Intermountain Freight Cars

Of the Intermountain ready to run cars I've seen, boxcars and reefers are glued up tight with no added weight.  The USRA outside-braced wooden gondolas are nicely weighted.  As you know, the grab irons, stirrups, etc. are very fragile on all Intermountain cars.

Thanks Bob. I don’t mind building the kits but there are some “ready to run” out there at attractive prices. Too bad they are sealed up.

Pete

@Norton posted:

I have assembled many Intermountain freight car kits but never bought one of their pre built cars. Looking at house cars, boxcars and reefers, do the roofs and or floors come glued to the sides? If so is weight already added? I know they are way too light without added weights.

Pete

Pete, You have helped me a bunch,  would like to return the favor.

I bought a Pacemaker Boxcar pre-assembled.  It is all "glued/sealed up".  It is 2R with plastic trucks and their infamous all Plastic wheelsets.  The one I have is NIB, #805 couplers still in sealed envelope.  Unfortunately don't have a scale, but does seem to be "light", but a reasonable weight.  They may have added some weight inside.  If the doors would open I would take a look, they don't.  If I pry off door, concerned that I would mess up the paint.

If I make the journey to come see you, I will gladly bring it along so you can take a look and weigh.

If you go with die cast trucks then the weight of the trucks will largely offset the lack of weight in the car itself.

Jim, I appreciate the offer but I have built close to 100 HO Intermountain cars and a few dozen O scale cars. All kits so its easy to add weight. I was looking at some reefers but those doors don’t open and even if the hatches are not glued down it would be difficult to add weight such that it didn’t shift around.

Metal trucks would help but still not sure how they would work on a 50 car train.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Jim, I appreciate the offer but I have built close to 100 HO Intermountain cars and a few dozen O scale cars. All kits so its easy to add weight. I was looking at some reefers but those doors don’t open and even if the hatches are not glued down it would be difficult to add weight such that it didn’t shift around.

Metal trucks would help but still not sure how they would work on a 50 car train.

Pete

I understand.  I added a picture to my original post.  But it inserted looking like you posted the picture?