Atlas buys Walthers tooling

[eric220]

If that's the case...

Good point!  What about the jewel cases?

[peteski]

YES.  A few small updates on the Berkshire would make it one of the greatest steam locomotives ever.
Ditto on the 0-8-0.  Tender pickup work, some weight, and (in the Berk's case), DCC readiness would
make these spectacular entries back into the N Scale steam market.

Even better than Kato Mikado and FEF? Yes, Walthers had more fragile hand-applied details (which can be both a curse and blessing), but mechanically you think that they were also superior to Kato?

[mmagliaro]

Even better than Kato Mikado and FEF? Yes, Walthers had more fragile hand-applied details (which can be both a curse and blessing), but mechanically you think that they were also superior to Kato?

Not the 0-8-0, but the Berk, yes.   The LL Berkshire, internally, almost IS the Kato Mikado, right down to the bearing blocks and
the way they pinned and geared the drivers.  It is also geared lower, which makes it run slower and smoother at low speed. 
Where it always fell short was on the tender pickups and the pulling power.  Even the pulling power was comparable to the Kato Mikado, except that Kato offered the traction tire replacement driver, and LL never did.

The more I think it through, yes, I think that with pickups and a traction tire driver, the LL Berk would be better than the Kato
Mikado.  Now, whether it is as *useful* is another question.  A USRA 2-8-2 was a very common engine.  Not so with the
Berkshire, which only saw action on a few railroads.

[nickelplate759]

...  Now, whether it is as *useful* is another question.  A USRA 2-8-2 was a very common engine.  Not so with the
Berkshire, which only saw action on a few railroads.

VERY useful  - if you model NKP 
(the 0-8-0 is also useful if you model NKP of course)

[lock4244]

So bring back the snow plows and maybe expand on the passenger car line.

Yes. Yes on the snow plows!

Also the ballast hoppers.

[Mark5]

VERY useful  - if you model NKP 
(the 0-8-0 is alsouseful if you model NKP of course)

Also very useful to many others as a few continued running as excursion locos (the last run of the N&W's Pocahontas on the day before Amtrak was hauled by #765 #759).

Mark

[bbussey]

All diesel motive power to be reworked with DCC/Sound. Don’t know about the steam power.

This acquisition also includes the original Walthers freight car tooling such as the Articar and PD-5000.

[jdcolombo]

Not the 0-8-0, but the Berk, yes.   The LL Berkshire, internally, almost IS the Kato Mikado, right down to the bearing blocks and
the way they pinned and geared the drivers.  It is also geared lower, which makes it run slower and smoother at low speed. 
Where it always fell short was on the tender pickups and the pulling power.  Even the pulling power was comparable to the Kato Mikado, except that Kato offered the traction tire replacement driver, and LL never did.

The more I think it through, yes, I think that with pickups and a traction tire driver, the LL Berk would be better than the Kato
Mikado.  Now, whether it is as *useful* is another question.  A USRA 2-8-2 was a very common engine.  Not so with the
Berkshire, which only saw action on a few railroads.

Yeah, Max, I agree. 

The LL Berk is even smoother at slow speed than the Kato FEF or GS4.  The Mike equals it, but is not better.  If Atlas could re-run the Berk with traction tires on the 3d or 4th driver set and re-do the tender with needle/cup axle pickup trucks a la Kato and the Bachmann Berk (which doesn't run very well, but has superior power pickup from the tender), it would rank up there with the all-time greats.

But even I'll admit that there has to be a limited market for Berkshires; with the Bachmann version still popping up here and there, how many would they actually sell?  Of course, if they re-did the shell for a proper C&O version and added the Mars light on the NKP . . . (Oh my; I don't want to think about what that would do to my bank account . . . ).

John C.

[Bruce Bird]

FA-2s in Speedlettering, please!  And, uh, 304 in red, white and black......

[jagged ben]

Thrall 5-unit well car.
Ballast car.

That’s all I can think of.

Also the stand-alone Thrall well car.

[Mark5]

But even I'll admit that there has to be a limited market for Berkshires; with the Bachmann version still popping up here and there, how many would they actually sell? 

John C.

The Bachmann Berk was a swing and a miss for me - so I would definitely want a model of #765 #759.

Mark

[Mark5]

FA-2s in Speedlettering, please!  And, uh, 304 in red, white and black......

+1 

[lashedup]

Would love to see some Erie Builts...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

All diesel motive power to be reworked with DCC/Sound. Don’t know about the steam power.

This acquisition also includes the original Walthers freight car tooling such as the Articar and PD-5000.

1. They had better upgrade the PD5000. New etched end cages and roof would fix all the issues with the model.
2. If they choose just to toss it in the Trainman line unmodified, maybe this will motivate someone to help me make an etched update kit for it.
3. Russel plow needs to come out soon. Add lights.
4. New Jewel cases?!
5. Maybe we will see the Thrall double stack cars get a proper makeover.

[jpwisc]

Fix the PD hoppers!

That would be cool...

Even though already have one good PD hopper, it would be nice to have two body styles to pick from.