I have to admit the teasers are getting pretty vague. I am thinking something CN&W?

Thanks Mark for the early teaser. My first guess even though the one green is not quite there is Northern Pacific two tone  green scheme......Paul

Great guess, Paul!

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Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

And.....ordered....I  just hope this one doesn't  look like a shoe box like the last one.   LOL..... When I got back from Kentucky, what did I see ? My new NYC covered Hopper along with 4 shoe boxes, what do I do....Thanks Mark !!

Sure I ordered my Hobby shop yesterday!    I didn't want a free flat car with Kubota tractor anyway!!!    

          Scott

Just love these new covered hoppers !!!

banjoflyer posted:

Just had a thought....(and yes that makes my head hurt)...would it be a salable item if Menards were to offer just the covered hopper tops in say a generic black so that those who have cars such as Alaska will be reissued with a covered hopper top:

so the addition of a black top could make all prior cars do double duty. Who would buy just the tops if Menards made them available?

Mark

 

Mark,

That is a very good question. I'm also curious as to what everyone's opinion about this is. Would people buy them?

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Nice looking shoes Bob!

Along with the black maybe a brown could be added.......Paul

I would be good for a few tops. If they were cast a light color, they could be painted any other color easily.

Menards posted:

banjoflyer posted:

Just had a thought....(and yes that makes my head hurt)...would it be a salable item if Menards were to offer just the covered hopper tops in say a generic black so that those who have cars such as Alaska will be reissued with a covered hopper top:

so the addition of a black top could make all prior cars do double duty. Who would buy just the tops if Menards made them available?

Mark

 

Mark,

That is a very good question. I'm also curious as to what everyone's opinion about this is. Would people buy them?

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Good Day Mark,

I would suggest offering the Hopper Tops and the Coal Loads as separate sales items!

Cheers,

Frank

Do the coal loads and roofs fit the similar looking Lionel hoppers? I'd be interested for some PW cars I have if they fit.

Hey Mark look what I received today. Very disapointed.

Johnny Winkler,

Call Menard's, they will replace it.

Johnny Winkler posted:

Hey Mark look what I received today. Very disappointed.

Johnny,

If you email Guest@menard-inc.com, they will make sure you get a good one.

Sorry for your troubles!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Thanks Jim  but I didnt want to explain what is probably a minor issue to an average Menards store clerk. I had read Mark was good on the customer service himself here on such issues with the trains

.

Thanks Mark! See everyone Mark is better and faster than most customer service centers right  here on O gauge.

General shout out to everyone !  Please don't post on the forum every time you receive something defective or post to Mark on the forum. First contact Guest@Menards-inc.com.  as of yet they have not failed to resolve any ones problem "that i am aware of".  if you don't get resolve THAN post to Mark and he will intervene on your behalf.  I like to follow the thread but don't necessarily need to hear every time someone gets a bad wheel.  Just sayin people i Love you all but lets not use this platform as the primary method to contact Menards reguarding an issue . 

Bill_R posted:

General shout out to everyone !  Please don't post on the forum every time you receive something defective or post to Mark on the forum. First contact Guest@Menards-inc.com.  as of yet they have not failed to resolve any ones problem "that i am aware of".  if you don't get resolve THAN post to Mark and he will intervene on your behalf.  I like to follow the thread but don't necessarily need to hear every time someone gets a bad wheel.  Just sayin people i Love you all but lets not use this platform as the primary method to contact Menards reguarding an issue . 

Agree. Reporting to this forum should not be the first step...

I think it is OK when there is a general technical alert that might need to be broadcast - like the situation with some of the layout building power supplies providing incorrect voltage...but that's more for the member's benefit - and not a way to alert Menards.

I am sorry for posting my problem here but I wanted Mark's help. I did not want to explain to a corporate customer service rep that a tiny number on a toy train car was in the wrong place. I have 9 Menards cars and this is the first one not perfect.I won't do it again but I had an answer in 10 minutes on the forum and found out the correct place to send problems online too.

You're forgiven  Johnny! We're  getting protective of Mark because he does so much for us on this forum! We don't want him to burn out and go be the coach of the Buffalo Bills or something! LOL

Johnny Winkler posted:

I am sorry for posting my problem here but I wanted Mark's help. I did not want to explain to a corporate customer service rep that a tiny number on a toy train car was in the wrong place. I have 9 Menards cars and this is the first one not perfect.I won't do it again but I had an answer in 10 minutes on the forum and found out the correct place to send problems online too.

Its all good my brother.  not men't to chastise you just a general comment to all.  There is   always an exception to the rule so please don't feel like your not allowed to say anything.  

Menards is sending me a return label. So problem is resolved within 2 hours.

I think selling the covers separately is a great idea!  I'd buy them.  Now if only Menard's would do the hopper in Soo Line. . .

I would be interested  in tops, perhaps in colors to match the hoppers that are already out there. 

A big THANK YOU for the heads up on new products being posted on this forum! Cool beans Mark.

What's the length of these hoppers?

banjoflyer posted:

Basil posted:

I think selling the covers separately is a great idea!  I'd buy them.  Now if only Menard's would do the hopper in Soo Line. . .

AND MKT FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

Mark

OK, what color of red.  Or John Deere green and yellow?  But Miss Katy of any sort is OK.  BTW, if Lionel made the Girl's Train 6464 boxcar with yellow doors, they would have been close to MKT's express boxcars.

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

What's the length of these hoppers?

TrainGuyMcGee,

These hoppers measure: 12”L x 2-3/8”W x 3-3/8”H.

Length is taken from coupler to coupler.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

MKT color schemes............................

All White roof and Silver roof hatches would look striking...................

Or maybe offer all red top to bottom.............................

Johnny Winkler posted:

Hey Mark look what I received today. Very disapointed.

The car number looks like it is a Dry Transfer Decal. There has to be a way to remove the number.

The number size is also too small.

Andrew

Actually Andrew it looked and felt like the rest of the lettering on the car. No way it was coming off without the "gives a green " graphic coming off too. No big deal as now the exchange will not cost me anything thanks to Menard's superior customer service.

banjoflyer posted:

Frank, I'd take them all. And when did you start looking like Heisenberg on "Breaking Bad"?

Mark

PS...could you add mirror-image stripes to the other ends of the cars? That would add to the effect of the hoppers "unloading" from the bottom chutes.

like this?

That paint scheme is more exciting than the paint schemes on many of the actual Northern Pacific rib sided covered hopper. 

The production location in China can produce a Northern Pacific 14-3/4" flat car with a bus, like shown in this photo.