Atlas Winter QTRly Catalog

[Mark5]

Am I the only one thinking there's not much in it? (aside from the mega-huge 8-40C announcement  )

http://www.atlasrr.com/catalog.htm

The last quarterly listed "announcements" for each month. This one gets away from that. This one implies less rolling stock releases, but maybe they are gonna make random announcements outside of the catalog anyway ...  ???

Nice to see the new house kit though! ;D

[TiVoPrince]

Can't wait
for the Fairmont in Dark Jage Metallic...

[Dave V]

That new Code 65 track doesn't look too bad.

If it eventually comes in much broader curves, actual turnout geometries (and not the old train-set curved diverging route trick) and had matching flextrack, I'd consider it.

I'm interested in the 50' Pennsy Trainman boxcar; a new door and it would be an almost dead-match.  I'm also interested in a few of those hoppers.

[Mark5]

That new Code 65 track doesn't look too bad.

If it eventually comes in much broader curves, actual turnout geometries (and not the old train-set curved diverging route trick) and had matching flextrack, I'd consider it.

I'm interested in the 50' Pennsy Trainman boxcar; a new door and it would be an almost dead-match.  I'm also interested in a few of those hoppers.

The trainman boxcars and offset hoppers are old news (beans spilled early december).

The track looks "ok", but it looks like they used the same crappy tie spacing as on their code 80 ... :

[Dave V]

The track looks "ok", but it looks like they used the same crappy tie spacing as on their code 80 ... :

I gotta disagree there...  Looks more like the Code 55 ties to me.  Guess we'll have to see it on the shelf to know for sure, though.

[RDG_Rich]

I gotta disagree there...  Looks more like the Code 55 ties to me.  Guess we'll have to see it on the shelf to know for sure, though.

Gotta agree with Dave. Looks like the code 55.

The photo in the ad doesn't really show "the goods". The thing that suprises me is the cost. Per inch it is more expensive (for the straights) than Unitrack, and it doesn't have the cool Unitrack "doo-dad" unijoiner. Hard to be certain, but it looks like the rail joiner is the only electrically conductive joiner, and the "hook deals" are used only for mechanical connection. The turnouts are cheaper, but if they are manually operated...points go to Japan.

So, keeping score:

                 True Track        Uni-Track
Price                                     X
Reliability         ?                  Great
Versatility                              X
Tie spacing      X                   
Rail dimension   X         
Turnouts                               X

So, IMHO Atlas is going to have to start pumping out more pieces, like broader curves and turnouts if they want to get Sectional track guys to even pay attention.  Maybe that isn't their plan, who knows... but I wouldn't think it worth their time to design and tool up a whole new line if they weren't serious about it.

What would be cool is a modified T-Trak standard to reflect this new line... with decent looking track and no more metric measurements....

[wcfn100]

Per inch it is more expensive (for the straights) than Unitrack

It looks like the Atlas falls right in line with the Kato track per length.

9 3/4" = $0.21 per inch

7 5/16" = .26

6" = .30*

4 7/8" = .34

2 1/2" = .60

2" = .71*


*atlas

Jason

[sundowner]

Kool
More plastic hoppers

With the -8, MP15 and the 5800 hoppers Atlas is getting alot of money from me this year. ;D
Hope Kato waits to do the rumor ACE and M2 until much later in the year or early next year.

[DKS]

The track looks "ok", but it looks like they used the same crappy tie spacing as on their code 80 ... :

Folks can decide for themselves:

[img width= height=]http://lh4.google.com/dks2855/R5gHZrQVsiI/AAAAAAAADxQ/f8bN_HQm0o4/s800/track-comp.jpg[/img]

[POVC]

Well, there does appear to be less in it, but part of this is due to only 2 months of announcements (no January) instead of three.

Based on past practice, I expect 1 locomotive, one master freight car, one trainman freight car and one "other' announcement per month.  Not counting stuff announced in December, we got 3 locomotives (U25B, Dash 8-40C, MP15DC), 1 master freight (ACF 5800), 2 TM freight (Thrall 4750, 3560), and 3 other (Tractor cabs, Kim's home, True-Track).  So we're short 3 freight cars (2 Master, 1 TM)from what I would have expected.

And I'm not surprised that the catalog doesn't break it down by month; after all they did announce they were going to quarterly announcements and this just follows that.  I doubt they make many announcements outside the catalog anymore, but you never know...

Tim

[Mark5]

Looks like I was flat wrong about the tie spacing.

I guess we'll see the peaked end offset in the spring catalog then.

[asciibaron]

the ACF 3560 hopper and MP15 pictures are of HO scale models.  i hate when they do that.

i am underwhelmed - not much for my 1967 timeframe

-steve

[Mark5]

The RF&P Thrall is tempting but I think it dates to 1980 - a bit of a stretch for my era. :-\

Just noticed the MSRP on Kim's House! ($21)

[Chulvis]

Just noticed the MSRP on Kim's House! ($21)

That is the MSRP on the kit. The built-up is $35.00

That said, the detail that Atlas has included in the last few offerings of this series, I think, makes them worth the price, kit or built-up. Unless you have the talent to build one yourself I think these are a fairly priced. Below is a picture of a Barb's Bungalow built-up.

[wm3798]

I don't like the way that looks without paint on it.  It looks all.... plastic.
Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about vinyl siding!  Yecch!

I would prefer the kit version so I can make it look more like the period it was built, rather than after the slum lords get hold of it.

Lee