After seeing that thread about MTH, and a few prior negetive threads about Athearn, and other companies, I've never seen one bad thing about Atlas.
What does everyone think of them?
Personally I love them. Trainline is the perfect rolling stock line for me, since I am on a budget. Plus I've gotten some trainline stuff 50% off before at the local HobbyTown USA ($8.00 for a good quality gondola, sure I'll take that ;) ) I do realize they've had some issue's with track availibility, but overall I think they are my favorite MRR Company.
I like their diesels. My lone HH660 switcher w/sound is both a beautiful looking and operating locomotive. I like Atlas track but I don't care for their turnouts or crossings.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I like them. Most of mine are older models, mostly 70's and a few 80's. One GP40, half a dozen FP7's. Two newer ones I have (late 90's and 04-05) are an FM H24-66 and a GE U30C.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Atlas has been a long time manufacturer of model trains. Their current production locomotoves are some of the best running/detailed models available. I rank then alongside Kato for smooth running capabilities. Their rolling stock also have been quite nice.
Their track products have been an industry standard for years and has been upgraded through the yeas as well. The availability issues of the past year has been due to the need to switch manufacturing plants in China. Several manufactureres have run into this issue as well over the past 2-3 years.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Speaking of Atlas HO stuff, well for the money its about as good as it gets. Their locos used to have (don't know about now) Kato drives, and man are they smooth runners!
As Jim says, their track products have been the basis of the hobby for at least the 60 years I've been with HO. They, and folks like Athearn, KaDee, MRC, and a few others provided solid affordable means to get into the hobby.
I still use their track products, and again - for the money - there is none better.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Atlas gets a good rep because they've been around long enough to know how that benefits a vendor in its relationship with its customers. Good customer service is almost never profitable at the moment when it's done right, but is a good investment that pays major dividends in the long run. Up and coming vendors should take note. Two examples of young companies similarly doing it right AFAIK are Blackstone/Soundtraxx and Rapido. There are more. I won't bother with the, uhum, opposite list.
When Atlas produces new items, they tend to be near the cutting edge. They do constantly improve older designs. Some are long in tooth and biz has been slow, but the quality was there to begin with, so even if it's just a quick makeover for now, Atlas tends to sell well.
I've used Atlas track in the past, but it's more utlitarian than scale. That's a good thing for a large part of their market. The Code 83 track was a step up and was well received, but I've had no need to try any.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I agree with the o.p. about the Trainman line, but I wish they would offer more road #'s especially for coal cars, etc. They did a good job with the trash containers and flats. I bought a bunch of their Centerbeam Lumber cars which I am very happy with. Recently, I've passed on some of the new higher priced runs of some items that I would normally have automatically bought.
Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!
Every manufacturer will always have likers and haters. Atlas produces generally good products for a reasonable price. I use their Code 83 flex track as my standard along with other track products, I have a number of Atlas buildings and certainly don't regret the many Atlas HO freight cars and the few locomotives of theirs that I run. Atlas has also contributed to the advancement of the model railroad hobby over the years.
I have been using Atlas track products ever since they started manufacturing flex track (brass rail stapled to fiber tie strip every other tie) My current standard is Atlas Code 83 flex (concrete tie for mains, wood tie for secondary track) and Code 100 where the sun can't shine.
I don't like their specialwork - but then, I don't like anyone elses specialwork either. That's why I handlay my own.
Can't speak for any Atlas rolling stock. I don't believe they ever manufactured any Japanese prototype in 1:80 scale.
The big thing with Atlas is that they have always tried to meet customer requirements, not just their own.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on Atlas flex track)
I think they are a class act. I only have one locomotive, the Trainmaster H24-66 Master Gold with QSI. It's a gem. I do have some of their rolling stock, but honestly I can never remember where my rolling stock came from. I recognize the BLI hoppers and the Walthers cabooses and Pullmans, but after that...
A fine product. Reliable and smooth runners. Not a big fan of QSI though.
Joe C
No complaints here.
Atlas is excellent.
I have several of their diesels and my layout is almost all Atlas flex track and turnouts.
Rich
Alton Junction
Atlas has had some QC issues but,those was address rather quickly and replacements was available-some of the first release of their Centerbeams comes to mind.
To my mind Atlas sets the industry standards-even their old Roco powered locomotives was and still remains smooth runners.
When I was in N Scale every one of my locomotives was Atlas..
