Atlas announces Fall Industrial Rail releases

[brianel027]

Here is the link to the Atlas website with the announcement and pictures of the new IR cars to be made under the Atlas banner. When you find the car category, you have to scroll down to the box with the road names listed and click on those to see illustrations.

http://www.atlaso.com/nowshipping.htm

For your instant info the releases are:
Single Door Box Car: EL (gray scheme), GN, AT&SF, NH (all orange scheme)
Gondola with Pipe Load: GTW, B&M, Ohio Seamless Tube, C&O
Plug Door Box Car: D&RGW, Chessie, D&H, WP
Tank Car: Hooker, Sunray, Union Tank, D&H
Flat Car w/ Lumber Load: Burlington, GN, WM, Trailer Train
Skeleton Car with Log Load: Crown Paper, Pacific Lumber, Sugar Pine Lumber, Westside Lumber

And before anyone has a fit as over on the other forum, the list prices for these cars is NOT that much higher than was under UMD. The key point to remember is that United Model Distributors is a distributor / wholesaler, not a manufacturer: they had the IR cars made for them. When Hobbyco picked up the remaining IR inventory from UMD, I believe their purpose was to deplete the remaining inventory, not continue the line. Hence, the $10-15 price range that many were picking up IR cars for.

It's wonderful to see yet another company paying attention to the true majority of modelers in this hobby: non-scale traditional operators! What would be more wonderful would be is if Atlas had decided to include some [b[modern road names[/b] which are again, sorely lacking.

CSX, BNSF, Soo, CP Rail, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific, GT, CV, Conrail, Southern, and BNSF are all road names I saw represented on a train TODAY. Yet Atlas has included not one single one of these road names. It was bad enough to have Lionel, K-Line and MTH ALL IGNORE these roads on lower cost stater traditionally sized items. I find it so incredibile that Conrail was one of the biggest railroads in the country and probably the most ignored when it comes to 3-rail train starter items... and the manufacturers wonder WHY they can't interest kids in the hobby????? The products they do offer in affordable starter items are all in road names where the real railroad hasn't existed in decades! The only kid that will remember the Pennsy is not a kid, but a grandfather. And yet the train makers continue to offer long dead railroads as a way of enticing younger modelers into the hobby? Makes zero sense to me!!

I had higher hopes for what Atlas 0 would do.

This is the one true let down I have from see the new product listings. Oh well, maybe next year. Until then, back to the paint shop to make my own. Let no one wonder why 100% of my locos are now ALL repaints and 85% of my rolling stock is now too! Hard to believe that the cars I want, no one will make unless I do it. And almost every car I've painted has NEVER been done in the road name andin the 027 size range of the car.

[ChiefEagles]

Brian, I think this re-introduction was quickly noted on the Coffee Pot. I checked out the site and complained of no NS. You're right.

[Jumijo]

I stopped by a train store yesterday and bought a brand new Lionel NYC boxcar for $12! They had a bunch of them in plain white boxes. Evidently, they are 2006 add-on cars. They also had cabeese and flatcars for the same price.

These cars have the plastic wheel frames and couplers, same as the orange-boxed versions that sell for $27+. $12 is a fair price for what I bought, and I've always thought that if Lionel would reduce the price of its O27 cars to the $15 price range, they would have trouble keeping them in stock.

IR at $27 - $34 is not a great deal. The couplers are problematic and need to be worked on to keep the cars from derailing. I got 3 IR hoppers in a set for $19. I felt like I got a good deal, even with the coupler issues. But $30 for one IR car? No way.

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

Jim, maybe since Atlas has them, they fixed the couplers. Atlas usually does not sell junk. [;)]

[Anonymous]

I like the IR cars, and will probably pick up some additional log cars to complement the half-dozen or so I already have--probably another half-dozen in Westside Lumber livery to go with the K-Line Westside Lumber Porter I have. Great cars for the price I paid--about $15 each when IR was in business and about $17 each after IR was sold. That's significantly less than the list price, but it just pays to shop around and to be a bit patient.

