The Return of the Atlas Shay!

A Cass loco will need enlarged instead of "shrunk" but make a build thread when you get round to it!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

The very first Shay at Cass (1900) was a 42 ton, 2 truck (Greenbrier & Elk River #1), I think that was the only 2 truck used at Cass. I hope with the next release of the Shay, Atlas will stock replacement parts. This would make converting a 2 truck to 3 truck much easier.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about number #1, it isn't in the video I have!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

Nice mill you've got started there! Cutting deck up high where it belongs.

 

Thanks, scratch built from photos and info from the first sawmill at Cass in 1900, which burned to the ground in 1920. My plan is to model the early years of the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Co. at Cass using the Atlas Shays. I have a couple on pre-order, hopefully they will be here soon.

 

Hopefully!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

Have been checking my purveyor of things trains with that certain big dealer up near Baltimore and low and behold they snuck them in on me. Two road names were already sold out in just the one day I missed checking so they are appearing to go fast so I hopped right on the site and ordered two before they completely vanished. I paid $129 apiece for mine so I think that the price will vary a few dollars either way. The retail price is showing $199.95

 

Two road names were sold out this morning when I ordered mine and about 3o remained spread among the remaining road names. There are now 16 left and I suspect by the weekend none left. I suspect that some of them went to the HO narrow gauge crowd as happened with the first run.

 

Then perhaps the Showcase Miniatures kit would be more your thing? Only thing about it for me is the two axle pickup. I'm sure there is a remedy but I haven't spare funds to tinker with something that costly upfront that might not run well.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

I have looked at this kit and had some thoughts about acquiring one. At $135, and that is discounted, its a little more than the discounted Atlas Shay. And the mechanism is not included so I suspect you end up around $200 when you purchase the mechanism, and that is only a two axle drive. Given that one is going to have to rig up something so the front truck is also pick-up, it still should have decent power due to the shell parts being pewter. Another thing I noticed is the cylinder mechanism is not functioning unlike the Atlas model which is. So right now advantage Atlas, both in cost, and in working parts, and full electrical pick up.

The Showcase Miniatures kit does offer one the ability to configure the kit to several versions, and a smaller version of the two trucked Shay and there are several parts offered by them that one can order. On the other hand one can go to the Republic Locomotive site and order some parts that can be used to change the appearance of the Atlas Shay.

There is a article on the kit which is both Nn3 and N.
http://www.raildig.com/raildig-guest/walter-vail-showcase-miniatures-nn3-shay/

As far as the pewter kit is concerned I have one that is a Class A Climax that I modified to fit a Bmann 44 tonner chassis and then cast my own truck side frames. So maybe one could go that route with the Shay kit. Or maybe one who has a flush modeling budget can adapt the pewter shell kit to the Atlas mechanism.

As far as I go I have ordered the two I wanted and waited long for. All my locos are oil burners so I am set there with no changes except to road name and number. What I am interested in is will this run have the same ability to run on less than 9.75 like my first run ones, so next week, or this weekend when they arrive, they go right on the test track. I'll have a report next week.

These are the last two locomotives that I will be purchasing with my downsizing both to smaller locomotives and far fewer in number. The only exception will be if Atlas does a three truck Shay, or realizes there is a market for geared steam and does a Heisler or Climax.

 

My thoughts exactly on the Showcase kit. If there was a way to double Powermax one, I would save up.
I wasn't aware and will definitely look at RLW for parts to modify my incoming Atlas. It better handle 9.75 curves, or its back to the trackplanning software I go. I hope not, I'm really psyched about my latest one.
I too would love to see someone step up and offer Class B or heavier Climaxes and Heislers. Randgust said making his wasn't something he would want to ever do again.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

Atlas advertises 9.75 minimum. That said my 1st generation ones will handle 8 inch and navigate through Peco ST5 and 6s which are extremely tight turnouts at about 7 inch rad. I don't know what changes have been done since the last release.
My test track has an outer oval of 11 inch R. which then is connected by a pair of Atlas #6 turnouts to a 9.75 oval. The 3rd inside oval comes off the 9.75 R. through a pair of Peco ST 5 and 6s and is 8 inch R. so I will know if these have the same performance as the originals. I have the plus of also being able to test at any grade and a set of scales should reveal any weight differences. My first run handled the 6% grade with ten cars doubled headed and 6 cars single on the former layout.

As far as the more technical stuff like tearing it apart I leave that to Mark (Spookshow) to do. His eyesight is far better than mine and I would never get all the small parts back together.

 

Not a bad kit but it is an Nn3 kit and does not have working valve gear and drive shafts. However That might be another kit that could be modified to fit the Atlas mechanism.

 

So I put it on what I like to call The Gauntlet. Each S curve decreases in size down to 9.75". So far no physical issues with the track arrangement. I am however having a heck of a time with programming. Trying to set its top speed isn't working. I've tried setting cv66 to 2 yet it still occasionally forgets what it's doing and takes off. Then I tried setting CVs 2,6&5 to 1,2,3 respectively. It still insists taking off like a rocket every once in a while. I'm starting to wonder if it has to do with the amount of track and only three feeders.
Regardless, it is such a cool little engine and I'm sure these electrical issues will be sorted eventually.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

This one will go around a nine and three quarter curve? The old ones would not.

I bought one to-day. It is still breaking in around thirteen and three quarter curves. It appears to be an improvement over the first ones. So far, no stalling at walking speed. I have two of the first that stall constantly at anything less than thirty five SMPH. Considering that top speed on these things was about thirty MPH and that they usually operated at speeds somewhere between walking speed and fifteen MPH, that ain't none too good. If these things will run on Kato UNITRAM track, that will be a true bonus.