I have checked my local train hobby shops he in the LA area, there is not one of them that has a decent amount of stock in. I have found it impossible to find what I need in one location. I contacted Atlas who stated that everything has shipped except Code 83 switches. Am I dealing with imcompetence here with my shops who is Atlas pulling the wool over my eyes. I would have to literally drive hundreds of miles to get track from the different shops here. The internet is the same deal and in that case you get nailed for shipping from 4 or 5 different places. I am new here so does anyone have any suggestions?
Kev
Can't stop working on the railroad!
Also in the LA area, a while ago I was searching for Atlas N flex track, NO ONE had any or any idea when they would ever get any, I ended up with Shinohara, which was plentiful, as is Micro-Engineering.
Does it HAVE to be Atlas? there are others.
Have fun with your trains
I think part of the problem is that Atlas ships it, but as soon as it hits the store it is bought up. It was gone for awhile and there seem to be many folks waiting to grab it up.
Unfortunately, I have most of the track I need, I lost my big space and have not gotten to finishing off the smaller space so that I can work on building a new layout.
I'm afraid that "patience" is the word.
Good luck,
Richard
I had the same problem in Florida. I ended up searching ebay and using several different sources on ebay to buy my track. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably shy away from Atlas turnouts, I'm having some problems with the remotes. Anyway, try ebay.
You might want to look at the Hiawatha Hobbies web site. It shows all items of Atlas HO scale code 83 track are in stock. No connection here except as a very satisfied repeat customer.
I have spoken with people at Atlas a number of times. Each one says it wil lbe here on XX date, but it never shows up. I finally got an email from the head of atlas production who stated that the Atlas code 55 will be here in November. i told him that if was not , I will be teating out all of my Atlas track and going to Micro Engineering code 55 whic h everyone seems to have in good supply. We will see, but I am NOT holding my breath..
I guess Atlas' track manufacturing ability has been a problem for over a year! I would move on to one of the other manufacturers.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Again we see the problem of over seas manufacturing which requires larger batches with longer down times in between.
Have you tried any big online outlets like Trainworld? I have not bought any recently, but they always had a good stock, low prices and fast shipping when I was buying lots of track.
Small local hobby shops are likely not getting their track direct from Atlas, so they are at the mercy of distributors who may well direct limited supplies of products to bigger customers until supplies catch back up to demand.
Next point, what kind of prices do all these local shops have? How much lower are the online prices to possibly offset shipping costs from several sources?
As I have said before in these disccussions about product price and supply - you cannot have your cake and eat it too.
Everybody wants everything right now - UNTIL somebody charges a price that would pay for ALLWAYS having it in stock?
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Again we see the problem of over seas manufacturing which requires larger batches with longer down times in between. Have you tried any big online outlets like Trainworld? I have not bought any recently, but they always had a good stock, low prices and fast shipping when I was buying lots of track. Small local hobby shops are likely not getting their track direct from Atlas, so they are at the mercy of distributors who may well direct limited supplies of products to bigger customers until supplies catch back up to demand. Next point, what kind of prices do all these local shops have? How much lower are the online prices to possibly offset shipping costs from several sources? As I have said before in these disccussions about product price and supply - you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Everybody wants everything right now - UNTIL somebody charges a price that would pay for ALLWAYS having it in stock? Sheldon
Yes, what you say certainly seems to describe today's international business M.O. However, what seems to be being forgotten, is customer satisfaction. Wanting something right now; but, waiting for more than a year to get it seems like more than enough patience with a supplier, to me.
NP2626 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Again we see the problem of over seas manufacturing which requires larger batches with longer down times in between. Have you tried any big online outlets like Trainworld? I have not bought any recently, but they always had a good stock, low prices and fast shipping when I was buying lots of track. Small local hobby shops are likely not getting their track direct from Atlas, so they are at the mercy of distributors who may well direct limited supplies of products to bigger customers until supplies catch back up to demand. Next point, what kind of prices do all these local shops have? How much lower are the online prices to possibly offset shipping costs from several sources? As I have said before in these disccussions about product price and supply - you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Everybody wants everything right now - UNTIL somebody charges a price that would pay for ALLWAYS having it in stock? Sheldon Yes, what you say certainly seems to describe today's international business M.O. However, what seems to be being forgotten, is customer satisfaction. Wanting something right now; but, waiting for more than a year to get it seems like more than enough patience with a supplier, to me.
