Like many I am still waiting to hear when Atlas code 83 and 100 will be back in stock. Since I am not in tune with many of the information resources some of you have I was wondering if anyone has heard anything, especially with code 83 #6 switches and flex track.
On a side note I have been considering using Walters Shinora track. Is this similar to the Atlas track?
Thanks
I came here hoping to figure out the same, but for N scale code 55 and 80. I really wanted to jump in and do some work on a model railroad. I subscribed to Model Railroader. I have done a TON of research on model railroading, working my way through reams of great information available everywhere. I figured out everything I wanted to start with: DCC, locomotives, etc. I figured out I wanted to get Atlas track. All set to go! Except, it apparently is impossible to buy track! And switches! And this has been going on for some time! It is very difficult to sort out exactly what is going on, even with all of the Google and internet you can muster.
I read some information that in August it would break free and stuff would start to become available. Now August has come and gone. Still nothing, at least that I can find.
Is there any sort of way to figure out what is going on in some logical way? Or, is it just a haphazard thing where everyone just needs to sit around and hope for the best? Will August become October? Then 2014? Then maybe never?
I am sitting on a pretty big order of all sorts of stuff to get me started. But my enthusiasm is waning. My confidence in the hobby is dropping as I consider this: How can you build a railroad without track? How can it be that one of the major manufacturers can't supply the most fundamental pieces required to make the hobby go, and for such an extended period of time?
Just so we don't have a re-# of this topic again, please see page 2 of the following thread: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/219896.aspx?sort=ASC&pi314=2
I just don't understand the reluctance to change manufacturers. In the business world if a company doesn't perform you find a new provider or you are out of business yourself in short order.
I was in cargo logistics for 36 years. If Air Canada suddenly couldn't provide the 747 freighter it was suppose to, I was on the phone to other Airlines and would have another plane on its way often before I hung up the phone.
Move on people! Take action! Make things happen! Don't let things happen!
However, if you choose to spend the rest of your lives "waiting for Godot" why not read the book while you're waiting?
Geesh
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Thanks for those updates. Think I will get some straight sections so I can make a programming track, then I can spend some time installing and playing around with decoders and such. That will keep me busy for a while. Then I can start looking at converting to Peco, or maybe there will be some new action with Atlas.
My local Hobby shop just ordered 3 cases of c100 Flex track on Thursday (Aug 29) and they Back Ordered the 300 pieces of track.
The owner stated he had checked on the Dealer Site of Walthers on Aug 30 and it showed the Back Ordered track to be shipped and due to arrive Sept 3.
So they just received a Container of track at the Warehouse.
Now if they just could get the Turnouts in!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
And I'm sure that you've heard that Rapido is now making trackage?
http://www.rapidotrains.com/track.html
Good grief people are still waiting for Atlas track?
I just went to my LHS Caboose Hobbies. And they had loads and loads of flex track and switches. Peco, Walthers, and Micro Engineering. Both code 83, 100 and n scale too.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Teamanglerx ...I was wondering if anyone has heard anything, especially with code 83 #6 switches and flex track.
...I was wondering if anyone has heard anything, especially with code 83 #6 switches and flex track.
I just picked up a couple pieces of Atlas code 83 flex from my LHS last week. They had plenty in stock, but there is pent up demand for Atlas so it seems to sell out fast. I hear the same from people dealing with other shops and e-retailers.
On a side note I have been considering using Walters Shino[ha]ra track. Is this similar to the Atlas track?
Not really. Walthers code 83 flex retains whatever curve you bend into it, and takes much more work to install smoothly than Atlas. It has a somewhat closer to scale look. The turnouts are DCC friendly (at least current production are), and similar to Atlas 83 "Super Track" to use. The Walthers 83 line doesn't have turnouts equivalent to Atlas Custom Line which are already set up for crossovers on 2" centers, so you'll have to modify them for crossovers and various other applications where Custom Line turnouts can be used out of the package. None of these differences represent problems, but do require some adjustment if you're used to the Atlas brand.
Rob Spangler
BATMAN I just don't understand the reluctance to change manufacturers. In the business world if a company doesn't perform you find a new provider or you are out of business yourself in short order.
