Atlas Model Railroad
American manufacturer of scale model railroad equipment, including locomotives, rolling stock, track, structures, and accessories.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Atlas Model Railroad is an American manufacturer of scale model railroad equipment based in Hillside, New Jersey. Its product portfolio covers N, HO, and O scales and includes locomotives, freight and passenger cars, track systems, vehicles, buildings, bridges, accessories, and train sets. The company is particularly associated with practical, ready-to-use track products, including flexible track and multiple track-code options, as well as a broad range of North American railroad subjects. The business originated in 1924, when Czechoslovak immigrant Stephan Schaffan Sr. established Atlas Tool Company in the garage of his Newark, New Jersey, home. The company initially operated as a machine and tool business. His son, Stephan Schaffan Jr., joined at age sixteen in 1933 and became interested in solving the construction problems faced by model railroaders. At the time, hobbyists commonly built track components from scratch. Schaffan Jr. developed a switch kit that sold successfully through a local hobby shop, leading the family to manufacture the components in their basement while continuing the machine-shop operation. Atlas subsequently developed several innovations that helped make model railroading more accessible. These included methods for attaching rail to fiber track, a practical rail joiner, preassembled turnouts, and flexible track. As demand expanded, the company moved beyond the family garage and basement. It built a factory at 413 Florence Avenue in Hillside in 1947, and Atlas Tool Company was incorporated on September 30, 1949. For much of its early history, Atlas concentrated on track and plastic building kits. Its business broadened into locomotives and rolling stock during the late 1960s and 1970s. The company entered N-scale locomotive production in 1968 with models manufactured by Rivarossi in Italy, followed by additional steam and diesel locomotives. It later worked with Roco of Austria on N-scale and HO-scale products and partnered with Kato Precision Railroad Models of Japan on an N-scale Alco RS-3 introduced in 1983. That model was widely regarded within the hobby as an important step in improving ready-to-run fidelity. Atlas entered ready-to-run HO diesel locomotives in 1975 and offered train sets during the 1970s. It also experimented with O-scale locomotives and rolling stock, initially through imported Roco products. In the early 1990s, the company changed its name from Atlas Tool Company to Atlas Model Railroad Company, reflecting the centrality of the hobby business. The modern company has expanded through dedicated O-scale operations and acquisitions of product tooling and inventory. Atlas O, LLC was formed in 1997 to develop O-scale track, locomotives, freight cars, and accessories. It later became a wholly owned subsidiary and was merged into Atlas Model Railroad Company effective January 1, 2012. Atlas acquired selected Industrial Rail assets from Hobbico in 2006, Branchline Trains tooling and inventory in 2011, selected O-scale tooling from MTH Trains in 2021, and River Point Station tooling for N-scale vehicles in 2021. Atlas organizes products into several tiers. Master represents its highest-detail and highest-price offerings; Premier includes highly detailed products associated in part with former MTH tooling; Classic uses older tooling at more accessible prices; and Trainman emphasizes lower-cost products with simpler detailing. The company remains an active supplier to model railroaders, combining proprietary track systems with increasingly detailed locomotives, rolling stock, structures, and vehicles across the principal North American scales.
History
Atlas Model Railroad traces its origins to Atlas Tool Company, founded by Stephan Schaffan Sr. in 1924 in Newark, New Jersey. The business began in a home garage as a tool and machine operation. In 1933, Schaffan's son, Stephan Schaffan Jr., joined the company and began developing products for model railroaders. His first major success was a switch kit created in response to the needs of hobbyists who otherwise had to fabricate track components themselves. Schaffan Jr. went on to develop or refine rail-attachment methods, practical rail joiners, preassembled turnouts, and flexible track. These products reduced the amount of specialized construction required of hobbyists and helped move model railroading toward a more accessible, mass-market activity. The operation outgrew the family premises, leading to construction of a Hillside, New Jersey, factory in 1947. Atlas Tool Company was formally incorporated on September 30, 1949. The company's early catalog centered on track and plastic building kits. Its transition into locomotives and rolling stock began in 1968, when Atlas introduced N-scale locomotives produced by Rivarossi in Italy. Early releases included USRA Pacific locomotives in 1968 and USRA light and heavy Mikados in 1969. Additional N-scale products followed, including the Baltimore & Ohio C-16 0-4-0T switcher and related C-16a model in 1970. Atlas later imported EMD F9, GP9, and GP30 diesel models manufactured by Roco in Austria during the 1970s. Atlas continued building its N-scale freight-car range in the 1970s and 1980s, while also entering O scale through Roco-produced locomotives and rolling stock beginning in 1971. The company entered ready-to-run HO diesel locomotives in 1975, initially using Roco production. During the 1970s it also offered complete train sets, combining imported locomotives with freight cars supplied by Athearn. A partnership with Kato Precision Railroad Models produced an N-scale Alco RS-3 in 1983 and helped establish a higher benchmark for ready-to-run scale fidelity. Stephan Schaffan Jr. died in 1983. His contributions were recognized posthumously by the Model Railroad Industry Association in 1985, and he was inducted into the Industry Hall of Fame in Baltimore. He was later nominated and entered into the National Model Railroad Association's Pioneers of Model Railroading in 1995. In the early 1990s, Atlas Tool Company adopted the name Atlas Model Railroad Company, reflecting its transformation into a dedicated model railroad manufacturer. Atlas O, LLC was created in 1997 as a separate entity focused on O-scale products. The O-scale business expanded through the acquisition of selected Industrial Rail assets from Hobbico in 2006. Atlas acquired Branchline Trains tooling and inventory in 2011, adding established HO freight and passenger-car lines. After the death of Atlas O leader James J. Weaver in 2011, Atlas O was made a wholly owned subsidiary and merged into Atlas Model Railroad Company on January 1, 2012. Diane Schaffan and her husband, Tom Haedrich, continued leading Atlas until 2013. Paul Graf was then named chief executive officer, while Jarrett Schaffan Haedrich became chief operating officer. In 2021 Atlas acquired selected O-scale tooling from MTH Trains and River Point Station tooling for N-scale vehicles. The company continues to operate as a multi-scale model railroad supplier, offering products organized into Master, Premier, Classic, and Trainman tiers.
