Atlas - 40 005 734 - Locomotive, Dual-Mode, ALP-45DP - AMT (Agence Métropolitaine de Transport) - 1368

Specific Item Information: The ALP-45DP is a “dual mode” locomotive, capable of drawing power from either overhead electrical wires or its own pair of 12-cylinder Caterpillar diesel engines. These flexible locomotives were designed to provide a one-seat commute from NJ TRANSIT’s various diesel-only lines into the electrified territory that leads to New York City’s Penn Station. This fulfills the requirement of not operating diesels through the North River Tunnels and within the subterranean Penn Station complex. Produced by Bombardier Transportation in Kassel, Germany, the first ALP-45DP locomotive entered service on NJ TRANSIT on May 30, 2012.

Model Information: This Atlas model was introduced in 2019.

Prototype History: The ALP-45DP is a type of single cab dual-mode locomotive built by Bombardier Transportation for use by NJ Transit and Exo. The ALP-45DP is an electro-diesel locomotive design derived from Bombardier's ALP-46/A and TRAXX locomotives.[35][note 3] Design requirements included mass less than 288,000 lb (131,000 kg), length less than 75 ft (22.86 m), and EPA-compliant emissions. The bodyshells of the locomotive were constructed at Bombardier's Wrocław site, the bogies at Siegen, and the alternators at Hennigsdorf factory. The locomotives were assembled at Kassel.

Road Name History: AMT opened in 1996 and took over the Société de transport de Montréal commuter rail service serving the greater Montréal area. AMT operates both diesel powered trains in push-pull service and electric-MU sets on one line that has tunnel issues. Trains operate on their own trackage plus lines owned by Canadian Pacific, Canadian National and Quebec Gatineau Railway. At last check, the fleet includes 44 locomotives, 58 electric-MU cars, and 206 coaches.

Brand/Importer Information: In 1924 Stephan Schaffan, Sr. founded the Atlas Tool Company in Newark, New Jersey. In 1933 his son, Stephan Schaffan, Jr., came to work for his father at the age of sixteen. Steve Jr. built model airplanes as a hobby and frequented a local hobby shop. Being an enterprising young man, he would often ask the owner if there was anything he could do to earn some extra spending money. Tired of listening to his requests, the hobby-store owner threw some model railroad track parts his way and said, "Here, see if you can improve on this".

In those days, railroad modelers had to assemble and build everything from scratch. Steve Jr. created a "switch kit" which sold so well, that the entire family worked on them in the basement at night, while doing business as usual in the machine shop during the day.

Subsequently, Steve Jr. engineered the stapling of rail to fiber track, along with inventing the first practical rail joiner and pre-assembled turnouts and flexible track. All of these products, and more, helped to popularize model railroading and assisted in the creation of a mass-market hobby. The budding entrepreneur quickly outgrew the limitations of a basement and small garage operation. Realizing they could actually make a living selling track and related products, Steve and his father had the first factory built in Hillside, New Jersey at 413 Florence Avenue in 1947. On September 30, 1949, the Atlas Tool Company was officially incorporated as a New Jersey company.

In 1985, Steve was honored posthumously for his inventions by the Model Railroad Industry Association and was inducted into the Model Railroad Industry Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, Steve was nominated and entered into the National Model Railroad Association Pioneers of Model Railroading in 1995.

In the early 1990s, the Atlas Tool Company changed its name to Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc.