The Rip Track

So I'm here in Milwaukee to setup for Trainfest. We got our NTrak layout up and fully assembled, we just need to test out the electricical in the morning, but the real news here is the manufacturers section. I got a quick look around there and talked to a few of them today. Read on for some news and initial thoughts...

First, I have to apologize for the lack of pictures on this post. My laptop couldn't read the CF card in my USB adapter for some reason. Anyway, all the big manufacturers, and a few of the smaller ones, are here. I stopped at some of the larger manufacturers today. The top story for this show is that deLuxe Innovations is becoming DeLuxe Innovations. The move that was mentioned earlier is due to the whole company being sold. The reps at their table today had printed copies of the press release explaining that the company's new owner is Dave Ferrari, formerly of Atlas Model Railroad Company. Steve and Craig are sticking around, and they will be joined by Wayne Shortman, also from Atlas. The company headquarters is moving from California to Whippany, New Jersey, while the sales office will remain in Illinois. The press release doesn't say anything about George's position with the new company, but in just walking by their booth, I overheard rumblings that he will have less of an influence; I don't know all the details there, but I plan to go back tomorrow to talk to them some more. The good news for us modelers is that all of the existing preorders are being transferred to the new owners for fulfillment, and they had several new models on display (photos to come in a later post). Speaking of Atlas, they were showing off test shots of their upcoming GP38 and GP40 in N. There are several different body styles that they're working on both with and without dynamic brakes, and they'll also have a high nose version. There were a lot of other modelers hanging around there, so I didn't get a chance to really find out much more about it yet. The flyer they had lists GMTX, Providence & Worcester, Wisconsin & Southern and undec for the GP38, and Amtrak, FEC, Vermont Railway, Rio Grande, Susquehanna and undec for the GP40 as well as Alaska Railroad, CSX, IHB and undec for the GP40-2. Athearn has a nice large booth at the show. They had test shots of the upcoming F45 and FP45 models in both HO and N, but there was a sign next to them to talk to a specific rep before taking photos of them. Since that person was busy every time I walked by, I couldn't in good conscience get pictures of them yet. Athearn had a flashy color brochure of upcoming models that includes notes about these as well as 4-8-2s, SD45-2s, F3s, F7s, F9s, MP15ACs, UP Northerns, RS3s, GP40Xs and SD38s in HO along with 53' container chassis, 50' iced reefers, SP 1937 and 1938 Daylight trains, 50' flat cars and ACF 2970 covered hoppers. Us N scalers will get the F45/FP45s, SD70s, 4-6-6-4 Challengers, 50' ice reefers and 50' Overland passenger cars (now if only they'd do the MP15AC in N; I need a few for my Milwaukee Road layout). Walthers also has a large booth at the show. They were showing a fully animated container straddle crane from Heljan that they are importing. This thing is way cool, and there's a video at Walthers's site to show it off. The crane is designed to operate on track sections that are available separately, but you can lay your own rails to extend the length of where it will run. The base controller will operate up to three distinct cranes and the Walthers rep said that you can combine up to 12 cranes on a layout. Why anyone would need 12 of these is a different story. There were a bunch more new products shown from these and other manufacturers, but until I get more information on them, you'll just have to wait in due suspense. If I don't get to it sooner, I plan to put up photos and complete details later this week.