on in that span. How many hobby shops have closed since then.

I waited 5 years for some MTH passenger cars so I do know this feeling.

This sort of thing seems to only be ok in this hobby because of how many other things come out to distract a person over that span but if a person was more disciplined in purchaces that would be too long to wait.

OK, I seriously don't have that kind of patience... I would have moved on long ago.

You must really want that loco!

I ordered the nysw bicentennial rs1 when it was first announced.  Can't remember what year now, but probably 2009 or earlier. In 2013 it was reannounced and then cancelled.  Ugh.  

Jeff T posted:

OK, I seriously don't have that kind of patience... I would have moved on long ago.

You must really want that loco!

I have more than enough toys to keep me happy, besides I've purchased other engines during that time. If I cancel the order than I will never see that engine, and I really want one.

. . .  7 years is ridiculous. I am sure that there are people who ordered this and have died in the interim time span.

Pete

Beautiful engine, would love to have one but I would have forgotten about it long ago.  What a silly business model railroading is.

Brings meaning to the word "Seven Year Itch"!

I waited a long time for an RS-1, but it sure is nice.

I don't remember if I ordered one or not.  If I did it would have been from the late Bob Thatcher,so who knows for sure.  I guess that I really don't need an RS-3 anyway.

Norm

At my age I don't want to wait 7 days, much less, 7 years. Holy cow !!

I'm very new to this hobby but have heard or read several similar stories about delays and cancellations from vendors.  Having owned my own business (restaurant) for 17 years I am dumbfounded by any business being able to get away with such tactics.  I guess it comes from being one of a very few vendors for the product and having a devoted audience.  For me personally I wouldn't tolerate that level of service from a vendor and I'm surprised that anyone would, but that's their concern.   I'll just satisfy myself with what is available in on-hand inventories or used equipment and save myself the aggravation.

According to Mr Muffins Trains the RS-3 will be the next delivery from Atlas.

Guess you could have purchased a Weaver RS-3, probably a better model anyway...

Mark in Oregon

I'm right there with you, Richard!  I've been waiting for the blue CNJ version since the original 2010 announcement.  I'm on my third dealer, too, as a lot has happened in our hobby since I placed the initial pre-order!

The Atlas RS3 - RSD4 is oversized  compaired to plans.

AtlasO has been a non player in O gauge trains for years, they have really lost their way.   Most of my rolling stock purchases in the early 2000 were from them, diesels also(when I had diesels).  Over the last 5-8 years, nothing and with these delays in products, not good.

Soo Nut posted:

The Atlas RS3 - RSD4 is oversized  compaired to plans.

Agreed.  However, after dressing 'em up with a few add-on details and some weathering, they look pretty good to me.  Then again, I'm only a "partial" rivet counter...I tend to have problems after I get to ten.

Maybe Lionel will put the former Weaver RS3 tooling to good use and bring out a true scale-sized and highly-detailed Legacy version of this iconic locomotive.

Joeya, I'm just starting to do a bit of weathering on some of my layout and cars, you did a great job on the engine the photo could easily pass for the real thing