In my book, Atlas is hands down #1 !

[Anonymous]

Atlas is definately my favorite model railroad company. One huge advantage to buying Atlas products is the availability of spare and replacement parts. I have tried to get Kato parts and they are usually not available. Atlas also produces far more models that I like. I like the first and second generation deisels and, of course, always steam! In fact, I just ordered parts for two engines which haven't been run for years. That is about to change. I see buying Atlas products as a much better investment than buying engines from another manufacturer. I don't know if I could find parts for a 15 year old engine made by any other brand than Atlas. ATLAS RULES! It even beats out Kato due to its availability of models and spare parts. Atlas is #1!

[simon1966]

You must model in N scale? I am in HO and Atlas does not make any steamers in this scale. I am very happy with the locomotives I have from Atlas. My biggest concern with Atlas has been the very limited qualtities that the latest sound versions have been released in. Unless you pre-ordered they are virtually impossible to get.

[Anonymous]

Yes I model Nscale. Atlas doesn't do many steamers in N but on occassion they will come out with one. So far sound is not a big issue in Nscale. Just recently I heard about an Nscale engine with built-in sound that is supposed to be coming out soon. I am so frustrated that I can not find parts for my '96 Kato Mikado! I'm going to get a Spectrum 2-6-6-2 and wonder if parts will be avilable in the future. Eventually it will at least need new brushes in 10 to 20 years. As long as parts are available, you can keep almost anything running indefinately.

[BRAKIE]

While I have P2K.Stewart ,Kato my choice of locomotives is Atlas and Athearn..Infact those will be the only brand of engines I will be buying in the future.[:D][tup] My freight car fleet consist of Athearn,Atlas and the newer Walthers RTR tank cars.

[Anonymous]

I agree !!!

I model HO scale, and my Atlas locos have taken the lead (in my 51 loco fleet).
My latest Atlas Silver SF Dash 8-40BW is a jewel of a locomotive !!!

My locomotive fleet is by Atlas, P2K, and Athearn (in that order), followed by Stewart (very nice locos, too!), Kato (I would buy more Katos, but they make few roads/locos I want), Bachmann, Kaslo and Walthers Trainline. So it's easy for me to compare them. IHMO, Atlas Masters win in detail, paint, DCC, and drive (in this catagory tied with Kato, IMHO).

As far as rolling stock goes, Atlas cars are fantastic, followed by Kadee, Intermountain, P2K, and Branchline. I do buy some Athearn RTR from time to time, but don't buy BBs anymore. I have quite a few of them, but rather buy the better detailed cars at this point in my hobby. I enjoy having quality paint and detail on my cars as well as I do on my locos !

No bashing, just stating what I like.
Your tastes and needs may vary !!!

[Anonymous]

Atlas makes a great model and they seem to be raising the bar on quality with each of the new models. I have not ordered parts from them since they were not required.

I like Kato also but they seem to be holding the status quo as far as their detail or sound. I hope they take up the challenge and add sound and better detail to their great running models.

Lifelike is off my lists as I have many of the older units that have bad gears in them.

[alcodave]

Atlas locomotives, cars and track are definately worth the extra money that you pay! I really enjoy there products.

[Anonymous]

Agreed - Atlas is far and away the best manufacturer out there. I have Stewart (never again) and I've somewhat soured on LL P2K because of the cracked gear issue. Kato is not bad - I have one of their RSC2s that they made back in 1998 - which runs well to this day.

Atlas makes the best detailed (IMO) and most reliable power out there. I have Yellow Box Atlas (Roco/Kato) Alcos (now about 15-20 years old) and they run impecably well. Atlas is the only mfgr that I would advance order from with full confidence (just placed an order for two of the RS1s that will be released in October.

ATLAS RULES!

Kevin

[Texas Zepher]

From a child I've used Atlas track with no complaints. When I modeled "N scale", I liked Atlas and that was before they got really good. Now I am in HO scale. I contend Atlas changed the modeling world with their introduction of the Kato powered RS-3 in 1984.

