Atlas code 55

[Kentuckian]

OK, so the word around the campfire is that a container is in with Atlas code 55.  I heard this at a hobby shop last weekend.  True?

[Chris333]

Small bits and pieces have been slowly arriving monthly at MBK.  You know they really need to get joiners in the mix. I have enough, but they are out of stock most places including e-bay.

[Scottl]

The code 55 can't come fast enough, especially flex and turnouts.  People are going crazy and buying Unitrack in their desperation. 

[Cory Rothlisberger]

OK, so the word around the campfire is that a container is in with Atlas code 55.  I heard this at a hobby shop last weekend.  True?

True story. Just not any flex or turnouts... 

[soo]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Wyatt

[ljudice]

True story. Just not any flex or turnouts... 

Wait a minute!  What is there other than flex or turnouts????   

[JoeD]

We do sell Code 55 rail joiners for our Z track...

Joe
MTL

Small bits and pieces have been slowly arriving monthly at MBK.  You know they really need to get joiners in the mix. I have enough, but they are out of stock most places including e-bay.

[Scottl]

The lack of push back here on the absence of code 55 flex track astounds me.   I know that TRW has a love in for Atlas (which is generally deserved) and I appreciate the engagement by Cory and Paul, but the track is a serious issue that is probably one of the simplest to tool, especially if you consider the flex track as the most critical component of the system.  Who cares if there are 13.5" radius curves, 22.5deg crossings or other parts finding their way slowly onto the shelves?  Those are luxuries when there are more important gaps in the product line.  This is the one product that Atlas should prioritize and it has been essentially gone from the marketplace for a long time.  The lost sales are almost certainly substantial, and the opportunity cost for Atlas and modelers is tremendous.

Sadly, I suspect we have actually lost modelers to other scales because of this, so I don't think it is out of line to suggest this problem has hurt n scale in general.  If I had been waiting for this track, I probably would have given up and moved on.  Even today, the arrival time seems in doubt.  Sorry Atlas, with all due respect,  I'm not impressed.
 

[Kisatchie]

Wait a minute!  What is there other than flex or turnouts????   

Sectional track, like this:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Atlas-N-2018-Code-55-15-Radius-Curve-Track-6-p/atl-2018.htm.


Hmm... oh...

[DKS]

The lack of push back here on the absence of code 55 flex track astounds me... Sorry Atlas, with all due respect,  I'm not impressed.

I seriously doubt Atlas folks are sitting around blithely taking this all in; I suspect they know the issues and are working to resolve them with all due diligence. I therefore think it's safe to say that the delays are due to circumstances beyond their control, and that any further pushback will fail to improve matters--indeed, all it tends to do is needlessly get some folks hot under the collar. If it was a simple product to crank out, one may wonder then why someone else hasn't stepped up to fill the gap.

[Hamaker]

Extremely well said DKS ! 

While people have been sitting around bitching about Atlas....I've bought four #5 turnouts....five #7 turnouts and over a dozen lengths of flex track in the past six months. To suggest Atlas is not doing their best to get code 55 track produced is insane.  They're in the business to sell product and make money.

[tappertrainman]

And assuming that flextrack should be their priority without knowing about any possible manufacturing concerns or internal sales figures is problematic.  I know from working in the industry that what hi-fidelity modelers (I attempt to include myself in this group) want is often a small percentage of the total market.  Sectional track may be Atlas' cash cow (in N scale track) for all we know...

[Cory Rothlisberger]

Scott, I typically wouldn't reply to a post like this, but I have to chime in and assure you that your frustrations are shared by myself and my co-workers alike. If the Code 55 flex was so easy to tool, we would have had it on the market long ago. In fact, to date, I have rejected three rounds of test shots that our new facility has sent to me. So you can blame me if you'd like for the delay in getting the flex out to the market, but it is my responsibility to ensure that we release only our best efforts to the market.

[bdennis]

Thanks for the update Cory..
As suspected Atlas has all our interests in terms of a quality product in mind!.

Keep up the good work

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

people also forget that it isn't just code 55 that is out of stock. Ho code 100 and 83 as well as n-scale code 80 were also out of stock for almost a year. Atlas lost more than just Code 55. It takes time to get all the product tooled and out to market.