Atlas code 55

[crrcoal]

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.

Absolutely correct Jeff, however, I've yet to read a post anywhere where people were griping that they couldn't find any code 80.

[Scottl]

Thanks for the response Cory, I appreciate it. 

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Absolutely correct Jeff, however, I've yet to read a post anywhere where people were griping that they couldn't find any code 80.

Because Code 80 out selles code 55 more of it is stocked by more stores and by more distributors so it lasted longer on shelves. At our store we have been out of most code 80 switches for 6 months. We did get a few boxes of flex but that is it. Now code 80 flex is sold out again.

[pnolan48]

What has it been, five years now since C55 flex started to disappear? I bought 1200' of it (and 110 #7 switches) in 2002-2003, and that lasted me until at least 2008, when I got divorced, and perhaps until 2010, when I moved to Ohio. I really feel for the Atlas folks, who seem to have gone through hell a few times over with the China manufacturers. I've been in those situations where things just get worse, and worse, and worse, and when you believe you've finally turned the corner, even worse still! I'm moving my layout scheme down to the NYC-Philly corridor as i redesign, but I'm still going to need about 500' of track and a lot more switches.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The lack of push back here on the absence of code 55 flex track astounds me.

Dude, we've been bitching about it for 6 years now. I think everyone has said everything they could say, and at this point, are just looking forward to the whole thing being over.

[pnolan48]

So I'm not crazy that it's been since 2008 that c55 flex track was available. I worried that my divorce had rotted my brain.

[mmagliaro]

So I'm not crazy that it's been since 2008 that c55 flex track was available. I worried that my divorce had rotted my brain.

That cannot be right.  I bought batches of it in 2009, and again 2010, and yet again in 2011 with no problem.  That means I didn't have to
"scour" for it.  I just looked at a few different prices on line and bought some, including turnouts and flex.  So it must
have been available then.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That cannot be right.  I bought batches of it in 2009, and again 2010, and yet again in 2011 with no problem.  That means I didn't have to
"scour" for it.  I just looked at a few different prices on line and bought some, including turnouts and flex.  So it must
have been available then.

It's been available places, but I don't think there was active production. I think you just got lucky and found stuff that was still in the distributor and retailer pipeline.

[MVW]

I've yet to read a post anywhere where people were griping that they couldn't find any code 80.

I've griped about it several times, both here and on TB. (Well, "gripe" may be a little strong, but I've certainly mentioned it on more than one occasion.) Custom Line turnouts have been mighty scarce for quite a while.

The bottom line here is ... well, the bottom line. As much as we miss being able to buy the product, multiple that by, oh, 30% to 50%, and that's how much more Atlas misses being able to sell it. The situation sucks for everyone, but no one wants to see product back on the market faster than Atlas.

Jim

[Chris333]

I forget the facts, but wasn't there flex a shortage for a little and soon as it was back in stock the China thing happened. I remember getting a case when it was finally back in stock around 3 years ago.

[C855B]

I forget the facts, but wasn't there flex a shortage for a little and soon as it was back in stock the China thing happened. ...

The manufacturer broke the mold/tooling.

[crrcoal]

The manufacturer broke the mold/tooling.

But with all the technology we have these days its taking years to make new tooling? Right now I envision the tooling is being made by hand using primitive means 

Plus didn't Paul list somewhere (I think on this forum if not TB) that in the grand scheme of things code 55 was just about last on the list (N scale wise) to be released? If I recall correctly he said it would be code 80, then c65 true track and then code 55.

Not bashing Atlas but the longer this drags on the less sympathy I have for them.

 

[C855B]

But with all the technology we have these days its taking years to make new tooling? ...

No, that is not the issue now. It was solved, and the pipeline eventually refilled. I'm simply refreshing Chris's memory on the supply interruption "back then".

[Chris333]

Yeah that was it, Thanks. I bought mine after they fixed the mold.

[Atlas Paul]

Plus didn't Paul list somewhere (I think on this forum if not TB) that in the grand scheme of things code 55 was just about last on the list (N scale wise) to be released? If I recall correctly he said it would be code 80, then c65 true track and then code 55.

Yes, this is true. In the overall view, the code 55 is among the lowest volume product we had (before the production problems) so it is going to get a lower priority on the production schedule. 

We have been hammering away at the factory to get through our entire product line, and they have been adding additional capacity to their factory to help us.  We have been getting a container of track every four weeks, they are going to be increasing that to every three weeks, and the production plan as it stands right now will have just about every HO & N Track SKU shipped at least one time by the end of July.  That does not mean it will not change if there is an issue with a given piece of tooling.  As Cory stated, we have not given QC approval to start production on the code 55 flex track, and we won't until it is up to our standards.