Not Just for Kids...

So the whole thing starts with Tyco, evolves from John Allen's gorre and Daphetid, then .... well who knows from now to future what. The whole idea that a model train can and will influence a lifestyle to the "n-th" degree is amazing to me. You are here so you know what I am talking about. Catch up on past posts if you don't... I can stare at this photo again and again and every time can be like the very first time. How do you explain it? What did he do? Did he make the soul exchanging deal with the devil? I have seen a lot of layouts over the years, but his layout, his alone does something that stirs, glues and pastes my eyeballs into the dark trance of imaginary land. Every single time! Lets explore that later shall we?... Anyways, the fanatic FB pages first header was this very JPG and it drew all the sheep in for the slaughter... So here we are.

Atlas and Kato engines

In the world of N scale engines, atlas and kato ( pronounced k"ah" toe) have been somewhat synonomous. However, there came a time at some point, that atlas/ kato engines from Japan became Atlas/ China made engines...

Now, I have not actually  had bad experience with any atlas China made engines  just yet, but I believe that experience has more to do with my absence from the hobby for about ten straight years. With the current layout mothballed with moving boxes stacked all around it, I was unable to stay current in the operational/transition of the atlas China connection.

My background with imports from China and the high level of QC ( quality control ) that was needed to insure satisfaction levels , leads me to believe that some models have to be suspect at times within thus said transition. Of course, without direct experience it is based on assumption and speculation. I just cannot see the same Japanese precision going into the Chinese ones from a manufacturing standpoint.

I will say this, I own both and am currently starting to run all my shelf queens and work them into my layout fleet...

Here is a quick video on the newest ATLAS VO 1000 moving around... 

SLOW< SLOWER< SLOWEST... ATLAS VO MOVES THE ORE