American Z Line AZL NTS 2011 New Items

ztrack Jul 12, 2011

  1. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    American Z Line unveiled over 55 new items during the National Train Show in Sacramento this past weekend. This included three all new freight cars and new locomotives. On display was the much anticipated Big Boy. The preproduction raw brass version was on display. No release date has been set at this time.

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    Also on display were both the light and heavy Mikados. Estimate price will be in the $200 range.

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    A F3 A and B unit was announced. No samples were shown at this time. Estimated release date is 2012.

    All samples of AZL GP30s were on display. The first release of GP30s in set to happen in about two weeks.

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    The road names for the GP30s are:

    ATSF
    Cotton Belt (Ztrack Magazine Exclusive release)
    Great Northern
    Wisconsin Central
    New York Central
    Rio Grande
    Southern Pacific
    Union Pacific

    A preproduction sample of the GP38-2 was shown. AZL announced twelve road names will be released. These are:

    ATSF
    BN
    BNSF
    CN
    CP
    CSX
    Grand Trunk
    Milwaukee Road
    Norfolk Southern
    Soo
    Southern Pacific
    Union Pacific

    Three all new body styles were released. The first is a Greenbrier 73' centerbeam car. No samples were shown.

    The second new body style is a PC&F 60' beer car. A release date and road names have not been set.

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    The third new body style is a waffle side gondola. A release date and road names have not been set. The photo is below.

    Sample of the RTTX 89' intermodal flats were show. A release date has not been set. The photo is below.

    On display, AZL showed the upcoming runs of 23,000 gallon funnel flow tank cars, ACF 3-Bays and auto racks. The following funnel flow tank cars are set to be released:

    ADM
    DNAX (Railcare)
    PRTX (Asphalt 1)
    Prox (Procor - black)

    The following ACF 3-Bay road names are set to be released:

    BNSF
    CN
    Chicago North Western
    Cotton Belt (Ztrack Magazine Exclusive release)
    Kansas City Southern
    Golden West Service
    Montana Rail Link
    Northern Pacific
    Sante Fe
    Southern Pacific

    The second run of bay-window cabooses was shown. The following road names are set for release:

    BN
    Chicago North Western
    Cotton Belt (Ztrack Magazine Exclusive release)
    CSX
    Milwaukee
    NS
    Rock Island
    UP - North Platte Service Unit
    Wisconsin Central

    The second run of autoracks were also on display. The following road names are planned:

    ATSF
    BN
    BNSF
    CSX
    Ferromex
    NS
    Southern Pacific (new version)
    Union Pacific (Building America)

    Finally, AZL showed samples of their heavy weight passenger coaches. On display were the Pullman 10-1-2 sleeping car, 12-1 sleeping car and the 36 seat dining car.

    New releases will be coming monthly starting in August.

    Rob Kluz
     
  2. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    [​IMG]

    Sample of the waffle side gondola

    [​IMG]

    RTTX 89' intermodal car shown with 48' container

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    KCS 3-bay hopper. Preproduction sample. Chute color to be corrected.

    Rob Kluz
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2011
  3. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    Two more...

    [​IMG]

    BN autorack

    [​IMG]

    CSX bay window caboose

    Rob Kluz
     
  4. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Hey Rob, do you have seperate photo's of the heavy and light mikado? From what I can see I am totally impressed! :D
     
  5. J o e

    J o e TrainBoard Member

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    Nice Rob! I've been waiting quite awhile for the CSX autoracks. Are all the autoracks going to be released in 3 sets of 4 cars or are certain roadnames going to be limited to one 4 car set? The CSX caboose will be a must have for me too.
     
  6. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Thanks for the update Rob lots of good lookin' things coming to Z
     
  7. zyousoon

    zyousoon TrainBoard Member

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    The release products are many. Are they improve the quality? I hope AZL can make better product than some of their product in the past. AZL will be supporting replacements? parts for prior engines? or current engines? I see some of non running ones for sale and it is too bad they don't run at all or run so good.
     
