Athearn just announced it has acquired the T55 tooling to produce the ES44AC, ES44DC, SD70ACe and SD70M-2. These HO models will be produced in the Genesis line.
Here are the press release’s I received in my e-mail from both Athearn and T55
Athearn Acquires T55 Tooling
Athearn® Trains is excited to announce we have purchased select tooling from T55, the plastic division of Overland Models. T55 is one of the model railroading industry’s leading producers of high-quality injection-molded models. Using T55’s outstanding tooling, Genesis will soon be producing a run of General Electric GEVO (ES44AC and ES44DC) models, as well as EMD SD70ACe and SD70M-2 models.
These prototypes are the most current locomotives from North America’s primary builders, and are found in the fleets of Union Pacific (including the Heritage Fleet and Bush Presidential Library and Museum), BNSF, CIT Leasing, CSX, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, EMD Demonstrators, Ferromex, Florida East Coast, GE Demonstrators, Kansas City Southern, Montana Rail Link and Norfolk Southern.
|
Late this week, the sale of the GE Evolution Series and EMD SD70ACe tooling to Athearn® Trains was finalized. T55 Products enjoyed its short time in the plastic model train market and decided it was time to sell its tools to a proven leader like Athearn. A copy of their press release is listed below. We felt with Athearn’s expertise in the plastics industry and our dedication to detail, the time was right to roll the T55 diesel projects forward within the Athearn network. We truly hope that you can appreciate our decision to sell and also understand that this acquisition has been in the works for quite some time but could not be disclosed until the sale was completed. We truly appreciate all of our customers’ support and business since the launching of T55 and will deeply miss that portion of our business |
Athearn’s acquisition means the end of a very fine product. I have two of the T55 AC4400s and had another on order.
I was wondering when somebody would post a anti Athearn “dooms day” reply…[;)]
You really know how to deflate some positive news
Charlie
Sorry, my comment was not meant to be Athearn bashing, but lamenting the demise of T55 as a product line. I have two of the T55 SP Black Widow AC4400s and had a Ferromex model on order.
The box indicated that the T55 models were made by Ajin Precision of Korea, and they were equipped with a Digitrax SoundFX decoder. The level of detail was excellent and they run very smoothly, especially with the Digitrax decoder.
I just hope Athearn offers a model without the MRC decoder, and releases the Ferromex model that T55 was proposing to produce so I can install my own SoundFX decoder and have the same quality of sounds and smooth operation as the T55 version.
I’m so happy Athearn is going to make the ES44DC and the SD70ACE! Now I hope they can make an HO MPI MP36.
Athearn is one of the big dogs on the porch. They’ve swallowed up some smaller players and certain acquisitions have created less than ideal products. If they choose to ignore their customer’s concerns they will suffer the consequences. In my limited experience, Athearn has lots of pluses in their column along with a few minuses.
I’m all for competition. The consumer wins when companies are competing for their business. This is what makes our economy work. Smart people running efficient operations who take care of their customers and treat their employees with respect almost always win. You can’t buy your way to be #1, you have to work hard for it.
Actually when the dust settles there is 2 lean mean hounds left on that porch.What I call the big A’s-Athearn and Atlas.
As a lap dog Kato isn’t even on that porch and Walthers is still the little Airedale wandering around the yard…
The cold hard facts is Athearn and Atlas is the biggest 2 players and their aggressive monthly releases shows that.
I shudder to think of this hobby without the 2 A’s.
I’ve seen plenty of so-called lean and mean hounds get their lunch handed to them. I doubt if thirty years ago you would have fathomed GM or Ford playing second fiddle to Toyota and Honda but it happened.
Actually comparing a car manufacturer to a model train manufacture is akin to comparing grapes to apples…Everybody buys cars…Very few buys model trains in comparison.
I am 60 and never owned a Japanese car.I only own 4 Kato,3 Walthers,1 Bachmann everything else is Athearn and Atlas.Unless you want to count my MP RS11 that is more of a sentimental thing more then anything.
Actually I’m very happy to hear the news…
-The models will actually see the light of day, especially the 'ACE
-They will probably be under the $300 T55 was going to charge (for std dc)
-Overland won’t be going under (I like that company)
Honestly, dudes everyone wins.
[2c]
I wonder why T55/Overland decided to get out of the plastic business?
Larry
You have made a good point about Atlas and Athearn. Without their products, the industry would be very dull and looking for products. The Athearn line has really made items available to all of us and many of the newer updated Railpower shells on Athearn drive assemblies are models that only were available to a few detailers.
I give both companies a lot of credit for the great products that they make.
I was surprised at Kato not bringing in more models after the Dash nines first came in. I know they sold well and would have expected many more new models from them. Their N scale line is the main thing for Kato and they do that very well.
CZ
Awhile back, I actually said that Athearn under the Horizon banner would buy T55 whole…I guess that the tooling was cheaper…lol. I also assume that MRC will do the DCC/Sound? If Athearn does it in Genesis(only real way to compete with the MTH in like models), the detailing will be on point(how fragile is up to the buyer), but I do believe the decoders will be the deciding factor in choosing between the ACe’s. All in all, I am very happy to see Athearn pick up the ball and actually sad that Atlas didn’t as they could have used some modern locos on their list as the proto Dash 8 is getting up there in age and twice removed(Dash 9’s and Gevo’s). Go Horizon/Athearn.
I think this will be a good move for Athearn. I always thought the T55s looked great, but the price was always way too high. Now that Athearn’s getting the tooling, the prices will probably go down, and the products should be at least a little more available than before. I wonder if the drives will be switched to Genesis style, or if they’ll keep the T55 drive in there?
I know this is way off topic…but, since when is our economy working?
Now back to the topic, I am interested to see what powers them and how much they list for. The T55 products are out of my reach price wise. Hopefully Athearn will find a way to make them affordable.
The idea that the T55 might be purchased by Athearn was kicked around during the Anaheim show, which Brian did not attend. No one knew about the announcement that came last week end, but some speculation was made last month about Athearn buying the tooling. Maybe it was just wishful thinking.
The decoders will be one factor but the detail should be much better on the Genesis SD70Ace models. The test T55 SD70Ace was displayed at a show about six or seven months ago and it was very nice including the frame detail. After looking at the MTH GS4, they need to spend more time and money in up front tooling if they want to be competitive with the Genesis line.
I am actually glad Athearn purchased the T55 tooling maybe now we can actually get a model produced instead of a list of delays. I wasn’t a T55 fan since I purchased one before and it ended up a paper weight 1 week after arrival. I have never had a problem with athearns not even the old blue boxes. So I imagine Athearn will do a exceptional job.
My guess the model with probably run about 150 to 170 each just a guess though.
Richard, Probably more like $225 - $275. It’s likely to be DCC/sound, not RTR. My [2c]