Slow Roasted coffee, low and slow cooking, and yes slow moving n scale trains...
But setting all kidding aside, slow moving trains are very realistic even though the testosterone filled mindset is to run them like slot cars or at least when no one is looking, tap the throttle a bit and " let's see what these babies can do" leaks out...
But that is not what we were after this round...today it is " all about that bass" bout that bass"... As the song goes.
In fact, this is the longest video I have made to date, so that is really saying something. Everyone knows that anything longer than two minutes is an eternity in you tube land and you are more likely to lose your viewer. But this video speaks volumes for the Atlas VO engine crawling a short section of Kato track at almost snails pace...and interestingly enough, even with my ADD syndrome it does not bore me like most do.
Now in case you haven't guessed, I am not one of those writers with all the grammatically correct .., whatever's.
Just enjoy the video, comment, subscribe and move on with life.
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...
The link above...or below the video is a review of the Bachman SD45 loco first released in 2004.
Now, before I say to much, let me just say I agree with everything that was written about them, except for one thing, and that is the generous grade of B. I am a C to C minus on just about every Bachman N scale except their steam line. I simply don't understand it either. It just baffles me how they can make a great steam loco, which is harder by the way than a diesel????? This mystery will never cease to amaze me. If my blog becomes so popular that it has any influence on Bachman, to which they would send me sample locos for tests of my own, I may change my mind. But be that as it may, and I have to purchase all my own samples, I stand by the mantra that I am not just an unlucky buyer and recipient of so many failures. I currently have one that is worth keeping out of over 20 purchases... Straight from the retail to my hands they magically become lemons. In comparison with con cor, Kato, life like, walthers, arnold, or trix.... not a bad one in the group.
Not so much of a review but an observation. So now that you have gone this far indulge me a little bit. Many moons ago in college..1987 to be exact , I was taking art classes, with some loft notion or idea of becoming an undiscovered world famous artist, only to discover that the most famous ones usually died penniless or were poverty stricken their whole lives and became known after their deaths.. That disappointment obviously redirected my career a bunch and put the kibosh on my what was then two dimensional talents. All that to say this... If it wasn't for my discovery of Kato track around 1993 I would have never continued the N scale hobby in a layout form. N scale needs perfect track to run smooth. Now- before offending those modeling purists who "Atlasize" ,"Peco ize" or hand fab track on their own layouts... let me first say I admire and respect anyone who can make those brands run flawlessly. My hats off to you really- you are micro engineers of greatest caliber.
Just don't get bent out of shape about people who will die on the hill of Kato track. There is great reason to love it, almost Instant gratification being one of them. There is nothing worse than poor running trains. KATO saved the N scale marriage for me, and I am sure it has impacted others in their own way with similar results. The fact that many have experienced the same and coupled with my personal experience with other brands, (I believe) afford me at least a strong verified opinion and position towards KATO.
Now recently I have taken some flack about my "pontification" of KATO track. (look that up on google) I don't believe that what I am expressing is dogmatic in any way at all. It is just my personal experience with it. I could care less if you want to utilize other manufactures. Dogma requires that you think and be like me, and we don't need another me for sure. Besides it is one way not the only way and this isn't the church of KATO and the doctrine of such if any allows for all shapes, sizes and personalities no matter how slanted.
And a word to the purist,,,, The toy like opinions, the unrealistic this that and the other comments you really should tuck it away, because you really are not that smart. You chant and beat the drum of hand laid track or peco or atlas and yet you have the following, glaring, unrealistic things among your own. How about those throws that look so great? Yeah they look good, but the throw arms would be 10-12' tall to scale of a person who had to throw them for the switch?? But I digress, and as I said before, they are fine and kudos to you on your track choices, just dont diss my love for KATO...
Happy times... Now go impress me.
