Atlas O's Golden Spike Club

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-Download Printable Application-

Golden Spike Club Looking Fine in ’09!

Greetings to all our members – Charter, Deluxe and Primary - and those of you who are stopping by to learn what the Golden Spike Club™ is all about! It’s about the ultimate in Atlas O Scale trains, those who model them, and an exclusive opportunity to join your peers--the savviest and most discriminating model railroaders on the planet.

Have you let your membership lapse? Wondering whether you should rejoin? If you’re serious about O-Scale and appreciate the pinnacle of prototypical perfection, the following will hopefully convince you NOW is the time to renew your membership so you won’t miss another minute of…The Future of Model Railroading!

2009 Special Purchases Locomotive Announced

The second Special Purchase offering of 2009, exclusive to Golden Spike Club™ members, was announced by Jim Weaver, vice-president of Atlas O, LLC, in late June. Members have until Friday, July 31, 2009 to place their orders for the Beltway of Chicago Bicentennial MP 15DC #534 locomotive, which is rendered in brilliant red, white and blue and offered at special club pricing.

Delivery of this instant collectors’ item is anticipated for Fall 2009. Members received a special mailing in June with an order form for this exceptional locomotive, personally selected by Jim. Each member may order a maximum of two locomotives, available in both 2-Rail and 3-Rail powered or unpowered versions. Details and features are included on the order form.

Download the order form here

This latest Special Purchase follows the highly successful first offering of 2009 – two cars that appeared on the same order form – the Atlas O Master® Line 1937 C&EI “War Bonds” ARR Single Door 40’ Box Car and Napierville Junction Extended-Vision Caboose, announced at the TCA Meet in York, PA in April. The deadline to order these cars has passed. Many thanks to those of you who ordered these very limited, exclusive GSC items!

2009 Club Car

Introduced this year, our new two-level membership has been well received. Most 2009 members have renewed or joined at the Deluxe level to obtain the 2009 annual Club Car – the 40’ Rebuilt Wood Reefer decorated for Scatena Bros. Wine Company. This stunning silver car marks the first time Atlas has distributed a wine car in any scale. Artwork of this finely detailed car was first shown to the public during the October 2008 York TCA Meet. The finished product is due to arrive to registered members in summer 2009. Only those who register for the top level Deluxe Membership will receive a Club Car.

It’s not too late! Primary members who wish to upgrade to Deluxe and receive the wine car can contact Atlas O by May 31. New members may also sign up by May 31 at the Deluxe level and receive the car. Simply call 908-687-9590, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST.

The paint schemes on the annual Club Car and Special Purchases are not available in stores or to the general public. Only registered members, at either the Primary or Deluxe levels may receive/order those particular models.

“This colorful wine reefer began life as a member of Pacific Fruit Express’ extensive refrigerator car fleet,” said Jim, who personally researches and selects the ‘members only’ Club Car each year. “During the 1930s, some of the cars were converted to wine service with the installation of bulk tanks. While the reefer’s insulation was mandatory, the interior ice bunkers were removed as they were no longer necessary for the bulk transportation of wine. After conversion, the cars were sold/transferred to the California Dispatch Line, who leased them to Scatena Bros.”

Available in 2 or 3-rail, these ready-to-run reefers have state-of-the-art detailing and construction. Among the outstanding features of this instant collectible are:

- Highly detailed ABS body
- Separately-applied ladders, grab irons and stirrups
- Die-cast metal stirrups
- Separately-applied door hinges, handles and latches
- Opening doors
- Separately-applied opening roof hatches, hinges and latches
- Die-cast underframe
- Separately applied brake system and vertical brake shaft
- Separately-applied coupler lift bars
- 40-ton Bettendorf-style, die-cast sprung trucks with metal wheels
- Die-cast articulated couplers (3-Rail)
- Minimum diameter curve: O-31 (3-Rail)
- Minimum radius curve: 24" (2-Rail)

2-rail versions feature body-mounted scale knuckle couplers and scale 33" wheelsets. (Technical artwork shown)

“Scatena Bros. is a well-respected name in the California wine region,” Jim explained. “In addition to their own branding, they also controlled the Roma Wine Co., one of America’s largest wineries. This is a very colorful car! The red, blue, gold and black graphics are strikingly offset by the silver body color. This is another stand-out reefer for your layout or collection.”

Two-Level Membership

In direct response to members who have expressed a desire for choice when it comes to accepting the annual exclusive, complimentary Club Car, the Golden Spike Club™ instituted two-level membership in 2009 – “Deluxe” Membership and “Primary” Membership.

Members now have two choices when joining or renewing membership in the Golden Spike Club™. Deluxe Membership includes all the club’s perks, including the annual exclusive Club Car, for $60. Primary Membership allows you to remain part of the club without receiving the annual car, for $30. Members have told us that while they want to remain active, the particular car we offer each year may not suit their needs. Primary members will still receive all the other benefits offered Deluxe members.

Club benefits for all members in both levels include:

∙Laminated membership card with member’s name and number
[Charter members pls. note: Retain your original 2007 card with your annual membership card to identify yourself as a Charter Member.]
∙Club lapel pin (New members only)
∙Opportunities to purchase exclusive club offerings
∙FREE mailing of Atlas Catalogs
∙Club newsletter, mailed twice annually
∙Special dedicated club section on www.atlaso.com website, and more!

Club Shirts Update

Wear your GSC affiliation with pride on our quality easy-care, fade-resistant club shirts! Our popular GSC embroidered club shirts bearing the colorful club logo, enhanced with gold metallic thread, may be ordered at any time. Download the order form here. They are available in two styles – short-sleeved polo and long-sleeved button down, black only. We are happy to report that despite increased costs of production and shipping, we are holding the original price at this time.

Club Newsletter & Website

The newsletter has expanded to eight colorful pages to allow more space for news, info, photos and more of interest to members. In the newest issue, Spring/Summer 2009, Vol. 3, Issue 1, we’ve removed the Dealer Listing and inserted it in the newsletter mailing as a separate two-sided item so members can easily locate an authorized Atlas O dealer in their area. (Limited copies of some previous editions are still available for registered members. Call 908-687-9590 during business hours.)

Be sure to check this dedicated portion of the www.atlaso.com website for the latest on the Golden Spike Club™. If we do not already have your email address, please sign up for our email news flashes, as we use emails for special announcements during the year.

Renewal & more

A Renewal Mailing for 2010, the fourth year of the Golden Spike Club™, will be mailed to 2009 members this fall. The form has been re-designed to reflect the club’s change to two-level membership. Membership cards bear an image of the annual Club Car, the member’s name, and membership identification number.  

You never know what surprises might barrel down the tracks to Golden Spike Club™ members. Those who received their membership cards in February got a FREE copy of our newest publication – the Atlas All Scales Track & Accessories Catalog, a $2 value. To be eligible for such perks, sing up for your Primary or Deluxe membership today!

Don’t Delay – Join Today!

Please specify 2-Rail or 3-Rail in the Customer Notes. You may also apply by phone during business hours, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, EST. The fee may be paid by check or money order, U.S. funds, made out to “Atlas O, LLC,” or via MasterCard or Visa only. An additional $10 shipping charge will be added to cars shipped outside the U.S. Applications are also available at shows Atlas attends.

Stayed tuned for more exciting Atlas O Golden Spike Club™ news! From all of us here at Atlas O HQ to all of you, sincere thanks for your membership and support! Your continued participation will mean more model railroad fun in the future.

-Apply Online Here-

-Download Printable Application-

From all of us here at Atlas O HQ to all of you, sincere thanks for your membership and support!