Yes, everyone wants rolling stock, locomotives, etc. in THEIR favorite roadname, but I recognize that no manufacturer can cater to that level of diversity in such small numbers at any one time. But I do agree with BrianelO27 that the dearth of Conrail items from all O gauge manufacturers (which is the road I modeled extensively in N scale) is kind of surprising and also a bit disappointing.

[DCmontana]

Brianel027 hit the nail on the head. My little boy is 3 1/2 and most of the trains he sees are BNSF. Right now he loves his Thomas, but that will change soon. He will want to see cars for his train in BNSF livery. I will always love the Milwaukee and Milwaukee purchases will be the bulk of my train acquisitions until my final ticket is punched. He will want what he grows up with. Todays starter sets should truly reflect todays trains.

[nblum]

The simple fact is that companies make what sells. A lot of current RR graphics are dull and colorless, low maintenance. Color sells. History sells. If Conrail sold like gangbusters, you can bet Atlas would know based upon their extensive HO and N experience. Let's give them a little credit for knowing what sells and what doesn't. I haven't noticed any shortage of BNSF stuff in HO and N, so I'd expect to see more from Atlas in their Trainman and Industrial Rail lines too. As far as NS and Conrail, I wouldn't hold my breath however. These trains are just too colorless and boring for many people, no offense intended. The reason the ATSF war bonnet locos are so popular is the simple fact that they're gorgeous and eye catching, even 50 years on.

[brianel027]

I beg to differ with all opinions and here's what my observations are based on. Make yourself a traveling train layout and do train shows for a solid decade. Aim the layout not at adults, but at kids. You can have no expensive trains on the layout and no rope barrier, so kids can get up close. Don't worry. Since more than likely you will be the ONLY layout without a rope barrier or plexiglas windows around it, the parents will recognize this and will keep an eye on the kids out of appreciation (note: I never had one single problem with kids in 10 years). Any kid who wants to run your trains will be allowed the chance.... talk about giving a kid a thrill!

And now the clincher. You run the standard fare: NYC, PRR, NKR, C&O. As far as color goes here, were talking boring: black, Pennsy green (which might as well have been black), more black and dark blue. Now get out a Conrail, CSX or Norfolk Southern loco and watch the reaction. It was undeniably slanted in favor of Conrail, CSX and NS with statements from the kids like "Loook Dad, there's the train we saw yesterday!!"

Even NS boring black got lots of attention - kids recognize the horse logo. I'd put on Pennsy or NYC and the kids would tell me to run the NS or the Conrail loco again. This happned year after year, show after show. You guys who think kids don't notice this stuff are dead wrong. I'm sorry but Conrail's bright blue beats the pants off boring NYC or PRR paint schemes. And even though Conrail is now a fallen flag, there are still quite a few "big blue" locos roaming the rails... saw one yesterday. Those bright blue engines still standout on a train with no others cars in that particular color. Certainly more so that your standard fare 3-rail starter set offerings of NYC and PRR.

PS: the roads I saw on this train were: Conrail, Norfolk Southern, CSX, KCS, Soo, GT, CV, CN, CP Rail, Canadian Pacific, Southern and BNSF. This is current railroading.

The ONLY exception to what I have said here was.... you guessed it... the Santa Fe War Bonnet. Kids would see that war bonnet K-Line Alco sitting on the shelf and ask me to run that one too! There's one scheme that really has durability and appeal.

Not all kids will take an interest in trains. But the kids that do, will have a greater bond with the hobby if they have trains that somewhat resemble the ones they see today. The kids might not know the differences in locomotive types, but they sure do recognize a paint scheme. And my repainted K-Line Alco S-2's resemble a current switcher engine enough to make the point.

Don't believe me. Do what I suggest and call me in 10 years. I'm right and I'm sorry for those of you who can't see the facts. I wouldn't state this so strongly had I not see the results so constantly and consistantly for such a length of time at differing shows.

The reason the old hat postwar roadnames keep being offered is because kids today don't know what Lionel trains are. It's the grandfather who buys his grandson a train set and buys it. The postwar roadname gets grandpa to buy the set, but does very little to foster an interest, a bond and a relationship between the toy trains and the real ones for the grandson. He will never see the PRR or NYC. He will see BNSF and CSX.

By the way, I read the Model Railroader and there are loads upon loads of HO and N scale trains offered in Conrail, Norfolk Southern and CSX, so I would say THEY DO SELL like GANGBUSTERS, at least to the HO/N scale crowd. I also read Trains magazine and the recent Conrail/CSX/NS story was good.

Conrail was one of the biggest railroads in the nation, serving the most densly populated parts of the nation. The northeast US has always been and still is the strongest largest market for model train sales, so it boggles my mind as to why the current road names are so completly ignored by the 3-rail train companies as far as lower cost, non-scale trains go. The scale sized trains get made in the modern road names though, so they do sell.

I'm sure the reason has to do with costs. The train companies are pouring millions into the developement of high end trains, so every penny they can save everywhere else will be done, which includes paint masks. It's far cheaper to constantly reissue the same roadnames on starter items. I just don't think it fosters the growth this hobby seems (at least on a verbally stated level) to desire.

Think of it this way... why does McDonald's and Burger King offer tie-in toys to a current movie that is in release instead of a movie from say 40 or 50 years ago? Sure it's promotion and advertising. But the kids also want what they see. Otherwise it would be so much cheaper for these restaurants to issue toys from movies that were released 10 years ago and have since been forgotten.

One more point to ponder: name me one Lionel executive who has done what I have done and run an affordably built train layout and display that is aimed at kids with lower end starter trains? For that matter, name me one Lionel executive who has been with the company for even 5 years, nevermind 10 years. I don't think there are any.

The Lionel display at YORK is the complete opposite of what I did, with a layout that features the most top end, newest products (that tend to be more expensive) and is aimed at an already captive and attentive adult audience.

[Anonymous]

I no longer worry all that much about enticing kids into the hobby because I've found that most young kids really love trains (prototype and toy); a few of them will build on that fascination, and many won't, later in their growing-up years; and that some will return to that interest once they have become more settled in their adult lives. I guess it has pretty much always been that way.

But I do think the manufacturers are missing the boat, so to speak, by not offering more trains--and starter sets, in particular--in liveries that kids and adults are more apt to see today or in recent years. I can recall, back when I was a kid and avid Lionel enthusiast, always wanting items that represented the real railroads I saw running through my hometown (there were at least five of them, so it wasn't hard to find something).

I've always liked Conrail blue, and once had a pretty good assortment of items representing Conrail. I still have some of those items, but have found that new offerings in that roadname are relatively few and far between. Seems to me that it's an opportunity for expanded sales that isn't being fully exploited.

[Anonymous]

A modern scheme is a Flat Car with Bulkheads in the Golden West Service paint scheme.

ATLAS O Trucks and Couplers could be their high end versions.

Andrew

[3railguy]

I would hesitate to pay no more than $15.00 - $20.00 for one of these cars.

[jefelectric]

A few thoughts on the Atlas/IR cars.

The list price will undoubtedly be discounted. I don't know how much but they are starting from a list that is lower than anyone out there at present. It follows that the street price will be lower than most of the competition for New items. You can't compare overstock sales to list prices of new items. At some point, it may take a while, all of the excess K-line, etc will be gone and if you want like new condition equipment it will have to be new production.

Atlas has always been a scale company. I don't think they even considered puting road names such as NS & CSX on rolling stock who's prototype was retired before the present roads were formed. I know a lot wouldn't care, but I believe that is their thinking. I hope they do bring out some new prototype stuff with modern road names. I agree that younger guys want to see stuff that is running now, not 50 years ago.

Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

The popularity of BNSF, CSX, and NS with the younger kids shows the need for an O27 Version of the post 1972 ACF Center Flow 4650 3-Bay Covered Hopper

[douellet]

I'll probably buy a few Atlas IR cars if the price is right, around $25 each. I think that would be a fair price. I purchased a few Atlas Trainman cars for $34 each, so it would seem that these IR cars should be less expensive. A good variety of roadnames is important, new as well as old. Color sells, look how many times the State of Maine cars have been produced in all scales. It wasn't because the BAR was a big railroad.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how many of you guys like log cars, but the ones made by IR were pretty darn nice. I would definitely pay $25 or so for several more of those cars, and figure that's likely the range that larger dealers will be selling them at.

[Andrew Falconer]

Now would the Union Pacific Heritage Scheme for the SSW Cotton Belt ACF CENTER FLOW 3-Bay Covered Hoppers be considered a dead railroad, even though it was recently applied?

[ChiefEagles]

TK Hobby Shop in Bridgeport OH has a bunch of the original IR cars.  Saw them yesterday afternoon while I was visiting OH/WV.  If interested, www.tkhobbies or 740-633-6607 [orders, 877-633-4779.  His shipping is "dirt cheap".  Bought 8 cars and had then shipped back to NC for $7.50 [total] as no room in my "roller bag" [that would have driven TSA crazy ].

[Anonymous]

TK Hobby Shop in Bridgeport OH has a bunch of the original IR cars.  Saw them yesterday afternoon while I was visiting OH/WV.  If interested, www.tkhobbies or 740-633-6607 [orders, 877-633-4779.  His shipping is "dirt cheap".  Bought 8 cars and had then shipped back to NC for $7.50 [total] as no room in my "roller bag" [that would have driven TSA crazy ].

Chief - I tried tkhobbies.com and it takes me to some media site.  I tried looking up the site using google too, mabey there is an issue with the web site?

[ChiefEagles]

TK Hobby Shop in Bridgeport OH has a bunch of the original IR cars.  Saw them yesterday afternoon while I was visiting OH/WV.  If interested, www.tkhobbies or 740-633-6607 [orders, 877-633-4779.  His shipping is "dirt cheap".  Bought 8 cars and had then shipped back to NC for $7.50 [total] as no room in my "roller bag" [that would have driven TSA crazy ].

Chief - I tried tkhobbies.com and it takes me to some media site.  I tried looking up the site using google too, mabey there is an issue with the web site?

 

Got it from the flier I brought back in my brief case.  Try calling him tomorrow.  Really nice guy.

[Jumijo]

Jeez, Chief,

Tell the whole world! I thought that store was our little secret. Can't trust a Southerner to keep his pie hole shut.

Just kidding! The web address lead me to a media page as well.

Jim

[trainmasterz]

Chief, Drew,

I'm just sittin here with my mouth watering, waiting to hear more about theses $7.50 I R cars.  I believe it was Jim that said "30some bucks, no way!".  Its nice to see the site up.  I'm not smart enough to figure out the unlock thing so....  And btw I soo agree, the ACF Centerflows just scream "BIG TRAIN" and slap on a bright or current road name and I'll look like I'm 12 again!

MTH-Lionel Indecesionmaker

 

[trainmasterz]

Jim,

Im relying on you to keep us posted on where to buy the 10-15 buck rolling stock.  I stumble across someone offering that price for 3-rail, and my only question is "how many you got?" wheres the dang "mouth watering" smiley at?

[Andrew Falconer]

The original prices for the Industrial Rail freight cars was between $23.99 and $26.99 at the Rider's Hobby Shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The only time the price came down was during the holiday sales. These cars sold out quickly. The line of small cars was big. Then IHC stopped production.

There are still more cars body styles to come for the Industrial Rail Line. Old Time Ore Car, the Hoppers, and the Caboose. The fine people at Atlas O could surprise us with a new car or a locomotive in matching proportions. 

Reminder: In the MTH Rugged Rails Line there have been Norfolk Southern freight cars. The Rugged Rails cars are similar to the Industrial Rail freight cars. Do the search on the MTH-RailKing site.

Andrew.