Atlas buys Walthers tooling

[ridinshotgun]

I know some rumors had gone out a few weeks ago but now it looks official that Atlas bought the n scale rolling stock and locomotive e tooling from Walthers.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156877792320110&id=129250295109

[peteski]

Thanks!  I'm not on FB so I missed the annoucement.    I wonder why they announced this before the manufacturer's breakfast at the NSE convention. That would have been a great news at the breakfast.

[mcjaco]

This is what I was told at Trainfest last fall.  Not surprising. 

Hopefully the tooling sees the light of day sooner than later.  Would love to see some FA's released again.

[JMaurer1]

The rumors are true.

Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc., and Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. have reached an agreement under which Atlas will purchase all N scale locomotive and rolling stock tooling owned by Walthers, including the Walthers N tooling as well as former Life-Like tooling. Atlas will incorporate this tooling into its Atlas Master, Atlas Classic, and Trainman N scale lines. Walthers will continue to offer N scale items in its Cornerstone, SceneMaster, and Walthers Controls brands, including new items as well as items currently in those lines.

[C855B]

Holy cow. Hell hath frozen over.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

No more F*** Walthers  threads!

Does it have a list of items acquired?

[JMaurer1]

"...all N scale locomotive and rolling stock tooling owned by Walthers, including the Walthers N tooling as well as former Life-Like tooling"

Does not include the Cornerstone buildings.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

For the record, thanks to @spookshow , here's a list of locomotives they just picked up:

0-8-0 USRA Switcher
2-8-4 Van Sweringen Berkshire
2-8-8-2 USRA Mallet
Alco C-424
Alco DL-109
Alco FA-2 & FB-2
Alco PA-1 & PB-1
Alco RS-2
EMD BL2
EMD E6A
EMD E7A & E7B
EMD E8A & E8B
EMD GP18
EMD GP20
EMD GP38-2
EMD GP60
EMD SD7/9
EMD SW8/900/600
EMD SW9/1200
Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner A & B
Fairbanks-Morse Erie-Built A & B

The C424 might not be included, but god damn I hope it is.

[jdcolombo]

God, I hope they re-run the LL Berk, the 0-8-0, and the 2-8-8-2.  Those were all terrific  steam locos.  The Berk wasn't built for  DCC and really needs traction tires for pulling ability, but perhaps some updating of the mechanism could be done.  The shell was excellent, and they run like a Swiss watch - light-years better than the Bachmann version.  The 0-8-0 and 2-8-8-2 were both DCC ready, and the 2-8-8-2 came in a sound version, which could easily be switched to an ESU LokSound given Atlas' current relationship with ESU. 

John C.

[GimpLizard]

I just got the announcement, via email, from Atlas. I'm stoked. Woo-Hoo!!! Atlas DL-109's and BL-2's!!!

[mike_lawyer]

As a steam buff, I really hope they re-release the 0-8-0 and the 2-8-8-2.  Both were terrific locomotives and deserve another run.

[dougnelson]

In my mind, this fills a big void in Atlas' stable of locos to add more transition era (1950s) locos and they do so at a bargain price.

[Lenny53]

The C424 might not be included, but god damn I hope it is.

I think True Line Trains (ex Like-Like Canada) owns this tooling.

[Lenny53]

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

[mcjaco]

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

Passenger car stuff went to Lowell Smith.