I agree, but when production is thousands of miles away, in the hands of others, in a "small" industry, this is what you get. Especially when everyone wants the cheapest price...........rather than service.
In my business of restoring and remodeling old homes, we have a saying:
You can have it fast, You have have it well made, you can have it at the lowest cost - pick two, you cannot have all three.
Is it just Atlas track and turnouts that are the problem? Or are other items within the Atlas line also being affected (locomotives, rolling stock etc)? Business theory and technical speak aside, I just cannot figure out why Atlas is having such a hard time keeping it's track, especially it's turnouts, stocked with suppliers? The other manufacturers of track components don't seem to be having any issues keeping their suppliers well stocked. You just have to wonder how many modelers in the relatively small community of model railroaders have turned away from Atlas track in favor of another brand, probably never to return? And who could blame them? There is nothing worse then having your plans and materials ready for construction but you are waiting on one critical element, in this case track. If I needed track I would be finding another brand that met my needs as Atlas clearly cannot. Atlas has been stringing modelers along for over a year now with the "it will be here by this date" excuse and I sense that it's wearing thin/worn thin now. Wasn't there a full page add in one of the MRR issues just prior to Christmas from Atlas saying that all track would be stocked by the new year...or something to that affect?
Anyway, good luck with the track hunting all!
Happy modeling!
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."
ATLANTIC CENTRALIn my business of restoring and remodeling old homes, we have a saying: You can have it fast, You have have it well made, you can have it at the lowest cost - pick two, you cannot have all three. Sheldon
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
It's a free world and there are others who make track and turnouts, such as PECO. Maybe they deserve your business. Saw them at the national train show and they are very nice to deal with.
BTW, I am working with several mfgs who are quitting on China for lots of reasons.
ATLANTIC CENTRALgain we see the problem of over seas manufacturing
MicroEngineering makes track in the US and has gone out of stock quite often in various scales, gauges, and track codes. MicroTrains makes rolling stock in the US in extremely limited runs, expecting to sell out so that they may offer different styles and roadnames within limited factory capacity. PECO track is manufactured "overseas" and is nearly always in stock.
This political/economic hobbyhorse is one a number of folks on this forum love to ride again and again ad nauseum, but it's not the simplistic black-and-white issue some portray. The breadth of the model railroad hobby today has led to limited runs. A shake-up in factories in China led to Atlas' track problems (as well as others).
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
caldreamer...I will be teating out all of my Atlas track and going to Micro Engineering code 55 whic h everyone seems to have in good supply.
Why tear out existing track? Atlas and ME code 55 are compatible, including visually, so you can just start with ME where the Atlas leaves off. I'm in HO and have Atlas, ME, Shinohara/Walthers and Central Valley turnout kits all within close proximity. If you figure out the differences in how each brand works with others you can mix at will.
Rob Spangler
Brunton ATLANTIC CENTRALIn my business of restoring and remodeling old homes, we have a saying: You can have it fast, You have have it well made, you can have it at the lowest cost - pick two, you cannot have all three. SheldonGee Sheldon, if you manage two of those with any regularity, you're head and shoulders above most of the competition!
Thank you.
I am primarily a historic restoration consultant and residential designer. I do a few small hands on projects for select clients on a referal basis - never go looking for that work. I am very particular and have even told potential clients during a first meeting that I was not the right guy for their project if I don't get a good vibe.
I am very "quality" oriented, but not "high end" for its own sake. We do good work, we don't rush, we charge a fair price. Not the lowest, far from the highest. We are willing to work with DIY homeowners who find themselves in over their head. Many "old house" people are the DIY type, but need help in specific areas.
We only do construction work on a time and material basis - no pricing games, no hidden markups, no low quality materials for the sake of profit. If your project is trouble free, you save, if we open a wall to a problem, you pay what it takes. No big markups to "cover" the unknown.
There are reasons why it is called an "estimate".
My phone never stops ringing.....
cuyamaThis political/economic hobbyhorse is one a number of folks on this forum love to ride again and again ad nauseum, but it's not the simplistic black-and-white issue some portray. The breadth of the model railroad hobby today has led to limited runs. A shake-up in factories in China led to Atlas' track problems (as well as others).
