U.S. model manufacturers scramble to find new producer after factory in China closes unexpectedly

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Aug 1st, 2018

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.

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Atlas Model Railroad Co. acquires Walthers N Scale Locomotive and Rolling Stock Tooling

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Jun 22nd, 2018

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.

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Presentations on UP steam, Ski Train to highlight events at March’s Rocky Mountain Train Show

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Mar 1st, 2018

Model railroaders can brush up on their skills and learn about prototype rails at the Rocky Mountain Train Show March 3-4 in Denver.

More than 30 clinics, headlined by Union Pacific’s steam operations update, are scheduled over both days of the show, which will cover nearly 130,000 square feet at the Denver Mart. Manufacturers, dealers, layouts and representatives from museums and historical societies will also be on hand.

UP’s widely popular session forced show officials to move the presentation to a larger room in the Forum area. Last year, a standing room only crowd of more than 100 heard Ed Dickens Jr., senior manager of UP’s Heritage Operations, update the restoration of Big Boy No. 4014 and offer insight on Northern-class steam locomotive No. 844.

Dickens will do it again at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

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Texas Central Railway moves step closer to building high-speed line between Dallas, Houston

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Jan 3rd, 2018

Artist rendering of Texas Bullet Train in Texas – Courtesy Texas Central Railway

The Texas Bullet Train made a big push forward before Christmas when federal regulators outlined a preferred route between North Texas and Houston, including identifying passenger station locations.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) analysis, completed after nearly four years of work, provides a path for the high-speed train’s planning, design and pre-construction phases with the intent to ensure the safety and environmental well-being of all along the 240-mile route, according to Texas Central Railway, which is building the investor-owned high-speed passenger line.

The report does not grant any approvals to build the line, but transportation officials say construction could start as early as 2019. Officials have accelerated that timeline from 2021, the date pinpointed in 2014 when the line began heating up.

The next step, according to TCR, is release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, followed by Record of Decision. In the meantime, the FRA is hosting public hearings in 10 counties affected by the line beginning at the end of January.

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