Atlas HO Scale Models

About Atlas

Atlas Model Railroad Company traces its origins to 1924, when Stephan Schaffan Sr., an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, founded the Atlas Tool Company in Newark, New Jersey. The company's deep roots in the hobby took hold when his son, Stephan Schaffan Jr., developed innovative track components that transformed model railroading from a largely scratch-built pursuit into an accessible mass-market hobby. Among his contributions were the first practical rail joiner, pre-assembled turnouts, and flexible track. The growing business eventually relocated to Hillside, New Jersey, where the company has remained headquartered ever since. Over the decades, Atlas evolved from a track and accessories manufacturer into a full-line producer of locomotives and rolling stock, formally incorporating as Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc. in the early 1990s.

Atlas entered the HO scale locomotive market in 1975, initially importing diesel models produced by Roco in Austria. This foundation grew steadily, and today Atlas is a well-regarded name among HO scale hobbyists for offering detailed, reliable models across a range of price points. The company organizes its HO scale offerings into distinct product tiers, including the Master, Master Gold, and Master Plus lines. The Master series represents the company's premium level of quality and detail, appealing to collectors and serious modelers who expect fine scale fidelity, sound options, and DCC compatibility. With approximately 109 HO scale models represented in hobby databases, Atlas maintains a broad and varied catalog covering diesel locomotives and freight equipment from numerous prototype railroads.

Within the model railroading community, Atlas holds a significant place not only for its product quality but for its historical role in shaping the hobby itself. The company's early innovations in track manufacturing lowered the barriers to entry for generations of modelers, and its continued investment in accurate, well-engineered models has kept it relevant through decades of increasing competition. Hobbyists and collectors regard Atlas as a dependable manufacturer whose products offer strong value across multiple tiers, making the brand a fixture on layouts ranging from beginner setups to highly detailed, museum-quality model railroads.

Product Lines

Atlas models span 6 product lines.

Real-world equipment types that Atlas produces in HO scale

Atlas produces HO models in liveries for 26 railroads.

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