Atlas Acquires Branchline Rolling Stock
Hillside, New Jersey – Atlas Model Railroad Company has purchased all of the inventory, parts and tooling of Branchline Trains’ HO scale rolling stock including the Yardmaster series of freight cars and the upscale Blueprint series of passenger and freight cars.
On-going negotiations were concluded earlier this month with the sale effective January 24. Atlas currently offers a broad selection of products for model railroad hobbyists including locomotives and freight cars in O, HO and N scale plus passenger cars in O scale. The acquisition of Branchline passenger cars will be Atlas’ initial entry in that product category. Branchline rolling stock is manufactured in the US although on occasion, some piece parts produced here have been sent to Asia for final assembly. Atlas generally contracts it’s manufacturing to specialty firms based in Asia. The acquisition does not involve Branchline’s extensive line of HO scale structure kits marketed under the trade name of Laser-Art.
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Hopefully this will be a plus and not a minus....
If Atlas continues to offer their frieght car kits in actual "KIT" form, and not not have them preassembled, thereby increasing the cost that would be great! Though I do hope they offer some of their NYC Passenger Car models in assembled form as those kits take much, much longer than freight cars, so i don't mind paying extra for them to be assembeld.
Ken L.
Speculation on my part - Not good news
Atlas has never offered rolling stock models as a kit ever before, so more than likely all the old Branchline models will be re-released in ready-to-run format. That isn't the bad news, as actually I prefer this on pre-painted models (regardless of cost increase).
The bad news is Atlas has no past experience with detail parts, and I doubt they will continue to offer Branchline's great collection of boxcar ends, roofs and misc details. I also question if they will offer undec kits, which would be a roundabout way of getting these details.
Just speculation on my part; but until Atlas offers us a proper statement, I think this is very bad news for the remaining kitbashers in the hobby.
An expansion, hopefully
I hope the RTR passenger car line expands. I have built some the kits but much longer than I care to spend on plastic kits. I share the concerns that the models may be simplified ie less detailed as are other Atlas rolling stock items.
Kit to build
I know that not many folk have a 28x30 foot layout and I know the market is lean more to RTR rolling stock. But Branchline did offer great rolling stock at a fair price. I have 150 cars in my inventory and a plan to add 350 more. At a kit price of $13.00 the price tag is $4550. Wow that is a lot of cash now at RTR average price of over $35. That price just went to $12,250.00 now I am being price out of the hobby. Or better put out of my size of layout. Not to mention that if you do any custom paint they don't make RTR undecerated. What will happen is yet to be seen but I hope someone new will pick up the slack. I not against RTR I have some just I don’t need every car to be RTR and not at that price. I also like their fine tread wheel most of my rolling stock have been change over to.
http://sites.google.com/site/coloradocoyotecreek/
Mike Deverell
Mike Deverell
Colorado Front Range Railroad
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxQthaWz7aYFp_FIu5qqs4w
Murphy was an optimist...
While Murphy's Laws would lead one to agree with you, from a corporate stand point, the detail side of things may be the exact reason for Atlas to buy Branchline. Atlas has a good track record, but as you say, shy on the detail parts end. This may even lead to some of their RTR models being easily modified for detail parts.
Stogie