I think some of the new Atlas Spine cars have been released but don't find any available at any dealers. Has anyone ordered or received any?
I saw some of both the three and five platform versions available at an on line dealer a few days ago. They're now sold out. I have some of the five platforms reserved at my local dealer, but I haven't been notified that they've arrived yet. From looking at Atlas' website, they've shipped in two groups from the factory, with the second group about 6 weeks after the first. So maybe those will show up around the end of September? I'm keeping an eye out online for more. I'm at the point now where I'm finishing off my rolling stock horde, so even if I get duplicate numbers, I don't care - I can always change them later. I get the feeling these will sell out quickly, despite the price.
I was thinking the same thing, But I was notified that my reserve of all ten sets were in and I paid for them(ouch). They are scheduled to arrive Monday. They are no longer listed on their website, so I'm pretty sure they are gone.
Received a few last Friday. As expected, identical in all respects to their BLMA predecessors, just in an Atlas box. Only saw them in stock at one online retailer, and that for only a single day or so.
This particular Trinity spine car started production sometime in 1997. Everything I have read on these is that they are similar to earlier Trinity spine cars. I would have to check my reference books to see when Trinity built their first 53' spines amd compare photos to see how close the sets are. The car number would be wrong for earlier cars if that matters.
Here is a good thread about these cars and their era range, from back in the days of BLMA... https://www.trainboard.com/highball...d-di-spine-cars-what-is-the-difference.44725/ Also, in a similar thread here, there is one additional post that talks specifically about the differences amongst the BLMA (now Atlas) cars and the earlier 53ft spine cars from Trinity. https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=19406.msg197817#msg197817
I have the original BLMA run - Two 5-unit and one 3-unit. Great runners, great detail. But if you're running them in the front or middle of a long train, don't run them empty and weight your trailers (or at least put weighted trailers in the A, B and D (middle) units). If you're using the old Deluxe 53' trailers, they're well-weighted already. My only complaint is that the container pedestals are useless. They don't allow containers of any brand to sit on top of them via the container pegs. You can carefully sit them atop the pedestals and hope they don't get jarred off of them, but that's not a good look. I was disappointed to learn that Atlas did not bother to re-tool the container pedestals so that actual containers can fit on top of them (a shame since Atlas makes containers...).
Has anyone succeeded in installing the hitch stands on these cars? It's probably my shaky old hands, but I've tried for half an hour and can't even get one on the car. I bought a complete set and I'm thinking I may need to sell them and go back to more Kato Maxi-stacks. It's a shame because they are beautiful cars and I really like them.