My guess and hope is a EMD SD38 or dash2. If Lionel can make a hump engine, why not Atlas. Just think of all the road who owned them.
Mt.Cloud would look great. Other??

Hoperfully all of us will hear about it[ if any] by Friday.

If it's a Dash2, I hope it's a SD45-2

My guess is it will be something more modern. Most likely a wide cab.

My guess, the new 6 axle diesel locomotive will look dynamic pulling a 21st Century Intermodal train!

Regards,
Swafford

All signs point to modern 6 axle wide cab power.

How can the cab be any wider than any other diesel model?

Sorry Hot - that was the department of redundancy department response now that I reread it.

The new Atlas engine according to static is a Trainman Dash 8 40CW. UGH. Trainman.

That's a real disappointment. No EOB, less detailed. No Master Series Engine with a fixed pilot scale coupler option. New tooling for the Master series has really taken a hit.

Sounds like Atlas is taking MTH's approach of putting older Master Series locos into the Trainman line to get more mileage out of older tooling.

Think the 40B was older tooling. This is a completely new mold/model.

It seems to be true, from the now on-line catalogue. "UGH" is right. Pete, now I know how you felt about the U23. My favorite diesel, the "must have" for me roster in the Trainman line.... UGH, indeed.

RM

Rich,

I thought about you when I read the announcement. Can you imagine if Atlas announced the Dash-8 and MTH did not announce their version 6 months ago? I know we are a little nervous about road specific details on the MTH version, but I really think they will get the gull wing cab right. It would be nice though if they put that in print like Atlas does.

I don't know what I was thinking but I seriously thought, OK, October York, train season in full effect, something really big will be announced! They (Atlas O) from all preliminary research, quite the letdown. And to be fair, MTH really did not wow me with what I am reading is in their catalog. I haven't seen a list of rolling stock yet, but the diesels really have not impressed me.

what we need now are the 53' intermodal articulated cars, some 89' auto carriers and some new containers. Oh well..... there's always York 2012.

With the economy the way it is, new product from the majors is probably on hold pending economic recovery. I'd like to see a sample model on this. In spite of the Trainman trade-offs, the GP15 turned out to be a really nice model and on par with a lot of Premier product for it's time.

quote:

Originally posted by GG1 4877:
With the economy the way it is, new product from the majors is probably on hold pending economic recovery. I'd like to see a sample model on this. In spite of the Trainman trade-offs, the GP15 turned out to be a really nice model and on par with a lot of Premier product for it's time.

So considering that over 80% of economists polled say the recession is over, I wonder how long it will take until we see our market pickup again? Heck, even my 401K is showing signs of life...

Mike,

Agreed; it would be nice if MTH would assure us on the cab. I actually Emailed them after the Dash 8s were announced and asked, but didn't get a response and didn't follow up. They did such a good job on cab variations on the ES44s, however, I took a leap of faith and pre-ordered the scale wheeled Santa Fes. (As an aside, I asked a similar question about the BNSF ES44 before pre-ordering and was assured they would have the correct four piece side windows). Perhaps given the competition MTH can be goaded into telling us.

Had Atlas offered the Dash 8 in the Masterline, I would have ordered, my MTH order notwithstanding. I'll grant that the Trainman U23 looks pretty well detailed, but absence of EOB in the Dash 8 is disappointing. Perhaps I'll investigate the cost of an upgrade to EOB or even DCS. Presumably Atlas has a sample it can post photos of so that people can see it before having to place those darn pre-orders.

RM

Soo Nut,

The Master Series Loco that you are really looking for is the upcoming Soo Line GP9 Diesel.

Andrew

Andrew,
Here is a few shots of my Soo GP9, passenger version, note the full lenght fuel tank. This a MTH premier model from about 20 months back.





How about a MTH scale Railking SW1 done up in original paint.



George

Have to say, after further review, really disappointed. Atlas announces a Trainman engine without EOB, with no speed control, that MTH is releasing soon in Premier 3/2 and PS2. Why would anyone buy a lesser detail, no EOB, and get the MTH one at the same price. That is for the 3R guys. I realize Trainman is not targeted to us 3RS guys, but how long do we have to wait for Atlas to announce a Master Series engine. Looks like 2 years?

Pete,

100% agree with you.

Now I understand there are economy factors that play into many decisions, but a business cannot grow without innovation and new product to keep the interest in their product high. I, for one, have lost some Atlas energy with this catalog.

If you are not first, you're last in this business. I cannot see how the Trainman Dash 8 will come close to the MTH sales. Atlas should have announced a Master Line Dash-9, with all the road specific details from east to west coast, including cab roofs, number board placement, etc. Such a popular diesel owned by so many class 1's and so many paint variations within those class 1's. The MTH Premier model is weak by 2009 standards and Atlas should have pounced on that fact.

On a thread on the three rail forum, it is reported that Jim Weaver said Atlas will consider making EOB available in the Dash 8s. That's an excellent idea, and I encourage everyone who wants it to speak up. Even in the Trainman line I think EOB would make this model far more competitive with the MTH model. I'm pretty sure I would order a pair in that case.


RM

Yes, I certainly would have purchased the GP15s and U-Boats. But won't adding EOB make it more expensive and less detailed than an MTH Premier?

Soo Nut - Where did you come up with the torpedo tubes?

Can you also describe the detailing you might have done?

Did this start as a Soo unit or B&O?

Hello Mr. Marker,
The engine started as a MTH dummy Premier SooLine GP9
The 12" roof top air tank ends are Custom Finishing #247-1020. The steam generating parts on the short hood are #247-1028. The full lenght fuel tank is a MTH part from their Premier B&O GP9. The Mars light is a plastic part from Red Caboose.
I renumbered the unit and the camera shows the area under the cab slightly different in color and the cab numbers (micro-scale) are a different shade.
Oh well the real railroads did that too.

George

Great job George. Thanks for the info.

Santa Fe had a few dual service Geeps with those appliances. I'd like to model one.

Thank You

If anybody had bothered to look at or download the new Atlas catalog page 18 shows the new diesel including 2-rail QSI gold and 3-rail TMCC versions along with RR specific details , lighting and gull-wing cabs SF @ BNSF. By blurring the lines between Trainman and Master line locos they are getting maximum marketability.
Hibar

I am a 2-railer so I have not paid that much attention to the TMCC features, but you are correct in that the pre order announcement does not list all the features seen in previous Master series, however it does not seem logical that Atlas would not make a full featured TMCC engine since it will be priced that much higher than the standard unit, I would E-mail Jim or Jerry about your concerns.
Hibar

Maybe this paves the way for an AtlasO MASTER Line SD-50\60\60M\60I in the future???

At least AtlasO can be counted on to produce a proper Conrail\Conrail Quaility\LMS Dash8-40CW with class lights.

quote:

At least AtlasO can be counted on to produce a proper Conrail\Conrail Quaility\LMS Dash8-40CW with class lights.

Darn tootin! And I would DUMP all my MTH Ps1 units for TWO of atas O Unit!... Just Like I did for the Amtrak B32-8's![what a work of ART! ]

PRR, Is there any final word if Atlas will put the EOB in the Dash8s?

quote:

PRR, Is there any final word if Atlas will put the EOB in the Dash8s?

Not yet but keep the e-mails comming to Jerry!