I'm getting ready to do a major add-on to the layout, and I searched the forum, but can't seem to find any information on the status. All on-line shops are currently showing back-order. I'm looking for bulk of 100 pieces. Does anyone know or care to share some info on this as to when it might be available? Thanks in advance for your time, Cody
I was talking to one of my LHS owners on Saturday and he said he had quite a bit of C80 flex on hand. I don't know if he has that much or if he would even be willing to ship an order. The shop is Whistles & Growls in Greenwood, IN.
M.B. ¤¤¤¤¤ expects restock of Atlas track products sometime in 2013 according to their online store. So it could be a while before Atlas track is widely available again.
We have moved all of our track production from the factory we had been using to new factories. It has taken a little longer than expected to get this back up and running, but we are now receiving shipments and should be getting at least one container a month going forward. The first shipment was HO code 100, as the next one will be, then HO code 83, then N code 80 - which should be here in the January/February time frame. We are trying to get some code 80 flex track in sooner than that, but it will depend on how well the HO production goes. By May we should have received at least one shipment of each item in our line, then we will start going through and restocking accordingly.
Wow. As always, gotta appreciate the honesty and willingness to engage with customers. Somebody from Walthers oughtta see how this is done. Sounds like the new code 80 will be here by the time I need it. Thanks for the good news! Jim
Check with Ace Hardware in Berkeley, CA. They have a hobby shop downstairs and I believe have a god size box (or three haha) of code 80 flex. Nice guys there. Not a LHS per se, but more of an employees-are-hobbyists-so-it-remains thing
The code 55 and N scale True Track are after the code 80, but probably won't ship until after Chinese New Year.
First, thanks to everyone who responded. Second, special thanks to Paul from Atlas for sharing Mfg. information as to the current Atlas status. Although it's not what I wanted to hear, (as I'm sure Paul/Atlas doesn't like having to deal with this situation on a much larger scale) I really appreciated that Paul would take time and respond for us. Cody
Thanks for the update, appreciated! (FYI folks, Chinese New Year is around the 2nd week of February in 2013)
Micro-Engineering produces its track domestically. Has Atlas considered doing the same - either directly or at a sub-contract facility?
Rather than get into a whole political discussion that is going to wind up going downhill fast, why not contact Atlas and other manufacturers on your own?
Ok then why do i see on some today (05/13/13) showing that N Scale code 80 will not be ready til Sept. That to me is now saying its been close to a year of waiting, doesn't it?
Except nobody in the US wants to work 18 hour days for a few bucks assembling fiddley little toys. People in China are getting tired of that too which is contributing to the "problem". CBQ... with all due respect, you picked a deusey of a topic for your first post. I recommend you search for last week's "when will Atlas have track again" thread, and in the future if you have a question about product status ask the maker directly and then start a new thread with the answer.
Sorry to know of your delays. My track laying is about complete after a year, but I really went to great lengths to acquire all the Atlas (C55 in my case) track I thought I would need. Naturally, I overbought by about 50 pieces and 20 turnouts (not cheap!) but was able to salvage some of it by reselling it on EBay via a friend. That said, it's also nice to hear some complaints about not being able to start a layout, only because it means someone is starting a layout! Hard to tell around here sometimes, but that is still the main goal of this hobby, no?