Author: News

Atlas posts regarding Micro-Trains: All U.S.-based tooling remains stateside at the moment

Atlas posted today on their Facebook an update to the Micro-Trains acquisition. It appears the molds will eventually be transferred to Vietnam:

Atlas/Micro-Trains Sale Explanation

We know the past week has brought a lot of emotion for the Micro-Trains team and for many long-time hobbyists who care deeply about the brand.

A little context may be helpful.

Micro-Trains had been exploring a sale for several years as the owners prepared for retirement. Employee decisions made in recent weeks were handled by Micro-Trains itself, before the Atlas acquisition took effect. Those changes were not directed, initiated, or influenced by Atlas. Atlas’ only role was expressing interest in interviewing Micro-Trains employees for potential job opportunities.

Our role now is clear: preserve the Micro-Trains product line, protect its legacy, and build a strong future for the brand. We have already begun meeting with former Micro-Trains employees and hope to bring talented people onto the new “Micro-Trains by Atlas” team.

On a question we’ve seen come up often:
None of the U.S.-based tooling is being moved to China.

Micro-Trains had some limited production in China in recent years using the same factories Atlas uses today, but all U.S.-based tooling remains stateside at the moment. As part of the long-term production plan, molds will currently be transferred to trusted suppliers in Vietnam, where quality, cost stability, and production capacity are strongest. After careful review, this is the best path to ensure Micro-Trains continues into 2026 and well beyond. Without this step, the brand’s future would have been uncertain at best.

At the same time, all drawings, computer files, research, archival materials, and selected equipment are being relocated to Atlas in Hillside, New Jersey, where research and development, engineering, logistics and overall product management will continue. We are also evaluating which aspects of production and assembly may continue in the United States as we balance quality, cost, and long-term sustainability.

Our goal is simple: ensure Micro-Trains not only survives, but thrives for the next generation of modelers.”

Happy Thanksgiving to All,

Atlas Model Railroad Co. Inc

https://www.facebook.com/share/17xHTC9ok6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Prototype Couplers moves into new building and can produce year round!

This excellent news! Alex is certainly showing leadership to the community here. 

From their Facebook page:

Quick and well needed update for everyone. I finally have finished construction on a 640sqft facility to strictly handle coupler production. I now have the capiblitiy to manufacture all year round. Production on products has resumed again after a 2 month hiatus to allow for time to be spend constructing and moving equipment. This new facility includes a manufacturing area, office, warehouse, and QC area. The hope is to be able to better serve the hobby during the colder winter months and provide more consitancy in our investment cast line of couplers.
On a side note, the hybrid line of couplers will be discontinued. Truthfully they were always weaker than the other coupler offering and had a larger failure rate, and they didn’t move all that fast either. We still have stock from our first casting runs in 2023.
We had them in our line-up to pay homage to Frank Sergent and his original couplers line but I believe we have reach a point where the our investment cast couplers are stronger and look just as good if not better than the hybrid line.
I also want to take this time to thank everyone who placed an order in the past 2 months for their patience while I was construting this facility. It was a true undertaking to building it with just 2 guys, and took up all my normal order processing time. I am working through the backlog with only a few outstanding orders remaining. I should be all caught up by Thanksgiving.
Thats all for this update. Next update should be on the long awaited release of the O scale Protocraft compatible shank couplers. I now have time to work through the last bit needed to get them casted and should have them out by the end of the year.
Cheers,
Alex

Atlas Posts a Response Regarding Micro-Trains

Atlas posted a reply to this thread on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DSHBhjTzf/

(Exploring the comments on this post is interesting). Some direct questions being asked by the community. 