  8. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    AZL offers a 1 year standard warranty that covers manufacturing defects. As for quality, just ask those who were running during the NTS. Look at the photos of the Challengers, RDCs or SD70s in action. You will see many AZL cars and rolling stock on the modules. I had a club member state point blank that he likes running AZL due to it's dependability. Quite a statement as you watch 50 plus AZL grain cars being pulled by a pair of SD70s.

    I uploaded a PDF showing the illustrations of the liveries for the planned GP38-2s. You can download it at the following link. This should be an automatic download:

    http://www.ztrack.com/pdf/NTS2011gp38-2_sm.pdf

    Also, I failed to mention, AZL was showing off their spartan cab Illinois Central SD70 at the show. They are working on the chassis to add even more weight.

    Rob
     
  9. goobnav

    goobnav TrainBoard Member

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    Hey Rob,

    Is the AZL website going to be updated with this information so we can drool over it until the stuff comes out?
     
  10. jvnwhite

    jvnwhite TrainBoard Supporter

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    Zyousoon,

    I am just curious? What quality issues have you come across with AZL's products?

    Thanks,
    Jeffrey
     
  11. ztrack

    ztrack TrainBoard Supporter Advertiser

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    I did talked with the AZL owners and they are working on a website update. I do keep the Ztrack/AZL pages up to date. I still need to add information on the new releases. But you can find our AZL pages at:

    http://www.ztrack.com/AZL/amerzlines.html

    Rob
     
  12. zfuture

    zfuture TrainBoard Member

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    Missed News

    We announced other items as well like the EMD F3A and F3B. This will be a mid 2012 release.
    AZL is also adding a Centerbeam car to our increasing line of freight cars. 1st release could be in January/February next year.
     
  13. pmx

    pmx TrainBoard Member

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    First I'll start by say that it looks like lots goods to be had in near future. I just hope the checkbook can support at least a portion of the I wants.

    With regards to the road names for the GP30s

    I'll am guessing the WC road number(s) will in the 2251~2253 series, since they were ex-CNW and had the standard EMD 2 axel Bloomberg truck. While I would really like to see them in the 700 series, I don't figure it was financially practical since they were ex-Soo Line units with Alco trucks.

    [Suggestion: if someone were to produce Alco trucks, in addition to all the lovely Alco units, one could make GP30s for Milwaukee Road, Soo Line and WC. :drool:]

    Paul E.
     
  14. zfuture

    zfuture TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry, no Alco trucks for now.
     
  15. pmx

    pmx TrainBoard Member

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    One can always hope. Thanks for the confirmation on the trucks, now about those road numbers...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 16, 2011
  16. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Ah . . . F3's. Yep, going to be RIGHT in the era I need to be in.

    THANK YOU !
    .
     
  17. RobertAllbritton

    RobertAllbritton TrainBoard Member

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    700 series. (The sample I have in hand is #711 to be exact)

    Feel free to re-number for prototypical accuracy. We'll get the road numbers and trucks right for the next run. Nothing in life is perfect, but we try.

    Cheers,
    -Rob(A)
    AZL
    (AKA the 50% partner of the company who didn't get to go to NTS because my "day job" got in the way. Grrrrrr.....)
     
  18. markm

    markm TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rob,
    Have you folks ever thought about printing the loco shells without road numbers and providing decals? I know it won't work for all roads or locos, but when it does it would be a great way of building a fleet without having to go through all the effort of re-numbering.
    BTW: sorry you could make NTS. It was my first, and the Z layouts were the best I'd seen in any show.

    Mark
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 17, 2011
  19. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    F 3's would be great. Nice to have these comming down the road!
     
  20. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rob,
    That is a great idea from Mark. I can't imagine it would be a difficult thing to work with someone who makes decals and think of the folks who might be interested in building fleets of the same loco. I can't see this as anything other than a win win for all. Your thoughts?
     

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