I see Atlas have announced a new Trainman U23B loco, which I am sure will be welcomed, but it is yet another old locomotive not generally found in service for some years.

I was really hoping the rumours of a few months ago were true and a dash8-40C might appear.

it's an absolute shame that it is the Trainman version and therefore will not have the Gold series sound version as Atlas does in HO.
A Gold series sound version would sound awesome, given the large speaker tye use in the fuel tank. darn it.

quote:

it's an absolute shame that it is the Trainman version and therefore will not have the Gold series sound version as Atlas does in HO.

And why can't you contact atlas O parts for the additional sound system? Sell the TMCC on EBA* and you could break even or have some extra for the 2 rail conversion... no?

This is an interesting thread. I find it interesting that some of us find a U23B to be too old. And some of us like me find it to be too new. I model Pennsy - so anything newer than 1965-66 is too new for my layout. Just a thought that we all have different interests which make the hobby more fun and interesting.

I would like to see an EMD E7 Passenger diesel in 2-rail with B-units. There have been lots of E8s, but no E7 other than very expensive Brass. Another unit I would like is a Fairbanks Morse (FM) H20-44. This is the 2000 HP road switcher that FM made that looks like a yard switcher with the cab at one end. It has been done once in brass and I have not seen one at shows in years. PRR had at least a dozen of them.

We can all hope and it means there are still things out there to look forward to.

JIm

I think 'prrjim' is right on the money. Atlas should seriously consider doing the EMD E7 passenger diesels in 2-rail along with the corresponding B-units before one of the 'other' manufacturers/importers beats them to the marketplace. The E7's in 2-rail have been done recently in brass by 'Key Imports' for big bucks and Lionel did them in 3-rail with the often mentioned 'gap'.

I'm hoping Atlas sees a market opportunity for E7's in the near future.........

Its good for the hobby to see a variety of models from many years of railroading, but I just wish Atlas O scale offered the same number of "more up to date" locos and cars that are available in Atlas HO scale range.

My interest in American Railroading is fired by recent images, videos and books, and it is difficult to model the current era using Atlas products.

Kenneth W Allen

U23B's are not that rare.... Many of them are on shortlines, like the Georgia Central, which rosters 16 of them.

And Atlas has come out with a Dash 8-40C.

I agree with the notion that ATlas should up grade the line to current locos. Can you imagine what theit SD70Ace would have looked like when compared to that other brand? Look at the BNSF Co. and all the interesting rebuilds they have done recently. As a recent Grandfather and having a daughter in college, I'm broke (my wife owns and rides 3 Arab show horses) so I like seeing the TrainMan line. Detail them and weather them, and I would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Dick

quote:

I think 'prrjim' is right on the money. Atlas should seriously consider doing the EMD E7 passenger diesels in 2-rail along with the corresponding B-units before one of the 'other' manufacturers/importers beats them to the marketplace. The E7's in 2-rail have been done recently in brass by 'Key Imports' for big bucks and Lionel did them in 3-rail with the often mentioned 'gap'.

I'm hoping Atlas sees a market opportunity for E7's in the near future.........

Welll you might just have to keep on hoping... that MTH in the future may join the bandwagon. Williams and Lionel pretty much have the 3 rail market sown up for the e7's. and since the e8's are similar, the MTH & K-line now K-line by Lionel pretty much have the 3 rail market. There are other models atlas O can persue!

Kenneth W Allen - Welcome to the forum!

Kenneth,

You might want to look into some of the US Shortline (small independent RRs). They are often spinoff sections of older mainlines and can vary in size from one loco and 5 miles to a fleet and a few hundred miles.

They often have a wide variety of power from old to new to everything in between. And the operations are often quite interesting since they usually take over lines with small customers that the large roads no longer want to mess with.

An example, my friend used to own the "Great Miami & Scioto RR) in Central Ohio. It was part of the Old B&O, DT&I, and DH&D Mainlines. It was centered in Hamden Ohio and had about 100 miles of track and a dozen or so customers including at least one fireworks plant (which could be exciting). His power on that line in 2006 when he sold it was GP30, GP35, and GP9 all in a very nice Maroon and black paint scheme.

A much bigger operation is the Ohio Central which runs and restores a lot of old power including steam engines. They are a real RR family and own a bunch of short lines. They run freight with diesels mostly but the owner is a steam buff and has restored 2-3 steamers and runs them occasionally. Their diesel power is ofter older interesting stuff. They also rebuild diesels for other roads and their shops can contain all sorts of things from F-units to Alcos to Baldwins.

Just a thought about another side of US Railroading.

One of the largest, not to be a short line much longer, is the combination of the DM&E (Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern) and the ICE (Iowa, Chigaco & Eastern). They are negotiating with the CP about a buy out and it may have happened by now.

When the DM&E started in South Dakota all it had was some rotton track a combination of C&NW and Milwaukee track and a bunch of old locos. My last time through Huron, SD there were still some Milw SD10s rotting by a fence. Since those times, the railroad has worked to upgrade some of its lines, added the IC&E. Through the years a lotof different locos have been on the line. Alcos to EMD to what ever DME could get their hands one. Of late, they have been using CP SD40-3s. It is an interesting railroad and wants access to the Powder River Coal Fields. The railroad is having fits with Rochester, MN in particular the Mayo Clinic over running trains through Rochester.

Dick

Thanks for the welcome message and the comments regarding short lines.

So far I have collected several Atlas locos - Trainman Gp15 (CSX and Norfolk Southern), B40-8 (Conrail, Norfolk Southern and Santa Fe), SD40 (Burlington Northern, Conrail and Norfolk Southern). I have Norfolk Southern MP15 and GP60 locos on order.

The QSI sound locos are great!

I would really like to see some more modern 6 axle locos, both GE and EMD. I cannot criticise Atlas quality, I would just ask for more modern prototypes.


Kenneth W Allen