Auto Rack Cars

I believe that the Lionel models are designed to be loaded with cars. I also seem to remember that a range of suitable cars is/was going to be released for them.

This was discussed when the Lionels came out.  You can load in 1/43 models of smaller cars (compact, subcompact, etc) but not full-size vehicles (pickup trucks, etc).  

 

Nicole is right about Lionel's announcement, but I'm beginning to lose hope they will follow through.

Lionel's scale corregated racks IMHO would be your best bet.  MTH racks have solid side panels and are narrower.  Lionel racks have perforated side panels and really look cool when light passes through them.  I've loaded mine up, but would rather run them empty due to the weight and extra work loading and unloading.  I agree with Martin, only smaller model 1:43's would fit.

 

Stack

Since it so hard to see inside those auto racks, do you think a cardboard silhouette would work?

A scale auto-rack will be almost 24" long (prototype is 89').  Can you run a 2' long car?  These will only work well on O-160 or higher curves.  

 

The MTH versions are not scale but they look right and will run better on what most people have in the way of large turns, aka O-72.

I tried to fit the die-cast compact autos made by Maisto that are 1/43rd scale and it was too tight of a fit. You have to use 1/48th scale sized plastic automobiles from Plastruct or some other company.

 

If you have enough light in your layout room, you can see through the perforated screens on the Auto Rack.

 

Andrew

 

 

A scale auto-rack will be almost 24" long (prototype is 89').  Can you run a 2' long car?  These will only work well on O-160 or higher curves

 

The new Lionel Auto Racks are indeed a scale 89' but they will negotiate MUCH smaller curves.

Here's a detailed review I did when i received mine with all the details

- RICH

 

Negotiate means they won't derail or bind.  It has nothing to do with how ridiculous the car looks going around tighter radius curves or how much damage it can do to anything within a few inches of either side of the track.  A tight radius for a real railroad would be something like the ballon tracks in Grand Central or the Spiral Tunnels in British Columbia, Canada.  These work out to O-240.

In thinking about a real auto rack, there is room inside the rack to open the auto's doors and get in on butch sides.  So it would seem that there should be plenty of width.  The distance between decks is tight and that may be the problem. In that case maybe it would be better to get a bi-level car rather than a tri-level and load it with autos or small SUV.  That car should have enough room as you can put a full size van in it. 

I think the Lionel scale length cars look great and I have had no problem running them on my 36" minimum radius layout.  I looked into cars for them and decided that the Lionel reissue of the postwar auto loader cars would be the best bet.  They are light and fit well into the cars.  But, even though I can find them at $20 for a set of four, I decided that to fill a car would require $60 worth of them.  So, I still run them empty.

Neither the MTH nor the Lionel will look good on o-72 curves.  If that's your concern, you shouldn't get either.  Chuck's point about the Lionel sticking out on the curves and hitting your scenery does seem valid though.

 

I think the Lionel's are an absolute game changer.  Just see how much better they look on the straights!  I have more on pre-order.

Yes, the scale cars are drop dead gorgeous.  They just look/run well on really, really, wide curves.  If you've got the space, go for it.  

 

There were some custom scale two rail cars at P&D over in Fraser.  One was loaded with Vettes, the other with Mustangs.  Very impressive cars (these were the older style sans the protective side armor).

I have these on my o72 and 084 tracks they do stick out but is not that bad . My vision line challenger sticks out way farther .I also have stuck cars in mine with no issues .