In Praise of Weaver Rolling Stock

I have allot of weaver freight cars and I really like them Especially the 40' ps1 cars. The earlier runs can still be picked up new for $20-25 range. Yes they may have plastic trucks but they look great. I add some weight to them by using tire weights or some other metal. When I can find some die cast trucks I add them also. 

The center flow hoppers are also great cars.

I like their 50' boxcars (pre-plug door cars); I used to have a whole bunch of them when they were kits you assembled yourself (easy to do).  Some were under the regular Weaver brand, others under Quality Craft.

I now only have the Railbox cars (including factory weathered ones) and a BN one as the specific prototype FMC boxcar Weaver chose was specific to RailBox, although BN had a very similar one that was plug-door type.  The rest that were other roadnames were gotten rid of.

I also like their 57' modern mechanical refrigerator cars.  I like them even better than the Lionel version for the following reasons: 

1) The Weaver door guides aren't grossly oversized like the Lionel ones (downside is the Weaver car doors don't open but that doesn't bother me like the oversized Lionel door guides do)

2)  The Weaver car has a simulated roof-mounted exhaust stack; the Lionel lacks this detail (where is all that diesel engine exhaust going on the Lionel car, under the frame like an automobile, LOL),

3) The Weaver car simulates the cushion underframe the actual prototype has, which the Lionel model lacks.

I also have some of their modern 3-bay and 4-bay outside braced coal hoppers and some of their PS-2 hoppers which are all nice. 

All I have converted to 2-rail operation for looks.

Having said that, outside of the 57' reefer cars, I haven't bought any Weaver cars in a long time; mostly because I prefer more details that Atlas O, Lionel, and MTH have come out with the past few years on their scale freight cars.

 I got 2 modern looking BNSF 50' tank cars a while back. I really like how they look and ride. I've gone back to their site a couple of times now, and can't find much else that's modern? I keep buying other's cars instead. I hope they make some more modern stuff.

A few of each of their 2-bay hoppers on my small, at-home switching layout .... Composite, Offset & Ribbed.

My son even had Weaver weather a set of them, and gave them to me as a gift. nice job.

Their seperate coal loads are pretty nice, too.

Jim

I've got 4 Colorado Midland reefers they did a few years ago. Although the cars aren't correct for the CM, the decoration is. No other manufacturer has done the paint scheme, and probably never will, so very happy with my set of cars. Even with plastic trucks, they track well.

Whenever a want for a new car hits me, I search Weaver first.

All hail Weaver! I am presently running 7 Weaver PS-2 hoppers between an Atlas Locomotive and Lionel caboose.

I very much like my Weaver cars as well.

You are not a true Weaver fanatic until you have assembled a Quality Craft wood boxcar or hopper craftsman kit.

I'm a sucker for the PS-1 Boxcars too! Also like the drop-end gondolas, Wagon Tops and Rib-sided boxcars, converted Troop Sleepers, and especially the head-end cars.

I need to do an honest count, but I suspect 50% of my cars are Weaver! MTH Premier is following in a close second.

Gilly

I like the Weaver cars to take to the club/museum for open house operating sessions. They are easy to handle and transport, and far less likely than the high-end Atlas, Lionel, and to get damaged. The graphics are excellent and, for a public exhibition, they look great rolling by at 40 smph. The more detailed cars are great, but when you are putting on a show for Ma, Pa, and the kiddies, it doesn't make any difference. And, they are made in USA.

Now, the part about being less detailed applies to the older molds - the PS-1 and AAR boxcars, the woodside reefers, etc. The recent production B&O wagontops and MIlwaukee Road ribsides stand up to most anything for fine detail. I compared my Weaver wagontop to a brass Right of Way wagontop and the Weaver car was better looking and more detailed. Those cars were made in China, but Weaver's most recent product, the Milwaukee Road ribside cars, is made in Pennsylvania, USA. And they are very, very nice cars. I have 13 or 14 of them and it was worth every penny. 

Really nice PIX everyone. Nice looking stuff.

Another favorite Weaver car that I forgot is the 3 bay 70 ton coal hoppers.

I have several of them including a string of custom run Peterson supply done up in CP pacman paint, and they look great.

Peterson has done many different custom runs over the years.

Mention was made above about weighting the cars so they track better.

I have used the 5 oz plus 1 oz per inch of length guideline, and this has worked well.

I just cut up lengths of 2 x 2 lumber to get the required weight and glue gun them right onto the car floor assembly. Works great and cost effective. I usually do a run of 6 or more cars at a time like this.

Any more Weaver fans out there?

Rod

I have 6 weaver chessie  coal hoppers and 1 weaver C&O coal hoppers and 1 weaver chessie ps2 hopper. I love my weaver cars.  

Did any other railroad have those types of hoppers?

Dave,

I know CB&Q owned some, along with Seaboard Coast Line (repaints of the SAL cars).

Burlington Northern (CB&Q repaints?) and Dragon Cement Company also had them on their rosters.

HO models have been offered in the past in brass and now in plastic, but I don't think any O scale models have been offered except maybe in brass.

Weaver also makes a number of other types of hoppers that are great candidates for some that SAL owned, wish they would do them so I wouldn't have to do my own painting and decaling.

I love Weaver cars and engines! Made in Pennsylvania......mostly ! Tom in PGH

72 weaver freight cars, saving up to buy more.

Here's my total early-1990's Weaver collection, and they are beautifully decorated. They are light, so a little weight in each helps tracking. The caboose has no glazing and is not lighted, so it would make a good, simple project.

I was frustrated with their plastic trucks and large flange wheels, however over the years the trucks have gone to steel... nice upgrade Weaver!, Now I like their wagon top box cars and troop train express cars.

