American Z Line unveiled over 55 new items during the National Train Show in Sacramento this past weekend. This included three all new freight cars and new locomotives. On display was the much anticipated Big Boy. The preproduction raw brass version was on display. No release date has been set at this time. Also on display were both the light and heavy Mikados. Estimate price will be in the $200 range. A F3 A and B unit was announced. No samples were shown at this time. Estimated release date is 2012. All samples of AZL GP30s were on display. The first release of GP30s in set to happen in about two weeks. The road names for the GP30s are: ATSF Cotton Belt (Ztrack Magazine Exclusive release) Great Northern Wisconsin Central New York Central Rio Grande Southern Pacific Union Pacific A preproduction sample of the GP38-2 was shown. AZL announced twelve road names will be released. These are: ATSF BN BNSF CN CP CSX Grand Trunk Milwaukee Road Norfolk Southern Soo Southern Pacific Union Pacific Three all new body styles were released. The first is a Greenbrier 73' centerbeam car. No samples were shown. The second new body style is a PC&F 60' beer car. A release date and road names have not been set. The third new body style is a waffle side gondola. A release date and road names have not been set. The photo is below. Sample of the RTTX 89' intermodal flats were show. A release date has not been set. The photo is below. On display, AZL showed the upcoming runs of 23,000 gallon funnel flow tank cars, ACF 3-Bays and auto racks. The following funnel flow tank cars are set to be released: ADM DNAX (Railcare) PRTX (Asphalt 1) Prox (Procor - black) The following ACF 3-Bay road names are set to be released: BNSF CN Chicago North Western Cotton Belt (Ztrack Magazine Exclusive release) Kansas City Southern Golden West Service Montana Rail Link Northern Pacific Sante Fe Southern Pacific The second run of bay-window cabooses was shown. The following road names are set for release: BN Chicago North Western Cotton Belt (Ztrack Magazine Exclusive release) CSX Milwaukee NS Rock Island UP - North Platte Service Unit Wisconsin Central The second run of autoracks were also on display. The following road names are planned: ATSF BN BNSF CSX Ferromex NS Southern Pacific (new version) Union Pacific (Building America) Finally, AZL showed samples of their heavy weight passenger coaches. On display were the Pullman 10-1-2 sleeping car, 12-1 sleeping car and the 36 seat dining car. New releases will be coming monthly starting in August. Rob Kluz
Sample of the waffle side gondola RTTX 89' intermodal car shown with 48' container KCS 3-bay hopper. Preproduction sample. Chute color to be corrected. Rob Kluz
Hey Rob, do you have seperate photo's of the heavy and light mikado? From what I can see I am totally impressed!
Nice Rob! I've been waiting quite awhile for the CSX autoracks. Are all the autoracks going to be released in 3 sets of 4 cars or are certain roadnames going to be limited to one 4 car set? The CSX caboose will be a must have for me too.
The release products are many. Are they improve the quality? I hope AZL can make better product than some of their product in the past. AZL will be supporting replacements? parts for prior engines? or current engines? I see some of non running ones for sale and it is too bad they don't run at all or run so good.
AZL offers a 1 year standard warranty that covers manufacturing defects. As for quality, just ask those who were running during the NTS. Look at the photos of the Challengers, RDCs or SD70s in action. You will see many AZL cars and rolling stock on the modules. I had a club member state point blank that he likes running AZL due to it's dependability. Quite a statement as you watch 50 plus AZL grain cars being pulled by a pair of SD70s. I uploaded a PDF showing the illustrations of the liveries for the planned GP38-2s. You can download it at the following link. This should be an automatic download: http://www.ztrack.com/pdf/NTS2011gp38-2_sm.pdf Also, I failed to mention, AZL was showing off their spartan cab Illinois Central SD70 at the show. They are working on the chassis to add even more weight. Rob
Hey Rob, Is the AZL website going to be updated with this information so we can drool over it until the stuff comes out?
Zyousoon, I am just curious? What quality issues have you come across with AZL's products? Thanks, Jeffrey
I did talked with the AZL owners and they are working on a website update. I do keep the Ztrack/AZL pages up to date. I still need to add information on the new releases. But you can find our AZL pages at: http://www.ztrack.com/AZL/amerzlines.html Rob
Missed News We announced other items as well like the EMD F3A and F3B. This will be a mid 2012 release. AZL is also adding a Centerbeam car to our increasing line of freight cars. 1st release could be in January/February next year.
First I'll start by say that it looks like lots goods to be had in near future. I just hope the checkbook can support at least a portion of the I wants. With regards to the road names for the GP30s I'll am guessing the WC road number(s) will in the 2251~2253 series, since they were ex-CNW and had the standard EMD 2 axel Bloomberg truck. While I would really like to see them in the 700 series, I don't figure it was financially practical since they were ex-Soo Line units with Alco trucks. [Suggestion: if someone were to produce Alco trucks, in addition to all the lovely Alco units, one could make GP30s for Milwaukee Road, Soo Line and WC. :drool:] Paul E.
700 series. (The sample I have in hand is #711 to be exact) Feel free to re-number for prototypical accuracy. We'll get the road numbers and trucks right for the next run. Nothing in life is perfect, but we try. Cheers, -Rob(A) AZL (AKA the 50% partner of the company who didn't get to go to NTS because my "day job" got in the way. Grrrrrr.....)
Rob, Have you folks ever thought about printing the loco shells without road numbers and providing decals? I know it won't work for all roads or locos, but when it does it would be a great way of building a fleet without having to go through all the effort of re-numbering. BTW: sorry you could make NTS. It was my first, and the Z layouts were the best I'd seen in any show. Mark
Rob, That is a great idea from Mark. I can't imagine it would be a difficult thing to work with someone who makes decals and think of the folks who might be interested in building fleets of the same loco. I can't see this as anything other than a win win for all. Your thoughts?