I suppose like everything else,it has to do with cost,but why doesn't Atlas in particular,offer numbers to change reporting marks on freight cars?
I come from HO where that's a thing of the past for the most part,because multiple car #s are available on car runs. But in O scale,many times atlas doesn't offer at maximum 4 car #s on any particular freight car run,&they only did 2 car #s on their CSX 4750 cvd hopper,which was a problem as I have a grain train of 9 hoppers. Also,many times the same model's offered in 2 & 3 rail versions,but carries the same car number. I've found many times the same car in 2rl&3rl versions with the same car number from 1 hobby store,then find another car on ebay with the same car # again making more problems.
Accurail used to make something they called "overlays" with different numbers as well as reporting letters for runs of HO cars which seemed like a great idea. They'd make 1 master car & offer the overlays for multiple numbering.
This just seems like a good idea since decal makers have dropped out of O scale.
Thanks to everyone for your replys.
Alan Hummel
