Never knew Atlas was into N scale steam. Just maybe there’s are chance for those HO guys, me too.
Chuck
If I read you correctly, you’re hoping that Atlas will enter the HO steam market.
Fergie, sure. Are they in it already? I never knew they were in N steam. I’m really slow climbing both grades. Opened up my MR e.mail and there is was, a 2-6-0 N -scale.
Chuck,
Don’t feel too bad. It was only recently they entered (or re-entered) the N-scale steam market. The have a Shay coming out soon too. N-scale just keeps getting better…
I’d love to see Atlas enter the HO steam market, but what with? USRA has been covered by Proto 2K and Spectrum, so there’s not much left in the “off the shelf” steam category. Perhaps the desperately needed Northern?
Or a 2-10-2.
The Riv FEF-3 Northern is somewhat in limbo because of the Hornby tender offer. Nobody can call that shot. I think Atlas has the creditability & professionism that has earned the repect of the hobbyist to bring one on track that will sell out.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Atlas will ever enter the HO steam market. When they were selling N steam in the 1960s and 1970s, the models were really repackaged Rivarossi models. Now, they’re offering a 2-6-0 that was sold a couple of years ago by Micro Ace, and a shay of unknown heritage. So far, of all the Atlas steamers ever sold, NONE of them have actually been produced by Atlas!
Yes, the USRA series of engines has been done to death (with the exception of the 2-10-2), but there are still LOTS of “generic” steam engines out there that could be used by several roads. Before USRA, Harriman went on a standardization spree, so right there you have 0-6-0s, 4-4-2s, 4-6-0s, 4-6-2s, 2-8-0s, and 2-8-2s that can be modeled. They look different enough from USRA engines that they’d be a welcome addition to lots of people’s rosters. And BLI has disprooved the notion that manufacturers need to stick to “generic” steam anyway. The only generic steamers they’ve made are the USRA heavy (and soon USRA light), and they can’t keep the “specific” stuff in stock!
Here’s hoping for a NYC H-5 2-8-2. Built in the hundreds and used by at least 12 roads!
I really like all of the Atlas diesels I own, never had a problem. I have just started to purchase some steam, so I would definitley buy an Atlas HO scale steam if one were available.
What steam did you get into???
With Maddox, formerly head of Bachmann, now in command of Atlas I can dream of
them taking over Rivarossi after the smoke clears.
[quote
With Maddox, formerly head of Bachmann, now in command of Atlas I can dream of
them taking over Rivarossi after the smoke clears.
[/quote]
Ick! I sure hope not! Atlas stuff is absolutely beautiful. Their engines and rolling stock in N, HO and O scales are fine scale things of beauty. Rivarossi, on the other hand, relys on tooling and engineering from the 1960s, with occasional patches of modern engineering and detailing tacked on. True, their new 60’ heavyweights are REALLY nice, but they should be, being brand-new products. I couldn’t see Atlas consciously saddling themselves with the old garbage. It’d be a lot simpler for them to invest in all-new tooling.
The Allegheny is a good performer except for those darn rubber tires. I just picked up two new FEF-3s. So far so good but that Lima warranty really needs to be re-worked beyond the 12 month, if in stock, by Walthers.