- 2021
Selected MTH and River Point Station tooling acquired
[1]Atlas expanded its product assets with selected O-scale MTH tooling and N-scale River Point Station vehicle tooling.
- 2013
Leadership transition
[1]Paul Graf became chief executive officer and Jarrett Schaffan Haedrich became chief operating officer.
- 1997
Atlas O established
[1]Atlas O, LLC was formed as a separate business focused on O-scale products.
- 1983
Kato partnership produces N-scale Alco RS-3
[1]Atlas and Kato released an N-scale Alco RS-3 noted for improved scale fidelity.
- 1975
Ready-to-run HO diesels introduced
[1]Atlas entered ready-to-run HO-scale diesel locomotives using models produced by Roco.
- 1968
Atlas enters N-scale locomotives
[1]Atlas introduced N-scale locomotives manufactured by Rivarossi.
- 1949
Atlas Tool Company incorporated
[1]The company was incorporated on September 30.
- 1947
Hillside factory established
[1]Atlas built its first factory at 413 Florence Avenue in Hillside, New Jersey.
- 1933
Stephan Schaffan Jr. joins the business
[1]At age sixteen, Schaffan Jr. began working with his father and developed model railroad track components.
- 1924
Atlas Tool Company founded
[1]Stephan Schaffan Sr. established Atlas Tool Company in his Newark, New Jersey, garage.
Products and positioning
A specialist model railroad manufacturer positioned around broad scale coverage, practical and innovative track systems, North American prototype subjects, ready-to-run equipment, and product tiers spanning entry-level prices to highly detailed premium models.
Track systems
Atlas Flex Track
Flexible model railroad track designed to bend through varying angles rather than being limited to fixed sectional geometry. It is one of Atlas's best-known offerings and supports custom layout planning in multiple scales and track codes.
Track systems
Atlas track systems
Atlas produces track in N, HO, and O scales, including Code 55, Code 80, Code 83, and Code 100 variants. Track products include rail sections, turnouts, joiners, and related components for layout construction.
Locomotives · 1968
Atlas locomotives
The locomotive range covers N, HO, and O scales and includes steam and diesel prototypes. Atlas offers products across Master, Premier, Classic, and Trainman tiers, allowing different combinations of detail, features, and price.
Freight and passenger cars
Atlas rolling stock
Atlas produces freight cars, passenger cars, and related rolling stock representing North American railroad equipment. The range includes products inherited or developed through Atlas's relationships with external manufacturers and later tooling acquisitions.
Structures and accessories
Atlas structures and bridges
Compatible buildings, structures, bridges, and layout accessories extend Atlas's core track and rolling-stock products into complete scenery and infrastructure systems for model railroad layouts.
Brand decisions
2021
Acquire selected MTH and River Point Station toolingM&ABackground
Atlas continued to expand its available tooling and model subjects across O and N scales.
Action taken
It acquired some O-scale tooling from MTH Trains and River Point Station tooling for N-scale vehicles.
Aftermath
The acquisitions broadened Atlas's inherited and available product-development base.
2012
Consolidate Atlas OStrategyBackground
Following the death of Atlas O leader James J. Weaver in 2011, Atlas reorganized the O-scale subsidiary.
Action taken
Atlas O became wholly owned and was merged into Atlas Model Railroad Company effective January 1, 2012.
Aftermath
O-scale operations were brought under the main Atlas corporate structure.
2011
Acquire Branchline Trains tooling and inventoryM&ABackground
Atlas sought to expand its established HO-scale rolling-stock portfolio.
Action taken
Atlas purchased Branchline Trains tooling and inventory, including Blueprint Series and Yardmaster products.
Aftermath
The deal added HO freight and passenger car tooling to Atlas's product resources.
2006
Acquire selected Industrial Rail assetsM&ABackground
Atlas was expanding its O-scale assortment and manufacturing assets.
Action taken
The company purchased certain Industrial Rail assets from Hobbico.
Aftermath
The acquisition contributed to Atlas's broader O-scale product offering.
1997
Create a dedicated O-scale businessStrategyBackground
Atlas sought a dedicated structure for developing and marketing multiple O-scale product lines.
Action taken
It established Atlas O, LLC to produce O-scale track, locomotives, freight cars, and accessories.
Aftermath
The O-scale operation expanded through later asset acquisitions and was eventually consolidated into Atlas Model Railroad Company.
Recent events
- 2021
Atlas acquires selected MTH and River Point Station tooling[1]
M&A · Product generation
Atlas acquired some O-scale tooling from MTH Trains and River Point Station tooling for N-scale vehicles.
- 2012
Atlas O merged into Atlas Model Railroad Company[1]
M&A
Atlas O became a wholly owned subsidiary and was merged into Atlas Model Railroad Company effective January 1, 2012.
- 2011
Atlas acquires Branchline Trains tooling and inventory[1]
M&A
The company acquired Branchline Trains tooling and inventory, including Blueprint Series and Yardmaster HO freight and passenger car products.
- 2006
Atlas acquires selected Industrial Rail assets[1]
M&A
Atlas purchased selected assets of Industrial Rail from Hobbico as part of its expansion in O-scale products.
Sources3 sources
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