After Atlas took over its own production of freight cars, but still officially during the A1G time span, there was a short but very interesting time period during which the company produced-- believe it or not-- kits in several body styles. This is one example; others include 40 and 50 foot box cars and ore cars. The body styles were later used in the "second generation" of Atlas ready-to-run cars; these are not A1G cars in any sense. To see the "first generation" of the 2250 cattle cars, check out the "2250 Series".

So here are the four roadnames for what, for lack of a better term, I'm calling the "A1.5G" or the "one and a halfth generation". These were sold at the same time as the A1G series, which makes for a somewhat confusing chronology. I'm still trying to pinpoint exactly when these were introduced.

The collector value of an unbuilt kit is difficult to determine... they're made available for sale quite infrequently. And of course, once a car is built up, it's a "runner"! But based on what I've seen in the aftermarket, I have attempted to estimate values of these cars in "as manufactured" -- that is, built and complete, and "MIB Kit" unbuilt and complete kit, and guidelines for their condition. Obviously, a car's either built or it isn't.

The second generation of Atlas cattle cars includes releases in each of the roadnames that were done as kits as part of the "A1.5G" series. These cars are much "glossier" or more "finished" in appearance; the kit versions are more dull looking.

There are reported road number variations in the 2257 Rio Grande and 2258 Southern releases, but I am not sure if the second numbers related to later (non-kit) versions of the cars.

Key spotting features for this car are:
- Underframe stamped "Atlas USA"
- Dull "unfinished" appearance to the paint, unlike the glossy or semi-glossy "finished" appearance that characterizes Atlas second generation freight cars
- Cruder printing than that on later Atlas cattle cars, approximately equal to that on the A1G cars
- Small solid board across the car above dead center, of the car, with three "slat" boards above and six below this solid board; this feature is what distinguishes this and the A2G group from the A1G Atlas releases in the 2250 series
- Cross braces on the door, A1G 2250's don't have this feature
- Original trucks with wheels pressed on separate axles and Rapido couplers, attached with "foldover" metal strips, which are actually built up from parts by the modeler!

Table of Releases: Where available, click on "Image" to popup an image of the actual car.
Approximate Values Updated July, 2024.

Catalog #	Popup Image	Reporting Marks	Description	AV AM	AV MIB Kit
2255	Image	GN 56329	Red/White	5-8	7-10
2256	Image	ACL 140448	Box Car Red/White	5-8	7-10
2257	Image	D&RGW 39498	Black/White	5-8	7-10
2258	Image	SOU 45653	Box Car Red/White, Southern Ry	5-8	7-10

AV = Approximate Value (US$ range)
AM = As Manufactured (see above)
MIB = Mint In Box Kit (see above)
Abbreviations: Hld=Herald, R/N=Roadname, L/R=Left/Right Side of Car