Yup, you got that right!
http://www.atlasrr.com/containershipping-track.htm
there you go Atlas track shipping schedules, fellas next time a thread pops up like this could we just put this link in there and leave it. atlas track is a good track, with multiple options that's why these Atlas track threads keep popping up.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
Burlington Northern #24 http://www.atlasrr.com/containershipping-track.htm there you go Atlas track shipping schedules, fellas next time a thread pops up like this could we just put this link in there and leave it. atlas track is a good track, with multiple options that's why these Atlas track threads keep popping up.
You just had to go and spoil everybody's fun, didn't you?
Andre
andrechapelon Burlington Northern #24 http://www.atlasrr.com/containershipping-track.htm there you go Atlas track shipping schedules, fellas next time a thread pops up like this could we just put this link in there and leave it. atlas track is a good track, with multiple options that's why these Atlas track threads keep popping up. You just had to go and spoil everybody's fun, didn't you? Andre
Jeez,,How many threads,do we really need going on about,Atlas track??
Curious,minds would like to know,,,,LOL..
Cheers,
Frank
zstripe Jeez,,How many threads,do we really need going on about,Atlas track?? Curious,minds would like to know,,,,LOL.. Cheers, Frank
Steven, could you possibly do that?
cuyama PECO track is manufactured "overseas" and is nearly always in stock.
PECO track is manufactured "overseas" and is nearly always in stock.
PECO continues to look better every time an Atlas thread shows up.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
tgindy cuyama PECO track is manufactured "overseas" and is nearly always in stock. PECO continues to look better every time an Atlas thread shows up.
PECO could be half the price of ATLAS and I would still not be interested - don't like the sprung throw bars or their wiring approach.
tgindyPECO continues to look better every
Russell
Sorry for jumping in late here. Gary has already provided the link to our Track Shipping Schedule, which is accurate to the information we have on any given day. We update it as necessary when we receive any additional word from our track factory.
As has been mentioned, we had to move our production from one main factory to a number of smaller factories. Most of our cars and locomotives are now produced at one factory, most of the HO & N track at another, and the O scale track is at a third. We have gotten the rolling stock production to a reliable point, the locomotives are starting to come in as well. We have been getting 20' containers of track, at least one a month, since November, and have been shipping it out as fast as it comes in. We have moved through the product lines and have shipped most of the code 100 products except for turnouts, a large portion of the code 83, N code 80 and HO True Track. The balance of the line is expected by the end of the year.
As you can imagine, there are a large number of tools (molds and stamping dies) in the product line, and getting them all transferred to the new factories, tested, repaired, and made to work with the new factories' equipment has taken a great deal of time. Now that we have worked through a good portion of the line, a lot of the kinks have been worked out of the system, and we expect the remaining pieces to return to production a little faster than the earlier pieces.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Paul Graf
Atlas Model Railroad Company
Paul Graf Sorry for jumping in late here. Gary has already provided the link to our Track Shipping Schedule, which is accurate to the information we have on any given day. We update it as necessary when we receive any additional word from our track factory. As has been mentioned, we had to move our production from one main factory to a number of smaller factories. Most of our cars and locomotives are now produced at one factory, most of the HO & N track at another, and the O scale track is at a third. We have gotten the rolling stock production to a reliable point, the locomotives are starting to come in as well. We have been getting 20' containers of track, at least one a month, since November, and have been shipping it out as fast as it comes in. We have moved through the product lines and have shipped most of the code 100 products except for turnouts, a large portion of the code 83, N code 80 and HO True Track. The balance of the line is expected by the end of the year. As you can imagine, there are a large number of tools (molds and stamping dies) in the product line, and getting them all transferred to the new factories, tested, repaired, and made to work with the new factories' equipment has taken a great deal of time. Now that we have worked through a good portion of the line, a lot of the kinks have been worked out of the system, and we expect the remaining pieces to return to production a little faster than the earlier pieces. Thank you for your patience and support.
AMEN! I have no idea why people continue to ask about track (or any other product) availability on forums instead of just looking on the manufacturer's website or asking them directly via their customer support mechanism. For unusual situations like this perhaps a sticky thread would be a good option to help quell some of the bickering that ensues.
TO ATLAS:Thanks for taking time to respond to these questions when you can, I certainly don't expect you to monitor forums and provide support that way but appreciate that you do.
As information, I was at a hobby shop with Atlas track in stock two days ago ( Saturday 8/24). It is Oak Mountain Hobbies in Pelham, AL (south of Birmingham, AL). He said he will sell by mail order.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Thank you very much, my LHS got some stock in this past weekend. They didn't have everything but enough for my needs.