(03/29/22) New! Intermodal Cars from Menards!

@RideTheRails posted:

Free shipping: I had a separate thread, regarding this, recently. I have a local Menards and was going to order an item and have it shipped there. While I was placing the order, free shipping was not an option. Others who replied said it worked for them, so, I don’t know. Shipping/handling costs doubled the cost of the item. I wanted it but didn’t need it so I passed on placing the order.

Steve

When I recently ordered the strip mall, free shipping nor ship to store were not options.  I can only guess that, because it is the off season for trains, the stores do not want to be in position to have to store inventory in the event you cancel or return an off-season product.  By charging shipping, at least the cost of keeping a return is covered.

Otherwise, I have always been able to get stuff shipped for free to my local store.  It's a nice option and one of the benefits of dealing with Menards.  I've purchased a lot of building stuff this way when I remodeled my basement.

Mike

@Dave Koehler posted:

they have had other containers ( company names)

That’s what I thought. I just don’t see many options now. I’m assuming they will have a shipment of new containers. They have the opportunity to really hit this out of the park if they offer a bunch of road names fantasy and realistic.

It seems like there is a lot of confusion on free shipping and the role of Menards stores.

There is no free shipping to homes, period. Free shipping strictly involves sending your orders to stores for pickup.

Also, individual Menards stores do not routinely ship products, particularly trains. That is not how Menards’ online business works. I’m not sure if the company makes exceptions for warranty claims on discontinued items, but store stock is otherwise strictly meant for pickup.

For trains, which are seasonally stocked in the toy department, there is no broad online listing of inventory indicating which stores have remaining stock on individual items, though you can see if “your store” has stock on hand using the Menards app. In the past, Menards internally seems to be able to track store inventory for certain special requests, but again not as a routine service.

Has anyone added an end of train device yet ?

@Dan Kenny posted:

Dan KennyOGR Forum Member

I have been eyeing this car for a while and did not buy as I was concerned with it on my layout. I see that the curve radius won't be the issue but how far it will overhang the track on those curves. I have 036 and 042 curves.  I did order one and hopefully it doesn't wipe out the conductor at the train depot when it goes by, or if it will clear the top of the platform! I do also have an elevated track over my layout without permenant scenery. It may be delegated to run only there.

Dan

Hope the Menards guy reads this. I just picked up the car I ordered from my local store. I got a bugandy colored one. They are charging the premium price for these $30

(The 11% is not realized until you get your in store claim check and use it on a future purchase)

  and are advertised as having metal trucks and wheels. Well the wheels and axles are the only metal on these. The trucks are cheap plastic with the button type release. If it was advertised as plastic then you would know what you ordered but they do say metal. Unfortunately the car does overhang the inside of my 036 and 042 radius curves by at least 2". It clears the top of my station platform by a stawberry blonde hair but wipes out the conductors, which I did expect. Biggest problem is it hits the lanterns on my switches even on my elevated track so basically I can't run it. I have a short straight track that I run my 50 Gang car on but that won't be too exciting.  I will most likely return this tomorrow due to the false advertising of the metal trucks. I may keep the containers to place around the layout as scenery.

Dan

Two things:

There is no false advertising.  No where do they say these have metal trucks.  It says they have die-cast wheels (instead of the old plastic wheels)

You need to read how the 11% works.  It is clearly stated, and is not applied to the order. It is to be redeemed at the store for a future, in store purchase.

Can you have the 40'  intermodal well car produced in the latest TTX scheme, or is there a legal issue with the newest TTX scheme?

Andrew

Falcon Service

Here is the new TTX scheme on an HO scale 40' well car. Can you have this applied to the O scale 40' well car?

https://trainlife.com/products...ward-thinking-logo-1

Thank you.

Andrew

Rocking the Stage and Playing with Trains
David

David

Look at the email sent by Menards, It clearly states it Features metal trucks with diecast wheels. It may indicate something different in a discription in another part of the ad but does say metal trucks. RE: the rebate. I know how it works and have been using it for years I was just stating it is good for future purchase not current as I stated in my post reply.

Below is a screen shot of the email ad from Menards for the Intermodal Car recieived this past Tuesday!

Dan

These cars are completely fine at $30. They run well and look pretty good. The alternative is to get a Lionel version at $169.99! You can’t pay for a pinto and expect to get a Cadillac!

I didn’t really like the Crome finish that much so I just painted the details in a silver metallic and weathered the trucks and couplers a bit.

@Chris Lonero posted:

These cars are completely fine at $30. They run well and look pretty good. The alternative is to get a Lionel version at $169.99! You can’t pay for a pinto and expect to get a Cadillac!

I didn’t really like the Crome finish that much so I just painted the details in a silver metallic and weathered the trucks and couplers a bit.

exactly correct!

How well do these intermodal cars ride operating at 55 to 70 scale mph? Smooth ride?

regards,

Swafford

Just so people understand why I said they didn't advertise these at metal trucks: I was going by the picture Menard's themselves posted to start this topic

To wit:

David

Kind of confusing isn't it?

Dan

The cars from 2018 are all metal this latest run are plastic trucks with metal wheels. I won't say I'm crazy about plastic trucks myself but they run completely fine and you wouldn't know the difference when their running. If you have containers in the car that will help with the weight. I have taken trucks from cars I haven't or won't use and steal the trucks from those if I were to try and sell the cars I'd practically have to give them away so I put the trucks to good use.   