My trackplan was designed with Atlas turnouts and I require their geometry to make things work.
These Rolls Royce parts can't be crammed into this GE engine on my 747-400F!
NittanyLionThese Rolls Royce parts can't be crammed into this GE engine on my 747-400F!
There's the rub! You should have ordered the plane with the Rolls Royce engines in the first place.
On second thought I have a lot of GE stock, So never mind.
I thought I would never say this but,I quit Atlas track in favor of Peco switches and Mirco Engineering flex track.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Is there any truth to the rumor that Walthers has sent its agents all over the country buying up Atlas flex track and turnouts, so that it can sell its own flex track and turnouts at twice the price of Atlas flex track and turnouts?
Huh, huh, huh?
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,
OH,OH,,,,,,,,One heck,of a rumor,,,,but interesting,,,,LOL...
Cheers,
Frank
M.B. Klein had Atlas N-scale code 80 flex track in 20-piece bulk packages at $57 last week, but they went fast. They are now showing that they are out of stock. My guess is that when the track, switches, etc. break loose from Atlas, they'll be going to the bigger dealers first, e.g., M.B. Klein. If they're available from Atlas, Klein is pretty good about restocking their inventory. Another nice thing about Klein is that if they are out of stock on a particular item you can request that they inform you, via E-mail, when the item is back in stock. It worked for me on the N-scale flex track.
Now I just need to find a source of Atlas nickel-silver rail joiners for N-scale code 80 track.
Bob
Ya know, they have posted a shipping schedule on their web site:
http://www.atlasrr.com/containershipping-track.htm
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I finally did see that shipping schedule. So the question would be: How accurate is it? I did a little bit of looking, and I saw that stuff "arriving June" and "expected July" seems to be available as of now. So that should be a good sign. So the question for the day is how about "expected August", which contains a lot of good loot? Hopefully, if the past performance holds true, all that stuff should start showing up some time soon.
If the August stuff could show up soon, then everyone should then have better confidence that the other stuff will follow later in the Fall (switches that everyone wants).
If your dealer only orders through Walthers, you might have a long wait. Atlas is (thankfully) one of the few left that is their own distributor, so I suspect they will be filling orders for their direct dealers before they stock a middleman like Walthers.
I'd love to support my LHS more, but the owner will not bother with becoming a dealer for things I would buy, like Digitrax equipment and TCS decoders, instead they only get them through Walthers, which greatly limits the discount they can offer. About the only thing they get outside of Walthers is Atlas track and rolling stock, and I can get as good a deal on track from them as I do from Klein. And of course their Athearn comes from Horizon, but they already deal with Horizon for the RC portion of the shop.
richhotrain Is there any truth to the rumor that Walthers has sent its agents all over the country buying up Atlas flex track and turnouts, so that it can sell its own flex track and turnouts at twice the price of Atlas flex track and turnouts?
Has anyone gone dumpster diving at the back of Walthers head office? You never know...the mother of all Atlas HO and N scale track loads may be languishing at the bottom of a dumpster located on Walthers property somewhere...! If found, it would be the King Solomon's Mines of model railroader treasures...!
Happy Modeling all!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
Randy and Others
My local Hobby Shop just received 300 pieces (3 Cases) today.
They checked on Walthers Dealer Site and they still show Atlas Track 150-168 (Case) still in stock as the Dealer stated that his order was sent out on August 29 so that would be a couple of days to fill their back orders and they still have track listed.
Maybe their Back Orders are almost filled now!
Motley Good grief people are still waiting for Atlas track? I just went to my LHS Caboose Hobbies. And they had loads and loads of flex track and switches. Peco, Walthers, and Micro Engineering. Both code 83, 100 and n scale too.
Same here, I really dont get the obsession. This is getting to be like when MickeyDs runs out of Chicken McLugnuts and people go into a tizzy about it.
When I built my small N micro-layout, my LHS didn't have any Atlas flex, I went "Oh....OK, what else ya got?" and walked out with very much IN stock Shinohara flex and I am completely happy with it.
Get over the obsession, there are perfectly good options.
Have fun with your trains