Should Atlas make steam locomotives?

[Anonymous]

Yes, they should!
But PLEASE don't duplicate something that BLI, P2K or Spectrum isn't already selling!
Be original!

Like maybe a Western Maryland H-9 2-8-0?[;)]

[twhite]

Steamdrag: PUH-LEEZ, we're already stumbling over UP 4-6-6-4's! If one more comes out, I'm going to go up to the Roseville yard with a protest sign!
However, I think Atlas coming out with some steam would be great--the more the merrier, I think. and from what I've seen in the polls, good-running plastic steam is becoming VERY popular, even with the younger modelers who probably never even saw one run in regular service. Okay, maybe NOT articulateds--though if they want to, I'm certaily not going to complain--then maybe some neat, off-the wall not-modeled -very- frequently non-articulateds. I'd certainly rush down to the hobby shop for, say, a Burlington 2-8-2, or a Rio Grande C-45 2-8-0 (or an SP class in the same wheel arrangement), or one of those GORGEOUS Burlington Hudsons, or Northerns, or almost ANYTHING from NP or GN. Hey, there's a lot of steam out there we could use, without having to morgtage the house for brass. I say, Atlas and Kato, ARE YOU LISTENING?

[on30francisco]

Yes, if they make them with the same quality as their diesels. It would be nice if they made them for On30 scale also.

[Anonymous]

Why not?

[Anonymous]

This question is absolutely stupid, because it is to manufacturers to decide, not to us to speculate on what can X, Y or Z do.

Steam locomotives are very specific in many ways. They won't sell as well as diesels. They can't be duplicated in as many different color schemes as diesels. Most modelers will buy one, while they buy several models of a same diesel. And above all, the mechanism of a model steam locomotive is something very tricky to design and make it run on the... long run. This is a very specific expertise. Starting from zero will cost a fortune to anyone entering in this business.

When I see Trix, and Athearn, and Lionel, and BLI, all jumping to make huge steam engines, I unfortunately believe that some may never recover from the R&D costs. Especially when some are "clever" enough to release a same model.

Let the experts do what they do best. And let the risks to whomever wants to develop a new expertise. And during that time, the Rivarossi tooling sleeps idle, what a shame!

[ClinchValleySD40]

Absolutely not. Keep pumping out the great diesels. Let someone else worry about the steam.

[darth9x9]

My vote was for "If they would be as good as their HO diesels, yes."

But I think it will be very expensive for Atlas to R&D a really good running steam mechanism unless they purchase someone else's. I don't think LL/Proto will be selling their chassis to Atlas.

[Anonymous]

Yes. And not to put too fine a point on it, it should a Schenectady 4-6-0, circa 1902. In N scale. And they should do it now.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

Wayne

[coal drag]

Only if it's a 4-6-6-4 UP 3850(??) with a metel boiler for traction, and able to pull what the real ones pulled. Option for DCC w/NO sound, and cost less than $125 street price.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

Once the Hornby UK tender dust settles Atlas as one of the bidders, throw in a bid
to acquire the tooling/manufacturing/distribution rights to Rivarossi..

Interesting idea - but I think it most likely that Walthers will want to get their hands on the Rivarossi tooling, the goodwill of the Rivarrossi name in the US is just too valuable for Walthers to loose.

To answer the original thread - yes - I think it would be great for Atlas to enter the high quality mass-produced market with a steam loco. There's always room for more competition.

It would be quite interesting to see what they'd go for in terms of prototype? In N they have the Shay and Mogul. There is already 2 shays in HO (although describing the MDC product as "high quality" is stretching the point[;)]) but there isn't a high quality Mogul in HO I just don't see it being a top seller, unless I'm very much mistaken.

QUOTE: And for cripes sake, will all the manufacturers please stop making articulateds! We need SMALL STEAM, not the rare gigantic stuff!

[#ditto]WELL SAID![8]

[orsonroy]

Put me down for a combo of 1, 3 and 4. Except for the light 2-10-2 and heavy 4-6-2 (both of which are oddball engines), the USRA series of steamers has been tapped out by everyone else. If Atlas was to enter the HO steam game, they'd have to either go the route of BLI and make road-specific engines, or actually pick up the ball and make the "other" line of standard steam: Harriman designs (my personal choice!).

And for cripes sake, will all the manufacturers please stop making articulateds! We need SMALL STEAM, not the rare gigantic stuff!

[Anonymous]

Once the Hornby UK tender dust settles Atlas as one of the bidders, throw in a bid
to acquire the tooling/manufacturing/distribution rights to Rivarossi..

Crazier things have been done.

[lupo]

IMO: If all major manufacturers start a line of plastic steam, and the demand for steam stays the same, the amount of models each company is selling will go down, so the prices could rise, because the tooling costs have to be paid by fewer customers.

[AggroJones]

It would be lovely if Atlas and Kato jumped on the wagon. Every major company should have a line of high quality plastic steam.

[Gunneral]

The N gauge Mogul just released looks very good!

[IRONROOSTER]

Yes in S scale[:D][:D]
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Yes, I believe Atlas should make HO steam. Their N line has 1 or 2 steamers, but they don't look as of high quality as Atlas diesels.