I have 22 Atlas HO locomotives from the old "yellow box" to the "Classic" line.I also have several of their cars.
Atlas is simply top of the line.
BTW..I'm 65 and there has always been Atlas track as long as I can remember.
A fun history fact..At one time Athearn produce Atlas RTR cars and locomotives.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
What I like about Atlas is that they take tank cars seriously in their rolling stock offerings. I happen to think tank cars are the most neglected, and yet in many ways the most interesting, of rolling stock from the 1930s right to the present. Atlas has featured a real variety in their tank car offerings, and the ones I have purchased seem to be quality merchandise.
Dave Nelson
dominic c A fine product. Reliable and smooth runners. Not a big fan of QSI though.
Joe,
I don't know if you are referring to all QSI decoders or just the older stock. The QSI "Q2" in my HH660 switcher is just terrific. The earlier Q1/Q1as are decent but nothing like the newer decoders. The motor control in HH660 is exceptional: 0.3 sMHP on speed step 001. The sound is very nice, too.
BRAKIE...even their old Roco powered locomotives was and still remains smooth runners.
Agreed, Larry. I have a Roco motor in a 1st-release Walthers SW1 (ca. '91) and it's an absolutely sweet runner.
I have fond memories of Atlas. When I started in 1971, I used Atlas track, wiring parts, and buildings. All worked really well.
I'd use them in S scale if they made S scale track (Hint Hint).
Enjoy
Paul
Most of my Roco built Atlas FP7's have their original motors. One has a PPW motor and another has an Athearn blue box motor, flywheels and shafts. The trucks are Atlas. And it even runs good. On a scale of 1-10 that hits a 12 on the wild chart.
Atlas is great. I have four of their Dash 8s with DCC & Sound. They are very smooth running and very releiable. Never had to reset the decoders or anything.
But Atlas seems to be stale with their new releases right now. They haven't come out with anything that I'm interested in for at least 2 years now. Unlike Athearn, which is pouring out new products I'm interested in.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
I have two Atlas Gold Series Trainmasters and I think they are the best two engines on my layout. That pair has pulled every train I have put behind it up my long 2% grade with ease. I also have six 33000 GAL. B/A tank cars that start to roll by just looking at them. I also have a bunch of other stuff Atlas makes. I don't use their track as I like the look of other brands better, however if it is as good as their other products I am sure it performs well.
As a company I think they have got it right.
Two Atlas Trainmasters.
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Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
99.99% of my track is Atlas code 100 and 83. The code 83 flex is great but the turnouts and crossings in both codes need some fiddling around to work right. I have three Trainman boxcar kits that I like but I wish the coupler boxes were screwed on instead of friction fit so the coupler doesn't fall out with some accidental rough pushing or pulling. I don't have an Atlas engine so I can't speak for those. A good thing about them is their customer service. Other than the problems listed above, I say it's a good company.
Lone Geep
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I like Atlas and have been using their track for more years than I care to count. I have no newer locomotives they make but of the old Atlas/Roco from the early-mid 80's I do have 3 that needed to be remotored with NWSL drives and the other 4 are running as original. I do like the trainman rolling stock which I started buying within the last year...they look good, perform well, and are very affordable for RTR in today's marketplace. And because of a tight budget I have avoided buying newer releases with locomotives of any brand.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
You do NOT want to know my real opinion of Atlas. It is unprintable. As far as I am concerned they ar liars and frauds. They have been promising to deliver their code 55 track with dates it will be in the dealers hands many times and it never appears. They are not even providing VAPROI WARE. I am changing to Micro Engineering track for my entire layout as soon as Christmas is over.
Ira
jrbernier Atlas has been a long time manufacturer of model trains. Their current production locomotoves are some of the best running/detailed models available. I rank then alongside Kato for smooth running capabilities. Their rolling stock also have been quite nice.
I would agree, except the "current production run locomotives" well, there isn't much of a "current run". Atlas's production has been very slow to recover since around 2009/2010, and mostly its been freight cars, containers and the like. But yes, most of the past Atlas loco's for years have kept pace with KATO running like qualities.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
If I were to write a report or create a slide show on what a excellent company vs a bad company was. Atlas would be my pick for the excellent and Model Power would be my pick for the bad.
Atlas is the best model railroad company around. They build quality products and back them up with the proper parts to keep them running. They understand the value of being able to fix what you allready paid for rather than buy new. I refuse to buy from any company which cannot support their products. And Atlas does a great job with support.
