Guesses at if/when Atlas will release a retooled LL DL109

[OldEastRR]

Lots of chassis here to include a decoder and sound system. I'm not putting much hope in Atlas doing this, as the old LL Geeps probably will be upgraded and marketed next. Tho I think any new DL109s might come before the bl-2s.

[Point353]

[bbussey]

Thought it was announced that an upgraded Alco FA1/FB1 will be the first former LL locomotive to market.

[Simon D.]

Do you think they might ever do a DL110 - don't think LifeLike did?  That's what I would want.

[Atlas Paul]

Lots of chassis here to include a decoder and sound system. I'm not putting much hope in Atlas doing this, as the old LL Geeps probably will be upgraded and marketed next. Tho I think any new DL109s might come before the bl-2s.

The DL109 isn't near the top of the list, but it will eventually get a sound/DCC chassis.

[Kentuckian]

Not to hijack the thread, but I am much more interested in #7 code 55 turnouts.

[MVW]

The DL109 isn't near the top of the list, but it will eventually get a sound/DCC chassis.

Good to know, and great to it hear it from the horse's mouth. (Whatever the hell that means.)

Jim

[brokemoto]

GP-20s would be a good bet, even though I have no interest in them.  I would expect the SWs near the top of the list, as well, as they could issue them for years when you consider all of the roads that ran them.  I would hope for some major improvements to them, as getting rid of those awful tabs on the bottoms of the walkways that were always coming off of the models.  I would also hope for some research into precisely what caused them to pick turnout frogs, especially Kato, Shinohara and YUP, yup, yup, Atlas Code Eighty plastic frog #6s.  Sometimes, you could stop them from picking the frogs by running them in pairs, but this did not always work.

The FA-1 was not a bad choice to start, although I would have preferred the -2s (both of my prototypes ran the -2s but not the -1s), but I can understand it.  No one else had done a true FA-1 in N scale plastic.  There is that Mehano thing that looks like a cross between the first two FA models, but, other than that, there are no others.

I like the DL-109 protoype but can not use one.  There does not seem to be that much demand for them, even though they have been out of production for years.  I put up four on FeePay within the last year; two undecorateds and two NYNH&H and only got opening bid for each one.  I had them priced below even original street prices.  They were all test run/break-in run only.

[GhengisKong]

I could wait to buy one if they make them in the original Rock Island "Rocket" scheme. Maybe they could co-ordinate with Kato when they finally release the Texas Rocket.

[Point353]

Not to hijack the thread, but I am much more interested in #7 code 55 turnouts.

http://charlesro-com.3dcartstores.com/store_at2052.html
http://charlesro-com.3dcartstores.com/store_at2053.html

https://internethobbies.com/collections/atlas/products/150-2052
https://internethobbies.com/collections/atlas/products/150-2053

http://www.needtrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=48_21_47&products_id=10538
http://www.needtrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=48_21_47&products_id=10537

https://www.halfpricehobby.com/products/150-2052
https://www.halfpricehobby.com/products/150-2053

[thomasjmdavis]

The FA-1 was not a bad choice to start, although I would have preferred the -2s (both of my prototypes ran the -2s but not the -1s), but I can understand it.  No one else had done a true FA-1 in N scale plastic.  There is that Mehano thing that looks like a cross between the first two FA models, but, other than that, there are no others.

Atlas marketed a Roco FA-1 in the 1980s that, for the time, was a pretty good runner. Later on, marketed by Walthers (before they bought Life Like).  It was the first N scale loco I owned that had any sort of low end speed control- and per Spookshow, was the first US prototype N scale loco with a flywheel.  He gives it a "C", but it looked pretty good once the truck mounted pilot was replaced with a MT aftermarket pilot and coupler. I had mine for 20 years and no complaints.  Sold on eBay 15 years ago.  Have another that came in a box of parts.  Paint is all torn up, but I may try to resurrect it one of these days.

[wm3798]

Since everything is getting so dang expensive, and I have only nominal interest in sound, will the new tooling chassis be available without trucks and shells so the cost of replacing an existing drive can be minimized? (I'm thinking in particular about my BL-2...) 

If an old shell that has been detailed and weathered can fit on the new drive, I'd rather not have to pay upwards of $20 for a shell and another $10 for trucks that are going to end up in a parts bin.

Lee

[Brian M]

Considering the price that the LL Erie Builds usually fetch on ebay, if they do a run with sound, it would seem that Atlas could sell out of these before they even hit the street.  I know I'd be in the market for a pair of NYC units if they were to be done....

-Brian.

[Kentuckian]

Thanks, Point353.

[thomasjmdavis]

Considering the price that the LL Erie Builds usually fetch on ebay, if they do a run with sound, it would seem that Atlas could sell out of these before they even hit the street.  I know I'd be in the market for a pair of NYC units if they were to be done....

-Brian.

Me too- but make mine Santa Fe.  Given that ATSF had 2 Erie built As, but only one DL109, and there is tooling for the Erie B, but not the DL110 (the Alco B unit), from the Santa Fe point of view (which does hold some sway with manufacturers), a Santa Fe modeler would buy at least an AB Erie set, and quite possibly a second A, so the revenue from ATSF modelers is likely to be twice to 3 times higher for the Erie built.