Bob;

Have you approached Weaver to see if they will do a run of SAL hoppers?

The graphics look simple enough and they may be receptive to the idea.

Rod

Rod,

I emailed them about doing the PS2 hopper but none of the others they make, I think they responded by saying they would give it some thought.  I have a list of what Weaver makes and what SAL had somewhere that I need to get out and send them, with photos of the prototypes.  They may have made some over the years, but sometimes I think ALL manufacturers forget that there's a lot of folks who have been into O scale/gauge for only a few years and reruns of the smaller RRs are always welcome, plus there seems to be more accurate prototypical data available than there was in the past (the internet is good for some things!).

bob,

If you send weaver pictures and prototype info on SAL freight cars, 75% chance it would get made as long as no one else has made the freight cars and the market is not flooded with product.

75% of my freight car fleet is Weaver. I especially like the plastic trucks with the plastic wheels ( Delrin ). They roll the best and are very quiet. Always looking for the Delrin wheels.

Clem

I would buy a Weaver model of Bob D's whalebelly hopper in a heartbeat. That is a neat-looking car, and totally unique. It would probably have to be done in brass, though - I kind of doubt there would be enough market to pay for the tooling to do it in plastic. I wonder if anybody has done it in brass 2-rail. 

I have some Weaver 50ft tank cars and some Railbox box cars.  I think they look great!  The metal weaver trucks that they come with are very good, much better than the MTH premier trucks which for MTH rolling stock to ride much too high off the rails.

However, I would like to see weaver come up with some new tooling and prototypes, especially to make more recent rolling stock.

I am glad they picked up making the 53' highway trailers where Bowser left off.

I also enjoy Weaver rolling stock.  Here's a few that I have.  The last, yellow reefer, I custom painted from a Weaver undecorated reefer.  Matt

Their centerflo hoppers, 57' reefers, 50' bulkhead flatcars, 40' tank cars, 4 bay hoppers, and 50' boxcars all can be still seen riding the rails in real life.

I've got over 100 Weaver cars now, and adding more all the time.

Ya made me look. My roster is currently at 51. There are 2-3 I plan to reserve. I may have missed it, but "affordable" really stands-out when you're talking about Weaver. Just bought my fist Weaver engine and I'm very pleased with it.

Gilly

Weaver produces some really nice 50' tank cars...in my book.  I have a bunch.  Just bought 2 more of those BNSF cars from JustTrains of Delaware...assuming the internet is correct and they really have them in stock.

Without going down there and counting, I'd say my rolling stock fleet includes over 100 Weaver freight cars, including some 24 different "club" cars done for a little internet group I belong to.  In addition, I have some 20 full length passenger cars and about 18 of the troop sleepers.  Now, add that to some 12 to 15 Weaver locomotives and I'd say I am fairly "hooked" on Weaver.

BUT!  By my own restriction, Weaver makes literally hundreds of cars that I can't own.  My own railroad is in a 1950 setting, so none of Weaver's long cars, including the new style reefers, covered hoppers and high cube box cars, can find a home on my railroad.

As to my favorite, sure that's easy: the new Milwaukee Road rib-side boxcars.  Just gorgeous and they are completely made in USA.  Next, I really like those woodside gondolas, especially for work train service.   Have about a 1/2 dozen of those, and now they have Don Kane's great work train loads.  I also have a soft spot in my heart (head) for the H30 Pennsy style covered hoppers.  Those cars would have been used all across the country, in their day and were the first production covered hoppers made.

Weaver cars are all full scale, have reasonably nice details with the newer cars with really excellent details, and they generally cost considerably less than their competition.  There will be more of their cars on my layout.

Paul Fischer

Bob;

I would sure give it a shot. The worst they can say is no.

I seem to recall Andy Peterson telling me some time ago that Weaver will consider a custom run of as few as 100 cars. Preparing the graphics mask is the hard part.

Perhaps someone else here can clarify that?

Rod

This is my photo from a different topic thread post, and not in proper focus, but just wanted to show my favorite of the many different Weaver hoppers I own.

That PRR model is one of the three "Buy War Bonds" composite hoppers that my son gave me after having Weaver lightly weathered them (thanks, Matt). I think Weaver does a good job with their printing.

Jim

I too am a fan of Weaver rolling stock, especially the mechanical reefers, PS2-CD grain hoppers and tank cars. I do wish they'd offer the grain hopper in more Santa Fe schemes, such as the "Quality" scheme.

I custom painted this mechanical reefer. I've urged Weaver to make these FGMR cars, and some appeared in the catalog, but I'm not sure they ever received enough orders:

Like Weaver cars also.  I have a few flat cars and then this 57 ft mechanical reefer with the metal trucks.  I did order a few news cars out of last years catalog, just waiting for their arrival. 

Beauty car!

I love your weathering and detail work.

Rod

SH;

Great tip; thanks for posting!

Rod

I've got a bag of rubber bands like go on Kid's braces. Just roll a "Kadee Rubber Band" over the coupler and you're good to go.

Gilly

Does anyone have the Weaver 57' mechanical reefer, BNSF white body with the "icicles"?  This was cataloged a few years ago and I never see them on ebay, save one time but I didn't bid because they were graffiti'd.

I'd like to see a pic of these, or if anyone knows a shop that has them, let us know.

Martin

I always loved their rolling stock. Some of my all time favorite "O" gauge freight cars were made by Weaver.

I've purchased a few Weaver cars now and then in the past and liked them for their pricing and looks. But now they came out with The Milwaukee Road ribbed side boxcars and they are great! I intend to get all eleven of the different styles. I have 4 of one style and 5 of the other different styles with the other 5 styles on order. These cars are from Weaver's Gold line which are comparable IMHO to MTH's Premier line and Lionel and
Atlas' highline freight cars.