I do now have a request and a complaint.
My request is that they make a 22" radius 10 degree piece of track to use instead of the 1/3 18" radius.
My complaint is the knuckle couplers they are using. They really stink. With other brands I can take a piece of equipment, put it on the layout, and at least use it until it breaks or starts causing probelms and I get around to installing Kadee's. But these split shank ones coming stock on the new Atlas are so bad I can't even run them temporarily. They have to be converted immediately before they go on the layout - sigh.

[Wdlgln005]

I'd agree Atlas N has become the best. It started with the Atlas/Kato RS3. They made one goof in the GP/RS 7/9. The second model was the SD35 and Trainmaster, both Accumate equipped. The third model is the first ones with DCC chips installed. The little Mogul is a jewel for small steam, and who else could do a Nscale Shay?

The only place Atlas N falls short is in their selection of structure kits. DPM and Model Power used to bring out new kits. Walthers would have a good line if they would stick to it.


A maker to watch is the Athearn/MDC combo. I'm waiting to see how Athearn improves the old MDC models.

[tpatrick]

TexZeph,

For that 22" 10 degree section, why don't you just take a piece of flex track (Atlas of course) and make one for yourself? You can make a perfect fit for any need. And dittoes to everyone else. Atlas is just about the best. I have several GP-7s and RS-1s and they are great. I expect they will rerun many of them with sound and when that happens, I'll be in line for more.

Tim

[rrinker]

kknoble,

Why no Stewart? My DRS4-4-1000 is detailed like a brass engine (it should, Ajin built it), and has a Canon motor that makes it run even better than Atlas/Kato. My Stewart F7 needs the Detail Associates dres-up kit added to get all the nice handrails, but mechanically it too is second to none, like Atlas they used a close of Kato's drive system with a Buhler can motor. Plus when I got it (from an eBay auction), the unit shell had a broken ladder that wasn't inside the still-sealed inner plastic wrapping, so it must have come off in the factory. I called them up, and they sent me a brand new shell, no questions asked. Great service. I met Steve Stewart at a train show once, too. Heck of a nice guy, and a stickler for getting things right.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Stewarts ARE good!

I've got their F7A/B, S8, and U25B.
All fine running and looking locomotives (my only complaint is those amber headlights!).
Having said this, Atlas Masters still beat them for detail.

It will be interesting to see if Bowser will keep up the Stewart quality and service, now that Steve sold the company and retired.

[Anonymous]

WOW! Atlas scores again BIG TIME! I just saw that Atlas is going to offer the new GP-7/9 in the 1950s C&O paint scheme. I've been waiting for decades for them to do this paint scheme! The C&O RS-1s they released about a year or two ago are absolutely beautiful! When I first saw them I was blown away. I said I wasn't going to buy any more deisels unless something spectacular came out. Well, it looks like something spectacular is about to come out! Please Atlas, just run the SD40-2s in Chessie paint and I'll be in heaven!!! ATLAS ROCKS!

[Anonymous]

I'm an Atlas man... Atlas has never let me down yet. Probably 60% of my rolling stock is Atlas. However. The way I go at it is if I see something I want I buy it whether it's made by Atlas, Kato, ConCor, Life Like, Bachmann, Model Power, etc.

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, Kato has a "lock" on the SD40-2s (and now BLI with their loser of a loco) ... we will just have to wait, and wait, and ... for Kato to re-issue them (hopefully in your Chessie and my Rock Island!).

[Anonymous]

I don't just purchase Atlas. I have a few Bachmann Spectrum engines, a few Model Power steamers and a few Life Like engines as well as a few Kato. I do have some MDC steam engines and they are really nice. Still, my railroad is probably 90% Atlas. They produce more of the engines and freight cars I like.

[Anonymous]

I have been quite pleased with Atlas as well. My worst engine was one of their older SD-35 engines from the 1970's or 1980's. That particular engine was more like a Tyco than an Atlas. All recent Atlas stuff has been great.

[trainboyH16-44]

But atlas is.......Kato is....... BLI isn't that bad.........Oh fine, you win. They rock my homemade socks!
Matthew

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

kknoble,

Why no Stewart?

