Atlas?...Steam?...Get out!!!

[tstage]

Did anyone else notice the ATLAS advertisement in this month's MR for their new N-scale 2-truck Shay? (Since I don't have it in front of me, I'm not sure what quality line it is under.)

That was a complete surprise for me. Anyone of you N-scalers out there have one? How does it look and run? Has anyone heard whether or not ATLAS is actually thinking about making some steamers in HO and, perhaps, which ones? Thanks!

Tom

[trolleyboy]

I haven't heard of any yet but one would assume that it will be just a matter of time as in HO Atlas and Kato are the only big guys without some decent plastic steam in thier cat. I'm sure that they've noted that the appetite for plastic steam is on the rise and likely as not will not want to be left in the wake of the rest of the model companies. My choice would be some smaller steam 10 wheelers pacifics that sort of ilk.here's hopping TB[8D][swg]

[Virginian]

Oh man, I can see it now, and Atlas VGN 2-10-10-2 ! I want to reserve one NOW ! And I am not kidding.

[timthechef]

You gotta love it! bring back the steam, modern engines are boring!

[Anonymous]

Based on what we've seen with Kato and Atlas, they could make EXCELLENT steam and first generation diesels as well. Anyone up for an EMD E5?[8D]

[jrbernier]

Atlas announced a 2 truck shay and a 2-6-0 'mogul' about a year ago(N scale). I saw them at the Trainfest show in Milwaukee last November. They were pre-production samples, but look good.
Same nice 'sound/DCC' steamers to compete with P2K/Spectrum/BLI would be nice!

Jim Bernier

[Jetrock]

Hmm....Shay in N scale...sounds like an ideal test-bed for an HOn30 Shay conversion!

[twhite]

Well, Atlas and Kato had better get with the program as far as HO steam goes. Unlike the prototype, model steam just seems to be growing and growing. And to think that I was actually contemplating 'updating' the California Extension with a set of Rio Grande FT's. Not with all this new steam coming out, I'm not!!
Tom [}:)][}:)][}:)]

[cacole]

Steam engines are nothing new to Atlas -- they used to make steam engines many years ago, from what I recall. I don't own any because they were the Mercedes of trains back then.

[Fergmiester]

AHHhhhhhhhhh... Steam!

The Only choice!

[egmurphy]

The Atlas N scale Shay's have just been delivered within the past week or so. You can read a number of threads discussing them on either the Atlas N Scale Forum, or on the Trainboard N Scale forum. Apparently quite the little jewel. Generally positive comments but there are, of course, some problems appearing with the first run.

The Atlas N scale Mogul has been out for some months. It's not really manufactured by Atlas. It's the old Micro-Ace Mogul with a couple of refinements. It's made by Micro Ace for Atlas. Again, lots of discussion on either of those two N scale specific forums. Also the comments have been very positive about this loco.

There has been no further rumor from Atlas regarding any future N scale steam loco production.


Regards

Ed

[Wdlgln005]

Considering the Nscale steamers out this yeay, Atlas seems to have 2 winners on their hands.

The little Mogul is a jewel, and mus t be seen to be believed. It is a great stand in for the Bachmann 4-4-0 and fits the era nicely. for it's size, it pulls nicely. It looks great pulling a string of MDC Overton/Overland passengers. Atlas does make a fine line of old wooden boxcars, similar to MTL, to make a realistic small train.

The little Shay is actually a diesel hidden under a shell, pulling the 4 axles of the 2 truck shay. The valve gear goes for a ride. At a few ounces, it pulls about a dozen Nscale cars. It seems to be a very hot seller, so Atlas will have to re-run more of them later. I understand the undecorated units will not ship till the end of Jan, so more may be on the way to dealers soon.

[orsonroy]

Don't hold your breath on Atlas HO steam. Atlas has had a long tradition in supporting the N scale steam market by slapping their name on somebody else's product and marketing it in the USA. That's what happened in the 1960s-1970s with their "Atlas" (Rovarossi) steamers, and that's what happened with their "Atlas" (Micro Ace) 2-6-0. Yes, it's nice, but somebody else sprung for the tooling costs and took the risks. The Atlas shay is the first steamer they've designed themselves, but the risk was minimal. How many other companies have come out with an N scale shay?

HO steam is a different kettle of fish, and the market MAY be flooded right now. Atlas makes high quality diesels; they're right up there with Kato as the best diesels on the market. They've basically said that they're going to continue concentrating on ONLY diesels.

And KAto couldn't care less about coming out with American prorotype steam in HO; the American market is a tiny share of their profits, as is HO in general, so why would they bother? I'd see them coming out with a Japanese prototype HO steamer first, but virtually every modeler on that island is into N.

[AggroJones]

Awwwwww. I though you were going to say Atlas has entered HO steam. I already knew about their N stuff.
Hopefully they do, cause we need another steam locomotive manufacture.

[twhite]

Judging from the polls on this forum and the line in my LHS putting in reservations for new stuff from BLI and Proto, I'd hardly say the steam market is flooded right now. What it IS, is frustrating from the point of view of how many modelers are trying to get ahold of 'limited editions' from the manufacturers. Hell, Rivarossi could (and I hope they do) release another run of their Alleghenies and have them wiped off the shelves in a week. My LHS in Roseville was sold out of their Genesis Challengers in about four days (I had to beat the pants off of someone to get my Rio Grande, and I'm not even that CRAZY about the 3800 UP knockoffs). My other LHS in Sacramento has a waiting list for the BLI Santa Fe that is probably for more locos than Baldwin made of the prototype! I just sent in an order to Peachcreek shops for a brass Missabe 2-8-8-4 to find out that I was about an hour late, it was off the shelf and being sent off to someone else. Now my hunt's on for another one (Rotsa Ruck!). I don't think the market's flooded at all.
Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Awwwwww. I though you were going to say Atlas has entered HO steam. I already knew about their N stuff.
Hopefully they do, cause we need another steam locomotive manufacture.

I would have thought by now they would have jumped since Atlas is now being run
by the fellow that ran Bachmann.

[orsonroy]

The steam market's not flooded?

Bachmann - 22 models
Broadway Limited - 18 models
IHC - 11 models
Life Like - 7 models
Marklin/Trix - 2 models
Mantua - 4 models
MDC - 17 models
Model Power - 6 models
Rivarossi - 18 models
Athearn - 3 models
Bowser - 22 models

And that's just different major body styles. Add up all the different paint schemes, and you've got several HUNDRED. All above numbers, except Bowser, Athearn and MDC are what's available NOW from Walthers. Add Ebay and brass, and we steam junkies have it WAY better than diesel guys...in terms of selection.

[egmurphy]

We N scalers are envious of the choices you guys in Horribly Oversized have in steam locomotives. The market for steam in N scale is far from saturated. It's better than it was 5 years ago, but just as a small example we have no:
- Atlantics
- 0-8-0 switchers
- Ten-wheelers (Bachmann indefinately postponed their planned release)
- Moguls or Americans from the early 20th century (although MP has these coming shortly)


Regards

Ed