@Dan Kenny posted:

David

Kind of confusing isn't it?

Dan

Yes it is

So, the wheels and axles are metal, but the trucks and couplers are plastic, right?  Boy, the photo sure looks like all metal.  That is the one thing I've always had an issue with buying trains by looking at photos:  what's metal and what is plastic?

This reminds me of Lionel.  Used Lionel cars can be frustrating to decipher.  Plastic or metal wheels, trucks, and couplers or some plastic and some metal?  Sprung or not sprung?  Weaver had the same issue.  Hasn't Atlas gone all metal wheels and trucks and fully sprung after a certain year?

MTH seems to have figured it out.  ALL metal and all sprung except for specialty cars like cabooses, which aren't sprung, right?

I have a 4-car set of the Menards long flat cars with the wooden decks and I purchase them because the wheels and trucks are all metal (I hope).  They're nice.

Mike

Nowhere does Mark's original post nor the website mention metal or diecast trucks.  It says metal wheel and operating, not metal, couplers.

The discount is for a 4 pack not individual cars and the rebate, as has always been the  case with Menards trains, is clearly stated to be a mail in rebate for a discount on a future in store purchase.

@MikeH posted:

@coach joe posted:

Nowhere does Mark's original post nor the website mention metal or diecast trucks.  It says metal wheel and operating, not metal, couplers.

The discount is for a 4 pack not individual cars and the rebate, as has always been the  case with Menards trains, is clearly stated to be a mail in rebate for a discount on a future in store purchase.

That’s because they changed the wording on their website at some point.  It now says “Metal wheels and operating couplers”, but the screenshot MikeH took a few days ago of their site shows the original text of “Metal trucks and wheels with operating couplers”.

So they noticed their mistake and corrected, but didn’t have the courtesy to admit their error here on the forum.

Seems like containers are a business opportunity for someone good with 3D printing. Sell then unpainted and let the modeler paint and create custom graphics.

Picked up a burgundy car and some containers yesterday. Very pleased, agree with @@Chris Lonero that the chrome is too bright. Repainted the tank, valve, and brake wheel. Sprayed the walkways with matte, then painted with black craft paint and wiped off the top. Looks better to me.

Runs great, no issue with O42 curves or O22 switches. Works great with my other Right of Way cars.

Those look great! Good idea wiping over or dry brush with some flat craft paint. Adding a little bit of detail goes a long way.

  Received mine a few days ago and the cars are ok, actually better than I expected.  Besides some weathering and probably weighting ,.. the only changes will be replacing the chrome brake wheels and probably the chrome tread plating,..   

I ended up keeping mine and did swap out the plastic trucks . I had purchased a Menards Graffiti Box car last year that did come with metal trucks. I replaced those with Lionel fully sprung trucks which was an improvement for that car. Replacing the trucks of the Intermodal car proved to be a bit of a challenge. They are attached to the car with a knurled stud pressed into the car frame. I had to drill a larger hole and countersink the top to be able to place the C-Clip to hold the truck in place. Luckily the walkway covers this as I'm not to happy with the appearance of the connection. I am sure I can clean the looks of this up but that is another days project. I plan to run the car on a shelftop along my basement wall. 2 - 8' sections of track with an 054 curve in the center. No room to turn it around just forward one way and reverse to other. The consist is just a LC desiel the intermodal car and a caboose simulating a spur transfer. (maybe photos at a later time)

Dan

@Dan Kenny

I haven’t tried on the inner curve. I only run 0-27 type cars there as I have clearance issues with buildings. I placed the car on one of the 0-36 reverse loops so you can get an idea on the overhang. When running the car through an 022 switch it will strike the motor housing on the reverse leg, no issue on normal leg.

Ross

It is a long car. I was anticipating the overhang and clearance issues but as I mentioned back in an earlier post I had been eyeing the car for a while and liked it so I am running it back and forth on a straight track for now.
Dan

Well I ate my own words and bought the black version.  Now I'll just have to wait patiently until either Menard's commissions more Santa Fe Warbonnet containers, or someone puts a set up for sale at a reasonable price.  Double the list is too rich for my blood.

Or...maybe another manufacturer steps in to fill the void. 

@BwanaBob posted:

Well I ate my own words and bought the black version.  Now I'll just have to wait patiently until either Menard's commissions more Santa Fe Warbonnet containers, or someone puts a set up for sale at a reasonable price.  Double the list is too rich for my blood.

Or...maybe another manufacturer steps in to fill the void.

At $30 a car how can you go wrong!?  I had some old K-line containers that I painted and am waiting on some decals. Those are Menards cars on the upper deck.

When I first saw this thread I went online to Menards and ordered two 4-packs of these cars.    Upon arrival I pulled a couple out for inspection and a test run. The cars are nice, track good but the chrome plating of the brake wheel, air tank, and tread plates is horrible.   So out came the DAWN detergent and after a couple hours of carefully removing those details they went in for a two day soak. Now the parts now look good enough I could just put them back on unpainted but I think a little painting will be worth the time.

These are cool cars.  Too bad I'm not really buying much 3 rail these days and I don't model modern era in 2 rail.  Still Kudos to Menards for another well priced and fun product!