Category: Top News

This story has been updated since its original publication date

A factory in China that manufactures model trains has closed, leaving some U.S. model railroad companies seeking a new supplier and facing delays.

InterMountain Railway Co., Atlas Model Railroad Co., Bowser and Fox Valley Models announced this week that some new locomotives and rolling stock will be delayed or canceled because of the unexpected closing of one of the industry’s top manufacturers.

None of the companies said what products will be delayed.

Other manufacturers, including Trainworx and ExactRail, also are affected.

At least one manufacturer confirmed that Hong Kong-based Affa Technologies, Ltd. closed. The company, founded in 1996, specializes in metal parts for toys, scale trains, scale cars and metal electronic products, according to the company’s website. The website made no mention of the closing.

In an open letter to modelers, InterMountain Railway Co. CFO Frank Angstead said his company was caught off guard and will not have new product “for an undetermined amount of time.”

“Our expectation is that we will begin shipping a selection of new products within four months,” he said in the letter.

Atlas posted on its website that it is working to transfer incomplete projects to other suppliers. Some previously ordered products will be delayed.

Bowser said on Facebook that it was looking for a new manufacturer and that N- and HO-scale ready-to-run cars, trolleys, Cal Scale and locomotives will be delayed.

Fox Valley Models owner Matt Gaudynski posted on Facebook that the company has used the factory for a large number of products and it’s not clear when production will resume. The company canceled or postponed all of its undelivered, previously announced products.

“If projects can be moved, it will take a number of months to do so, and then get a new factory up to speed on our projects will take even more time,” he said in the post.

Gaudynski said all previously recorded pre-orders will be kept on file in case a resolution is found.

“If this process takes an extended time, it may be best to re-announce each project.”

The closing caught Gaudynski by surprise; he recently received paint samples for new projects and believed everything was business as usual.

“We were looking forward to getting back to work after our extended summer trip with our son,” he wrote. “Sadly this is not the case. But we will keep moving forward.”

Fox Valley Models has “a good selection” of recent N-scale locomotives and cars in stock and a few projects working at another factory.

InterMountain Railway Co. said purchase orders with other vendors are already being arranged so production resumes soon. The company encouraged customers to continue placing reservations for new product. It has a “reasonable” supply of locomotive and rolling stock inventory on hand, including wheel sets for most items.

On Facebook, Caboose, Ltd., owner Kevin Ruble said as many as nine U.S. manufacturers are affected by the closure.

Colorado-based Trainworx, which specializes in freight cars and vehicles, works with the factory, owner Pat Sanders said in an email. He was not given a reason why the company shut down.

ExactRail’s Chris Brimley said his company is already moving forward with a new factory “and we are very excited about the future with them.” In addition, ExactRail is sorting through a couple of new releases that were under way.

Brimley said the N-scale AutoFlood II Hopper is on hold and will be moved to a new factory. The HO-scale GSI Bulkhead Flat car is finished but sitting in the closed factory. “We expect these to be on their way to us soon.”

Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc., and Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. have reached an agreement under which Atlas will purchase all N-scale locomotive and rolling stock tooling owned by Walthers, including the Walthers and Life-Like lines.

Atlas will incorporate the tooling into its Atlas Master, Atlas Classic, and Trainman N scale lines, the company said in a statement today. Walthers will continue to offer N-scale items in its Cornerstone, SceneMaster, and Walthers Controls brands, including new items as well as items currently in those lines.

“We feel that this tooling has found a great home with Atlas,” Wm. K. Walthers President Phil Walthers said. “They have a strong N-scale offering and these tools will help them bring some exceptional products back to the market.”

Tom Haedrich, Executive Chairman at Atlas said the tooling fits right in with the company’s existing N-scale lines. “We are committed to producing them with the latest technology, prototypical accuracy, and high quality you’ve come to expect from Atlas,” he said.

Established in 1932, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. distributes model trains, accessories, and related items from more than 200 manufacturers, and also manufactures its own exclusive items for its WalthersProto, WalthersMainline, WalthersTrainline, Cornerstone, SceneMaster, Walthers Controls, and WalthersTrack lines.

Founded in 1924 and incorporated in 1949 as Atlas Tool Co. Inc., present day Atlas Model Railroad Co. produces locomotives, rolling stock, track, and accessories in N, HO and O scales for its Atlas Master, Atlas Classic, Trainman, and Atlas O lines.

CAROL STREAM, IL –  The Great Train Expo has a new home.

Train Show, Inc., announced today that it has acquired the assets of Great Train Expo (GTE), the traveling model railroad show that visits about a dozen U.S. cities each year annually.  Train Show Inc. is the corporate parent of Greenberg’s Train and Toy Show, Great Midwest Train Show and World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour.

GTE features operating layouts, vendor sales, exhibits, demonstrations and workshops, and has been a regular in the Midwest and Southwest. Train Show Inc. will be sponsoring shows in many of the venues formerly used by the organization.

Train Show, Inc., President Randy Bachmann said the acquisition solidifies the company’s position as the largest train show promoter in the country and one of the largest consumer show promotion companies.

“This is a natural expansion of our business,” he said in a statement. “This purchase allows us to sponsor shows from coast to coast and provides the opportunity to improve all our shows.”

As part of the deal, former GTE president Bill Grove will be joining the Train Show Inc. management team under Bachmann’s direction. Grove has been involved in all aspects of train show management for the past 25 years, Bachmann said. He held positions at the Great American Train Show and Great Midwest Train.

At the same time, the move reunites Bachmann and Grove.

“I am thrilled to bring such a skilled and experienced person to my leadership team,” Bachmann said. “Bill has many strengths particularly in the areas of contract negotiations and logistics. I have known Bill for over 30 years and recruited him to join the Great American Train Show staff when I was employed there. He along with Frank Hicks and Gale Cousins will continue our tradition of providing the highest quality consumer events.”

GTE will release more information about the acquisition of GTE in the coming weeks, Bachmann said. A new show schedule, improvements to the shows for both exhibitors and attendees and a new branding campaign for all of its train show promotions will be announced.

GTE currently has three shows on its 2014 schedule: July 26-27 in Belleville, IL; Aug. 2-3 in Orlando, FL; and Aug. 9-10 in Tampa, FL.

 

GRAPEVINE, TX – The Grapevine Vintage Railroad announced today that “Puffy” will ride again.

The tourist railroad’s 117-year-old steam engine No. 2248, affectionately known as “Puffy,” will return for a series of short excursions beginning Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. The locomotive, a former Southern Pacific 4-6-0, has undergone extensive repairs since being sidelined in December 2010.

Puffy will head short excursion trains each Friday evening until Thanksgiving, when the North Pole Express begins holiday runs. GVR’s GP7 diesel locomotive will assist.

GVR crews have been working in earnest for several months to return Puffy to the road. A piston, rings and cylinder cap were machined to fix damage during a run to Hodge Yard in Fort Worth almost three years ago. At the time, the failure was the second in two years that forced the locomotive out of service.

In September, Puffy could be seen making short test runs from the shop in Grapevine.

Puffy, built in 1896 by Cooke Locomotive Works in Paterson, NJ, was originally purchased by the SP and used in California for passenger and freight service. In 1976, the Texas State Railroad purchased Puffy to help launch the Texas State Railroad Excursion. Private collector William S. Davis later bought No. 2248 from TSR and eventually launched the Fort Worth & Western Railroad’s local Tarantula run. She made her first trek to Grapevine in 1993 and has resided there ever since.

Tickets for the Friday excursions can be purchased through the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau by calling (817) 410-3185.