There’s been a lot of talk about Micro-Trains tooling being ‘shipped off to China,’ so let’s clear that up right away. While Micro-Trains has had some limited production in China in recent years — at some of the same factories Atlas uses — none of the U.S.–based tooling is being moved to China. That assumption just isn’t accurate.
Atlas has been around for over 100 years. The company was started by an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, and over the decades manufactured products in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany, England, Italy, Yugoslavia, Brazil, and yes, China. The point is: Atlas has always used a global production mix, choosing partners who can meet the quality, tooling and cost requirements for each specific product — not relying on any one country.
Something that often gets overlooked is that Atlas has always been headquartered in New Jersey. That’s where administration, R&D, marketing, advertising, parts and repairs, customer service, and distribution all take place. Those are American jobs that stay right here. On top of that, Atlas regularly works with engineers, designers, and consultants from across the United States on product development, tooling, electronics, and problem-solving. A lot of U.S.-based expertise goes into every product line, including we hope, some MTL employees who are offered Atlas jobs, and decide to stay.
To be clear, no Micro-Trains molds or tooling are being sent to China. The core operations will remain firmly in the United States, and Atlas is actively looking to employ former Micro-Trains team members. Our goal is simple: preserve the Micro-Trains product line, support its skilled workforce, ensure product availability, and maintain the same high level of quality and fidelity that customers expect from Micro-Trains and Atlas

Atlas Schedules a Live Stream Event

This could be a good chance for Atlas to address some concerns overall with the Micro-Trains acquisition. If the live stream has a chat that they monitor, I would be curious to see the questions from the community come in and how they addressed. 

Here is the posting from Atlas:

Join us this Monday at 2PM Eastern as we reveal ALL of the exciting new Atlas product announcements within the Atlas Winter 2025 HO and N Scale Catalog!
Link for Monday’s Live Stream:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1KyQPoqZFG/

Kadee Shows Leadership and Gives Comfort to the Community

Kadee posted on their Facebook page:

To our friends in the hobby,
Many of you have asked about the Micro-Trains/Atlas news. We wish the Micro-Trains team and Atlas all the best during this transition, and our thoughts are with the employees in Talent.
For everyone wondering about Kadee: Nothing has changed, and nothing will. We remain completely independent, family-owned, and 100% manufactured in White City, Oregon — exactly as we have for decades.
We’re not selling.
We’re not moving production.
We’re not going anywhere.
Thank you for your continued support.
— The Kadee Team
White City, Oregon

Still here. Still American. Still Kadee.

 

Atlas Model Railroad Company Acquires Assets of Micro-Trains Line Co.

The community is still processing this.
Atlas Model Railroad Company Acquires Assets of Micro-Trains Line Co.
Talent, OR — November 19, 2025 — Micro-Trains Line Company, Inc. announced today that it has been acquired by Atlas Model Railroad Co, which includes substantially all assets of Micro-Trains Line Co., the Talent, Oregon-based manufacturer renowned for its precision N and Z scale model trains and couplers. The transaction marks a significant expansion of Atlas’s manufacturing and product development capabilities within the U.S. hobby industry.
Under the agreement, Atlas will assume ownership of Micro-Trains’ molds, tooling, and associated intellectual property, ensuring continued production of the brand’s hallmark products. Production will transition into Atlas’s global manufacturing and supply network, ensuring continued availability and consistent quality standards worldwide.
Eric D. Smith, President of Micro-Trains Line Co., added: “Our family and team are proud of what Micro-Trains has meant to hobbyists everywhere. Atlas’s commitment to excellence and long-term investment in the model railroad community makes them the right partner to continue our story.”
Both companies emphasized that the integration will focus on preserving the authenticity of Micro-Trains’ designs while leveraging Atlas’s engineering, logistics, production capabilities to broaden innovation and future product offerings.”
Smith also wants to thank our industry counterparts, many of whom we have worked so closely with making this hobby a true enjoyment to be part of. And a very special thank you to the model railroad consumers; your interest and patronage of our model trains is much appreciated.
Micro-Trains in Talent, OR. will continue to accept and process orders until our finished model train single car releases, multi-packs, trucks, couplers tools and accessories are sold out. This includes our December releases.
In closing, we once again extend our sincerest thanks to all, and wish everyone great success in all your future endeavors.

First!

AMTN started after receiving the news regarding Micro-Trains being purchased by Atlas. We intend to establish a dedicated resource that focuses on those manufacturers in the model railroading space that can claim “Made in the USA”. It is very important that the good work of these manufacturers be highlighted and promoted. It is also meant to encourage, support and inspire other manufacturers that want to strive for this label. Their commitment to this status has positive effects beyond just model railroading. We intend to highlight community concerns overall on this topic, and to educate others.

If you want to send suggestions, have a tip or a press release feel free email tips@americanmadetrainnews.com

 

 

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