Once the under table switch machines came out, I discovered it was a simple matter to replace the throw arms of my table top machines and convert them to under table. Another company would be a greedy you know what and not sell just the throw arms. But not Atlas, they sold me 10 arms for a small sum and I was able to convert my switch machines to under table.
The bench mark in great running diesels was the 70s roco powered models and since then they have always given model railroaders a superior running and looking product.
riogrande5761I would agree, except the "current production run locomotives" well, there isn't much of a "current run". Atlas's production has been very slow to recover since around 2009/2010
Jim,There was a long dry run of new locomotives in N Scale..Cars and locomotives was reruns with new numbers or road names..All of this was going on while HO had a flood of new products.
I see Atlas will be releasing the long requested Alco N Scale switcher-a S2.
Hi All.
Atlas has fine products and I especially enjoy the Trainline series because of the quality items available for the budget minded railroaders among us. The Master Series which they produce is second to none. Atlas is a company that has the fortitude to offer locomotives in road names that the others do not touch (for me the LIRR is interesting). Hope they continue along these lines.
All the best.
Reinhard
Joe F
Atlas, one of the best companies in this business, by far.
I use Atlas track almost exclusively.
I don't however have any of their locos, very few are in my era, they generally have to be preordered, I'm not rally into that too much.
But their locos and other products are all very highquality in my opinion - and I once ran a train department in a hobby shop.
I buy a fair amount of their structures, rolling stock, etc.
As for all these people crying about the current track situation - trust me, they will work it out.
Sheldon
BRAKIE riogrande5761 I would agree, except the "current production run locomotives" well, there isn't much of a "current run". Atlas's production has been very slow to recover since around 2009/2010 Jim,There was a long dry run of new locomotives in N Scale..Cars and locomotives was reruns with new numbers or road names..All of this was going on while HO had a flood of new products. I see Atlas will be releasing the long requested Alco N Scale switcher-a S2.
riogrande5761 I would agree, except the "current production run locomotives" well, there isn't much of a "current run". Atlas's production has been very slow to recover since around 2009/2010
N-scale hasn't been on my radar since the early 1980's so I don't evaluate Atlas based on N-scale. As my wife would say, it ain't no good to me.
When it came to HO trains, as I recall the only HO rolling stock Atlas offered for years and years were HO diesels - since the 70's. No freight cars or passenger cars in HO. Then in the 90's they entered the HO freight car market - I remember vividly what a big deal it was and as I recall, the 2-bay cement hoppers were among their early offerings. So keeping in mind that in the HO world, Atlas's "staple" were their HO diesels. Since the train recession of 2009/2010 chinese factory crisis, Atlas's HO staple, the model diesel has been er, not much. Even their other HO rolling stock has been slow to recover. So for whatever reasons or hard shop, in my mind, Atlas is a shadow of their former glory. I honestly hope they regain their model train heavy weight title but Athearn/Genesis and others have muscled in ahead.
I realize the title of this thread is "What Does Everyone Think of Atlas" so I'd have to say they product overall higher quality products as a rule than the other makers, but with the caviat that they are kind of a "has been" right now and it remains to be seen if they recover to their former glory. What they are producing are still great products, but just not all that much of them. All my hobby dollar has been going to Athearn/Genesis, ExactRail and Intermount with only the odd Atlas. In the past 6 months I bought one new Atlas Cylindrical hopper and one used Cylindrical hopper, everything else has been Genesis, Intermountain and ExactRail. I have plans to buy a few Atlas freight cars but for some reason they keep getting put off for the other stuff. I still plan on getting around to Atlas but when? I don't know.
riogrande5761N-scale hasn't been on my radar since the early 1980's so I don't evaluate Atlas based on N-scale. As my wife would say, it ain't no good to me.
Jim,I was stating a fact about dry runs..
As far as Atlas not in their former glory we will agree to disagree on that point..Atlas is still cranking out monthly annoucements so,nothing lost there.
As far as new products..What's left for them to do since Athearn/Genesis has things covered?
Tool up a top notch SD40-2 so it can compete with Athearn RTR and Bachmann at the fraction of the cost of a Master and Silver series SD40-2? Maybe the demand isn't there.
As we know manufacturers(other then Bachmann) no longer produce anything without the required pre orders.
I see C100 track is in limited stock so we may be nearing the end of a long dry season.