Atlas Model Railroad Company Inc. has purchased a selection of the tooling for M.T.H. Electric Trains’ Premier O scale locomotive and rolling stock lines, as well as some of M.T.H.’s RailKing accessories.
According to a release from Atlas, the acquired car-manufacturing molds include the 4-Bay Hopper, Coalporter Hopper, PS2CD High Side Hopper, 40′ PS1 Box Car, 55′ All Door Box Car, 2-Bay Centerflow Hopper, 3-Bay Centerflow Hopper , Steel Caboose , 50′ High Cube Box Car , PS2 2-Bay Hopper, 20,000 Gallon Tank Car, 50′ Airslide Hopper, Russell Plow, 8000 Gallon Tank Car, Funnel Flow Tank Car, Modern Tank Car, Crane, Crane Tender, 100 Ton Hot Metal Car, Rapid Discharge Hopper, 75′ Depressed Flat Car, Scale Test Car, 2-Bay Offset Hopper, Operating Coal and Log Dump Car, Premiere 70′ Heavyweight Passenger Cars, Premiere 70′ Streamline Passenger Cars and Amfleet Cars.
Locomotive molds include the E6A/B and E8A/B, 44 Tonner, Amtrak P42 Genesis, Dash 9, SD45, F40, U30C, SD70M-2 with SD70Ace, GP38-2, SD70ACe, SD70MAC, GP40, S2, SD40-2, GP30, ES44AC and ES44DC, and GEVO ES44.
Atlas is also getting from the RailKing Line: Water Column, 22 figure sets, Operating Traffic Light, Motorcycle Pack, Pedestrian Crosswalk, Floodlight Tower, Sanding Tower, Road signs, Telephone Poles, and the Operating Modern Crossing Signal.
The hillside, N.J.-based company has also acquired a license for the MTH Proto-Sound 3 Sound & Control Electronics Boards, which adds realistic sounds to locomotives and also allows control via DCS (Digital Command System). Part of the license will give Atlas the option to sell DCS components as well.
Jarrett Haedrich, COO of Atlas, said, “We will be working closely with the existing supplier to ensure that the models are produced and delivered in a timely fashion.” The release added the company will announce March 24 the first model to be produced.
The Atlas deal is the latest in the wrap-up for M.T.H., headquartered in Columbia, Md.
In June 2020, president Mike Wolf announced he was retiring and M.T.H. would be closing in May of this year. Its electronics department will live on as a separate entity, continuing to manufacture and provide support for DCS hardware and Wi-Fi app.
In February, Benton, Tenn.-based Scaletrains.com announced the purchase of M.T.H.’s HO scale and S gauge tooling and designs. It anticipates model production by 2022.
Hooray. Now if someone would acquire all the molds, etc. developed by Aristocraft! And I have to wonder how long USA Trains will stay in business?