Atlas Jan Announcements

[Bob Bufkin]

Atlas has the Jan announcements posted over on their board.  Also received an e-mail from them.  

[CBQ Fan]

   The prices on their new engines are a joke if you ask me.  I realize that you did not ask!

[davefoxx]

  The prices on their new engines are a joke if you ask me.  I realize that you did not ask!

Whoa!  $149.95 for a DCC ready locomotive?!  I sure am appreciative that I don't need any of those locomotives.

[John]

I have 3 each of the C40 and CW .. even at the street price of around 100 , they are starting to get out of my hobby budget price point .. and won't be getting any more of them .. I have enough as it is ..

[wcfn100]

Whoa!  $149.95 for a DCC ready locomotive?!  I sure am appreciative that I don't need any of those locomotives.

Umm, except the next locomotive you need might cost more. 


Jason

[Puddington]

Atlas has an over inflated opinion of their worth.

[davefoxx]

Umm, except the next locomotive you need might cost more. 


Jason

Maybe, but, thankfully, the only locomotives that I would consider as something even remotely close to "need," would be an Aberdeen & Rockfish RR GP18 or CF7.  Let's face it, they ain't gonna be made anytime soon.  

[wes_sutton]

Atlas has an over inflated opinion of their worth.

Or are just facing up to the realities of a post GFC world and increased production costs in China?
 

[bbussey]

Um ... it's not as if Atlas WANTS to have a $150 MSRP for a DCC-ready locomotive.  Obviously production costs are rising, or the production run is lower, or both.

[wm3798]

I'm sure they'll find buyers.  I just won't be one of them.

Lee

[bbussey]

I remember years ago when Atlas was the first to break the $100 non-DCC barrier with the Kato-made HO GP-7, and everyone said then it would be the end of the hobby.  Do we want to see engine prices continue to climb over $150?  Of course not, and it's unfortunate that circumstances have us at this point this soon.  But everyone will adjust, both in the purchasing habits and the manufacturing process.  Atlas was the first to move manufacturing to China when it was getting expensive in Japan.  There will be alternatives when the market dictates it.

[John]

Brian -

Looking at MB Kleins - the Kato recent 6 axles are running 69-75

Atlas recent 6 axles are 89 .. that's quite the reversal .. I remember when it was the exact opposite.. granted, Atlas is adding more bells and whistles - details than Kato .. but it seems China no longer has the price edge .. wonder what it would cost to move it all back to the US?

[wm3798]

The problem with moving production out of China is that China forces foreign manufacturers into "partnerships" which might make it difficult to pull tooling and other capital equipment and move it to where the labor might be cheaper.  It was easy to pack it up from New Jersey, but the commies aren't really into that free market thing yet...

Lee

[conrail98]

For me it has nothing to do really with where they manufacture their product. First, Atlas had the whole code 55 problem with the flex track mold and curved turnout delays, etc. After buying a number of their SD50s and 60s/60Ms, I was excited for the 8-40CW first release. It was a horrible locomotive. The two I got were not good performers at all and one even lifted off the frame and dropped both trucks in my hand when I took it out of the box for the first time. Atlas needs to realize they have had some pretty big issues with their products recently making this price point much harder to digest. I need to hear/see that this locomotive runs like the Kato SD80MACs before I'd drop that much on this particular one,

Phil

[lock4244]

I'm so glad I avoid the hole C40-8 line in my era/locale... starting to really tarnish their reputation. The last Atlas power I bought were some C630's, GP38's, an RS-11, and a flock of the TLT RS-10's and RS-18's. With the exception of one turd C630, all are flawless runners.