Hello Menards, How about offering Standard O 4750 Grain Hoppers? Sequentially numbered would be awesome!

Not going to happen, they do not do scale cars.

Would be nice!   I need a train of these.

You never know.................It could be a first for Menards!

Atlas O already has the Pullman-Standard 4750 CU FT 3-bay covered hopper in the Trainman line.

 

What Atlas O never offered in O Scale are the Thrall Car 4750 CU FT 3-bay covered hoppers.

 

What has not been produced in O Scale are the ACF Center Flow 4600 CU FT 3-bay covered hoppers that are used to haul grain.

 

If Menards has the PS-2-CD 4750 CU FT 3-bay covered hopper produced in O Scale could this version have opening hatches and sliding discharge gates, like the 1:29th scale models of the PS-2-CD 4750 3-bay hoppers?

 

What has never been produced in O Scale are the FMC 4700 CU FT low-side covered hoppers.

 

Andrew

They could produce the Pullman-Standard 4750 Cu Ft 3-bay covered hopper in the proportions to match the traditional O gauge cars. The length and height would match 1:64th Scale freight cars while the car body would be wider to cover the width of O Gauge track. That is the formula used for Lionel's traditional O gauge boxcars.

 

 

Andrew

I would guess that whatever O gauge rolling stock tooling that Menards manufacture in Hong Kong has would be potential candidates for Menards future production. But I think their current tooling is very limited.

 

    Bill T.

What Menard's has been offering in box cars is on the scale size. They are not the short 0-27 box cars. I could see Menards offering something like the grain hoppers, larger flats with trailers on them, coal hoppers, gondolas and so on down the line. They would not be top long. So they have a lot of area to expand. ..........Paul

I think Bill T is right on, the reason Menards can sell at such a low price is the tooling is already there the only thing that has to be produced are stencils/ masks for the paint jobs and have the loads made for the flats.

Dream on, some of you guys. It's not going to happen, unless Menard's overseas contractor can obtain access to ready made duplicate dies, or dies that are no longer be used by another company.

 

Menard's is able to sell the flat cars and box cars at their given price point because they are NOT financing the tooling investment costs. If Menard's should make the decision to invest in new tooling, you can rest assured, the cars will NOT be selling for $20-$24.00.

 

Every single manufacturer has said this. Even the CEO's of the HO companies, which have access to a MUCH larger market.

 

From Joe Hayter of Weaver in 2005: "A new mold and the tooling can cost over $150,000.00 to produce. It usually takes over 5 years of production just to recoup the cost of making the tooling for one car."

 

That was 2005. You can be certain those costs are even more now. Just as are the consumer's expectations for more realism.

 

Quite frankly, I'm quite surprised at some of the scale only folks who are buying these Menard's box cars. They are certainly close to scale proportion - depending on what era type of car you compare them too.

 

BUT the detail level of the cars is far more on par with traditionally sized types of rolling stock. Plus the non-prototypical typeface of the car numbers (even if they are sequentially numbered), the black door guides and the large "Built by Menards" - Well, these are all things scale modelers seem to find distasteful.

 

I guess the low price tag compensates for that.

 

I wonder how folks would feel if Atlas 0, Lionel, or MTH produced near scale cars with the exact same level of detail as the Menards cars BUT also at the same price? And then also, as Menards, just produced a couple of different car types in a wide variety of road names? I betcha, regardless of a low price, there are many who would NOT be happy.

Menards................................How about offering 4750 Grain Hoppers? Sequentially numbers would be awesome! I need a new Grain Train!

 

Everyone needs a new grain train.

 

Regards,

Swafford

Traditional O Gauge or 1:64th Scale versions of the Pullman-Standard PS-2-CD 4750 Cubic Foot capacity 3-bay covered hoppers would be about 11" long without couplers.

 

Andrew

This is why I was hoping for Menard's to purchase Weaver. If they would of done that, they could of started to produce scale freight cars by using Weaver's molds.

Good Day Menards,

 

Many of the your stores are in the heart of the USA grain farmers and grain companies. The hoppers would be a perfect item to offer!

 

Regards,

Swafford

Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe

ATSF

The Santa Fe had one main paint scheme and many repaint graphics for the Pullman-Standard 4750 CU FT 3-bay covered hopper.

 

 

This is an ATSF Santa Fe 4750 3-bay hopper that passed through on Tuesday.

 

 

ATSF Hopper..............................would be a top seller!

 

 

Menards over the past 10 years or so has transistioned from a seasonal electric train seller to an on-line year round electric train seller. Currently they purchase their electric trains and accessories from established manufactures that have the capabilities to manufacture per Menards specs but only if the tooling or process is available. This is really no different than when Sears, JCP, or Target bought MTH or Lionel electric trains to sell during the Holiday season.

