Die cast hopper cars!?

I like running long consists of the K-LIne diecast hoppers with 2 MTH locos on the lead and another MTH loco as a pusher. Only 2 or 3 of the 20 some hoppers need the couplers tied.

I do love 'em.  It feels like you have something in your hand when you pick one up.  I have only eight of them but I have to put them at the front.  both starting and stopped too abrubtly with them at the rear of, say, another eight plastic hopper cars, and it get problems with stringlining, etc.  

Yes and I love the K-line Die Cast Gondola's also. Just rock solid.

I have 4 lionel semi scale and 1 k line. Nice cars, nothing says quality trains like diecast does. The die cast box cars from k line are also among my favorites.

Fred

I have 3 hoppers, two boxcars and a gon, and I really like them. However, I tend to run them in very short trains.

THESE CARS ARE OUTSTANDING.PRR AND C&O HOPPERS RUN ON MY ROAD.I RECALL A KLINE PROMOTION FOR THE DIECAST HOPPERS SELLING FOR $25,OR MAYBE $50.ANYWAY A GREAT DEAL.

TJ

Had two, sold one. Yes they have an impressive mass. But, when it comes to running long trains; impractical IMHO. 

 

Gilly

If too many are run, yes a issue, but they are vry good cars.

Fred

Just my opinion but, I really do NOT like them. Why? Besides being way too heavy, they are a real bear to up-grade to Kadee couplers!

Too heavy for what?

Fred

I love them also. They look terrific weathered. For Kadee couplers the Lionel are hard to do. The Atlas and Kline are easy. The Kadee couplers solve the uncoupling problem. Cmon Hotwater (Jack) Share the Love/Pain.

 

Ray Marion

I do not like them.   They are way too heavy.   I think the Atlas O fishbelly hoppers weighs about twice the NMRA reccommended weight for a car that size at about 32 ounces.

 

I run my trains with switchlists and cars can be moved to any industry that will take them.   Therefore I cannot be sure certain cars are at the front of the train.     And my through trains are 20 cars or so.    These lead boat anchors as I see them are just impractical for an operating layout.    I guess many of you make them work by careful placement in the trains

 

To me the best of both worlds is the diecast frame, plastic body cars.   They come in at a good weight and work well.  

I had a 3 pack,sold them shortly after I bought them. They're nice, but I couldn't get past the excessive weight.

 

Not to mention, there are plenty of nice alternatives in plastic from MTH.

 

I've made a conscious effort to keep my rolling stock as free rolling as possible.

 

As heavy as the loco and tender are,it just seems like a good idea.

 

 

Specifically for a 50 to 60 car 2-bay coal hopper train!!!

Ray,

 

Obviously you have NOT tried to drill and tap into that die cast crap, in order to mount Kadee couplers!

I like them. I have five K Line 4 bay hoppers, three are the Blue Coal set. I just got three Atlas 2 bay hoppers this past Tuesday from a member here. I also have a K Line depressed flat car, and a Stock car. 

Don

Sadly, I watched K-line versions go for $12 each at a recent estate auction.  Sadly, because I didn't bid on them  !!

 

BTW, they were NIB!  Some more salt for the wound....

 

Sometimes, you just have to many freight cars and don't need to buy more....

Wow! In 99 when the Blue Coal 4 bay hoppers were released, the price per car was $39. Not sure what the set sold for.

Don

I love 'em, too.

 

Acquired quite a few ... both Lionel and Atlas. But, I only pulled short strings of cars on my switching layouts.

 

Kinda sadly, sold them all off as we're going in a different direction. Except for the one CNJ that sits on my desk.

I have a 6 car set of MTH UP diecast hoppers, run them up front with a few lighter cars behind them.  I've had no coupler problems.  They track very well, because of their weight.

 

George

I didn't know MTH made a diecast UP set.  Learned something new tonight!

 

Do you remember what year?

 

Kitbashers are one I can immediately think of.

I like them as well.

 

I currently have a set of 10 K-line and Lionel cars and want to get a couple more.

 

Jim

86TA355SR,

 

The MTH diecast hoppers are 4 bay and were in the 2001 V3 catalog, #30-8004.  They are a very nice, but heavy, as you would expect.

 

George

Thanks partner!

In areas with tighter curves, they can be a pain. Placement in the consist has to be monitored because the diecast cars will pull over lighter cars on curves.

Jack

 

     I have drilled and tapped through the diecast crap and it is a pain. Yes Lionel are the worst and don't own any of those anymore. Here is a pic of a diecast tanker that is converted also. In my learning curve when one conversion went bad, I cheated with a nylon nut to keep the screw in. When moving its well hidden. Cut me some slack as I am a little color challenged. happy weekend.

 

Ray Marion   

Atlas did some nice 55 ton Diecast hoppers several years ago.  Most noted feature was hopper doors that opened.  I purchase several undecorated and added dry transfer.  They did not require paint.  Later issue 55 ton hoppers were a composite.  Diecast frame and hopper section with plastic side panels.

Diecast hoppers are a big part of operations on the Northwest Trunk Lines.  The K-Line and MTH cars are highly desirable thanks to their operating bottom hatches.  The weight is an operational challenge requiring the dispatcher to assign adequate motive power.  Fortunately the NWTLs coal mine and customers are located so that empties travel up and loads head down the 2.5 percent ruling grade.

 

 

For more information on Atlas, K-Line, Lionel and MTH diecast hoppers take a look at the O Scale Guide to 50 and 55 ton hoppers...

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...-55-ton-open-hoppers

 

...and 70 and 100 ton hoppers.

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...100-ton-open-hoppers

I have about 45 diecast Atlas Coalveyors still in the box waiting for a layout eh

Personally I'm partial to the lionel three bay coal hopper diescast sets they have put out the last four or so years I've been in the hobby. After seeing and holding the norfolk southern set they put out in 2010 and then the heritage edition 3 packs coming out I knew I had to get some. They are superbly detailed, they track awsome down the line, and they are a beast to hold. But they are really heavy and there's been several occasions when I would have any where from 9 to 12 diescast cars in the consist and a coupler would pull apart. But I found if you add a helper unit in the middle or a pusher unit at the end and ease the throttle you will avoid the problem. Or like in the picture i like running just a few of them around the Christmas tree, they look great with heritage any heritage unit!

I've got a couple of these and love them - I agree that Kadee conversion is a pain.  Hence, the reason I don't have more than a couple.

 

BTW, Lionel says the 3 bay is scale.  What about the 2 bay offset 55T?

  

OK, I like the Die-Cast Crap (cute; see above) because it feels so nice, "real" (though real hoppers were no more die-cast than they were plastic; OK, a little closer) and I find the cars to be pretty much bullet-proof. I have less patience with one of those "O-o-o-o, don't touch me...I'll break!" plastic over-detailed cars than I do with the heavy Die-Cast Crap. Good crap, it is. (Why am I talking like Yoda?)

 

As I am not one of the fancy guys who can run 50 - 60 car trains (a dozen+ will do nicely,

thank you), the admitted substantial weight of die-cast cars is only a plus (tracking,

coupling), and not a minus.