Atlas S2 switchers, 2nd release, now shipping to dealers

[gbcaboose]

Maybe one day.....

From the Fallen Flags site.

Mike

[basementcalling]

MBKs email this week said they were operation short staffed and in limited fashion,  but we're taking orders.  They may have unopened boxes. The pattern lately had been for them to sell or before BLW even gets items listed.

[bbussey]

I spoke with my primary distributor today, and he has the silver units definitely.  I didn't ask about the gold units.  So it's not so short a partial shipment that the units have blown out already, and should be filtering through to the dealers and hobby shops within the next few days.

[powersteamguy1790]

I already have two DCC, sound ATSF S-2 units from BLW  and I'm anxiously awaiting the third ATTSF sound S-2.

Having fun with it...

[Nato]

                :|I' am still waiting for Sound Equipped locomotives from the first run, non sound locos in the roads I wanted came in, but never sound that I could locate. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[bbussey]

Nate, sound units in the first release definitely came in. I don't know if all roads did, best to zip an email or lob a phonecall to Atlas and get a firm answer.

[reinhardtjh]

Posted by BLW tonight:

Important Note Regarding Atlas Alco S-2's

The January '16 shipment of S-2's has finally landed. Unfortunately, Atlas delivered but a small portion of the promised locos. NO UNDECORATED (either analog or Gold versions) were in this long awaited batch. Some road names were also among the missing (such as CV and LV) for example. To complicate shipping matters, not all guaranteed quantities of reserved locos were delivered. As a result of allocations, we only received 1/3 of one of the NH versions, for example. And then to make matters even worse, on some road names not all versions or SKU's were included. For example, only 1 of the 3 Milwaukee Road road #'s was released.
All available reserved locos have been shipped out on 1/30/16 (with exception of declined credit card orders).
The listing below accurately reflects those locos that are ON HAND / READY FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT. But please be aware, that quantities available in many cases are of but a single piece or two. We will update page as frequently as possible. We have more coming - but no idea when??? Before the next batch arrives, some additional stray pieces should also trickle in. (One of the many distributors we obtain stock from, William K. Walthers, as of 1/29/16) is still showing their shipment as "In Transit". Thank you for bearing with us and your understanding in this matter. We cannot ship what has not been delivered.

I assume all other retailers will be similarly affected.

[Upstate Gator]

For those of you who have one, how do they run? DCC and DC? I'm considering buying one of the more esoteric road names.
Thanks,
Ben

[reinhardtjh]

This is in respect to the very first shipment.  The wheels came with some sort of coating that caused pickup problems until you wore it off or cleaned it.  Until that's done they will want to make you tear your hair out, but once that was done they run magnificently.  There was a second shipment several months later and people said those didn't have the coating and ran better.  With this latest shipment we will have to wait for reports.

I have run mine on Kato Unitrack, Atlas Code 80 and mixed Atlas/ME code 55 and it runs flawless on the Unitrack and Code 55.  The Code 80 layout is older and the trackwork isn't the best.  it will stall on some of the older plastic frog Atlas switches, but then again so do most of the locos on that layout.  If your track is clean and decently laid then it should work very well.  It pulls a pretty good number of cars as well.  It will pull more cars if they are equipped with newer trucks and wheel sets rather than the 70's, 80's or 90's typical so it will depend on your car mixture.

Note this is all in DCC.  My friend who has the Code 80 layout loves ALCo sounds and I bring it just so he can hear it clanking around the yard.  He loves it.

[MVW]

For those of you who have one, how do they run? DCC and DC? I'm considering buying one of the more esoteric road names.
Thanks,
Ben

I got my C&NW unit a few days ago. Ran well right out of the box, and got even better after I gave the track a quick wipedown. Then I cleaned its wheels, and it ran nearly flawlessly. And the only reason I say "nearly" is because the couplers keep getting hung up on my code 80 Peco turnouts. Haven't taken the time to identify the exact problem yet, but I assume it's easily fixable.

I'm primarily interested in ops, so I place a high value on slow starts and the ability to creep. Love the performance, and love the sound. Highly recommended.

All this in DCC only.

Jim

[mecgp7]

Holding my credit card at bay for an MEC unit in green. I'll take a black one with red and white stripes too.

[nstars]

For those of you who have one, how do they run? DCC and DC? I'm considering buying one of the more esoteric road names.
Thanks,
Ben

Got one of the PRR samples with sound and it runs flawless. I'm very happy with it. Fully recommended.

Marc

[wcfn100]

In a bit of related good news, Atlas is showing that they have parts for the S2!!!


Jason

[reinhardtjh]

In a bit of related good news, Atlas is showing that they have parts for the S2!!!
Jason

No decoders though.  Someone posted on the Yahoo N Scale group list that the S2 decoders would be available as an aftermarket item but they didn't post any detail - I don't know if it's ESU or Atlas that would be selling them. There is no info on either web site as of yet.  It may be just a rumor.

[Cajonpassfan]

In a bit of related good news, Atlas is showing that they have parts for the S2!!!


Jason

Ummm, do you have a link or a site? When I google Atlas N parts, I see everything but no S2.... Am I just dense?
Otto K.