The only Stewart units I have are three of their big Alcos (two C630s and one C628). Two of the three are out of service due to bad universals. A full 66% of my Stewart fleet is currently out of service. Compared to the 20 or so Atlas units I own (many of which are yellow box units and 15+ years old) of which none are out of service or have even given me any problems.

The Stewart units ran about $90 each, so yes, I'm a little turned off. Proto 2K with their cracked gear issue is not really acceptable either, but it's a lot less painful being that I paid about half the price for my one Proto 2K diesel.

Atlas is, without a doubt, the best out there right now - they simply make more of what I'm looking for - Alcos of a fairly wide variety. I've placed a reserve for both the Black River & Western RS-1s they have coming out in October. I've never reserve ordered anything before, but with Atlas, I'm confident in what I will be getting.

Kevin

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tpatrick


For that 22" 10 degree section, why don't you just take a piece of flex track (Atlas of course) and make one for yourself? You can make a perfect fit for any need.

I do, and I even now have a jig for it. But I am getting old and lazy. My time is worth much more than the effort, plus it is hard to explain how to make size to someone else. As I recall off the top of my head it is 7/9s of a whole 22" section.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kknobl

I have Stewart (never again)

Hmmm, interesting since the original Stewart F units were identical to the Atlas drives under the skirts (which were really really Kato drives). You must have gotten one of the really old original Stewarts like the AS16 or RS12 perhaps? I have had zero trouble with any of my Stewart Fs with either Kato or Buehler motor.

[rrinker]

Very strange. Did you call them for parts? I too have not had a lick of trouble with my Stewarts, and my father in law even has an old AS16 witht he Athearn drive and it is just fine as well. Plus when I had the broken B unit shell they promptly send me a free replacement. Hopefully Bowser maintains that level of service, my replacement came before Steve Stewart sold the company.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Atlas' diesels in HO are absolutely the finest detailed products out there in plastic! The SF DASH8 with wide cab is my favorite. Of course, I couldn't find the dash 840cw version for SF, ONLY the bw version. With Atlas, you can literally take the diesel out and just weather it to your taste and your done.

Since I'm a vehicle modeler also I want more HO cars and trucks! The Ford Taurus was great for the price. How about a 2000 Ford Taurus or 2000 Ford Explorer?

Vito L.

[electromotive]

Atlas puts great detail into their engines (HO)
But in running quality, Kato still comes first.
As for service & part s etc. both companies are excellent..
We need them both as first run leaders!!

[Anonymous]

I thought that the Atlas mechanism was identical to the Kato mechanism.

[rrinker]

It's a 'clone' in that it looks exactly the same, but Atlas build theirs in China. If the Trainmaster is any indication, it's every bit as good as the older ones with actual Kato drives.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Kato was my choice in N scale until Atlas step there game up. I now have more atlas locos in my fleet than Kato.
The details is the most impressive part about the Atlas engines. As for rolling stock I have mostly atlas followed closely by round house.
Richard

[Adelie]

Kato and Atlas are neck and neck these days in N. I probably give Kato the slight nod because 1) DCC ready, whereas not all Atlas units are, 2) slow speeds seem a little better on the Katos.

That said, the Atlas VO-1000 is amongst the best N offerings, bar none. Slow runner, as a switcher should be. Smooth and looks good.

I just ordered slow-speed motors for my RSD5s, so we'll see how that works out. I have one I bought on ebay that was converted to DCC (by Tony's) and remotored, and it is very good. Very close to the performance of my Kato RS2s. The stock motors are too fast for these.

I wi***hat Atlas would actually release the drop-in decoders for all their locomotives. For instance, non-DCC VO-1000s can use a drop in decoder, and can be purchased with it already installed. However, that same decoder is not available by itself. Atlas keeps saying it will be released soon, but those words have been being repeated for the last year or so.

Every time I've ordered parts from Atlas, they have come quickly and the orders have always been correct. Their prices on parts are reasonable. They are also very good about answering email questions, at least in my experience.