Manufacturer
Atlas O
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlaso.com
Era: 1910s to 1960s
Comments: Modeled after relatively short cars, these new O scale heavyweight cars from Atlas O’s Trainman line can handle tight-radius curves without compromising prototype fidelity.
The scale 60-foot cars are available in baggage, coach, combine (pictured), and Railway Post Office versions. The coach, combine, and baggage car are based on Chicago & North Western prototypes. See the Atlas O Web site for a full list of available road names.
Our samples came with many attractive factory-installed details, including wire handrails. The model also has sprung die-cast metal trucks. The cars couple close enough to let their rubber diaphragms touch.
The models feature one-piece molded plastic interiors and interior lighting. All the car’s RP-25 contour metal wheels pick up power. The lights work on both direct current and Digital Command Control; their brightness varies with voltage.
All the wheelsets on our sample were in gauge, and the couplers were mounted at the correct height.
The Atlas O heavyweights are well-detailed, and they’ll look and operate better than longer passenger cars on tight-radius curves.