 

     Bill T

If Menards finds already existing tooling so be it. The savings is passed on to us. For that matter most of the manufacturers Lionel, K-Line, MTH, Williams, Atlas and Weaver have done this at one time or another. But none of them passed on the savings like Menards has done................Paul

Just so I'm clear, you guys equate spending money with saving money? The only way to save money is not spend it

Matt,

 

Let me put this as simply as possible. We are a home improvement store. Trains are just a small blip on the radar. And you know what, we are OK with that! We make trains because we enjoy it. To say that we care more about making money than making trains, I strongly disagree. Especially considering the majority of our train cars are $20-$25.

 

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

 

 

As long as we're wishing.....

 

I wish more private company cars would be available in O, though I can see where that probably won't happen. Most of the grain trains running back in the sixties and seventies, especially on branch lines, were a mix of all kinds of interesting paint schemes. Sure would be fun to see some Far-Mar-Co cars in a train and this one (nostalgia kicking in here): https://www.tangentscalemodels...ellogggraindenverco/

Good Morning Mark the Menards Train Guy,

 

I like the way you think! I appreciate and enjoy the rolling stock, buildings and accessories that Menard's offer!

 

Best Regards,

Frank Swafford

Good Day Mark,

 

The ACF 4650 Cubic Foot 3-Bay Hoppers would make for a fantastic Grain Train too!

 

Regards,

Swafford

 

 

The ACF Center Flow 4600 Cubic Foot Capacity 3-compartment/3-bay covered hopper has not been produced in O Scale proportions, only HO scale by Accurail.

 

Andrew

Just so we're clear....it's called a business for a reason.

Was just at my local Menard's today.  Not a turnstile in sight.  Got a cart, picked up the stuff I needed, checked out.

 

I've never encountered dogs in Menard's, Home Depot, Builders Square, Handy Andy (remember them??) Ace or True-Value stores.

 

Rusty

Anyway,

Lowcost graincars would be very much appreciated. Personally I would prefer scale or near scale but can skip on the detail. And with the number of railroads and private cars that are out there (And have been) the production run will be endless.

Are you the forum police?

 

 

---

 

FROM THE WEBMASTER

No, he's not the Forum Police, but I am. Your rants against Menards are out of place here.  Don't post any more, please.

Mark the Menards guy

The first train I bought since I had one as a kid was at Menards about 3 years ago'

Got it for my nephew for Christmas. I have bought O scale stuff from Menards since then. I haven't ordered any of your rolling stock yet but I intend to in the future.

I love a lot of the things you are putting out and I like the prices. How ever you are keeping the prices down, keep it up. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. I will accept things you produce and the good prices you sell them at with gratitude.

 

 

Webmaster, thank you for your editing; however, I believe you may have missed one.

 Hey Menards! While your at it.How about scale steamers with sound and smoke effects for $300?.........

Mark - The Menards Train Guy,

 

I am perfectly happy giving my nephews $20.00 ~ $25.00 cars. If they wreck them, paint them or just run the wheels off of them - they have fun. Even better I don't go broke at their birthdays and Christmas. I can give them 4 cars vs. 1 or 2. It's a great deal and they stay interested in the hobby. Keep up the good job. 

 

Good Day Mark - the Menards Train Guy,

 

A few more 4750 Grain Hoppers suggestions! Marketing idea perhaps........ present the Grain Hoppers as a salute to the American Farmers and Grain Companies.

 

 

Regards,

Swafford

Menard's is able to sell the flat cars and box cars at their given price point because they are NOT financing the tooling investment costs.

Who did?

 

Personally, I'd like to see coal hoppers (preferably WM).

That's the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Nobody seems to be able to pinpoint exactly which tools are being re-used. The closest matches to the flatcars have minor detail differences that probably wouldn't make sense to spend $$$ making minor alterations to the mold, considering the price point (and the fact they're being sold by a home-improvement chain). The boxcars have been confirmed by Bachmann/Kader to not be from their tooling.

 

The minor differences do seem to point to their being clones of existing cars, but even a clone would need its own tooling, which doesn't seem to mesh with the points brianel k-lineguy made up above, as well as what the cars are selling for.

 

 

---PCJ, who just ordered four of the new flatcars, and notes that there is another 24-flatcar pack on sale, with different roadnames.

Good Evening Mark - The Menards Train Guy,

 

Grain Hoppers would be a top seller!.......... I'm ready to buy when you supply!

 

Regards,

Swafford