Latest flatcar deal from Menards

Looks like a good deal and the truck flats are die cast.

Also noticed they are offering a army boxcar and flatcar with army pickup.

franktrain

Like that Army boxcar, will have to order one.

I agree, I ordered the boxcar to go with my tank flats also ordered one flat with trailers.

Sounds like they will be sent soon.

franktrain

I was wondering why they did not make the Burlington Northern flat car first offered in green.

They were saving the BN green flat car.

Andrew

I received the ad as well.  I noted and it is also in the ad at the top of this thread that the cars have "new and improved" trucks.  If/when someone gets these flat cars, could they report back as to the quality of the trucks? I for one and I know others have commented that the trucks used prior to this ad had problems.

Does anyone else feel that the Menards trains might just be manufactured using the old Industrial Rail Tooling?  Atlas just dropped their old vendor and has a new Chinese source. Is it possible that the old Atlas vendor just started running trains on the old tooling and sold them to Menards?

Have the Maintenance Shed...a Great Deal!   LED lighting and animated sign!

The previous flatcars had plastic trucks and couplers, they were light as a feather. With Menards adding diecast trucks it will certainly add weight to the flats.

Looks like a good deal.  Glad to see that they went with die cast trucks and metal wheels on the BN flatcars.  If I had room, I'd probably go for the maintenance shed.  At 20.25 inches long, it's an attractively priced item as well. Keep 'em coming, Menards.

Received my flatcar with trailers and Army boxcar. The boxcar looks good with my two Army tanks on flatcar.

Great deal from Menards.

franktrain

Metal truck on flatcar same as the boxcars.

Plastic truck on Menards previous flatcars.

Trailers have wood grain texture hard to see here.

Now those are some great deals!

I had some problems with the flatcars I purchased a while back from Menards.  Spacing on the trucks was poor and derailed every time it went over a grade crossing (Lionel 6-12036).  I replaced the trucks on the flatcars and the flatcar that carried the tank and all is well.  I received some recent cars from Menards (Army boxcar, flatbed trailer on flatcar and pickup on flatcar)and truck's are much improved and they don't derail over the crossing.  Happy camper!! For the price you can't go wrong.

I ordered my cars online and picked them at the store. I thought they would have some on the shelf in the store but I did not see any. 

Anybody else see any of the new rolling stock at the store?

franktrain

The Menards train cars are not made from old Industrial Rail tooling.

If you look at the big picture, I have several MENARDS rolling stock on my layout along with their work van. All is fine.

Thanks for the pictures.  I think these are all really great for someone who wants to put together cheap trains for public layouts.  You can put together long consists for not much at all.

As for seeing them in the store, I don't believe Menards has any permanent toy section.  Only for the holidays.  It's likely not worth the shelf space with the relatively low volume of these they sell.  But maybe one day.  With the way they are expanding their offerings, who knows what will happen in the future.

Are the new improved diecast trucks and couplers stiff & tight or do they fit A-OK.

These things are so inexpensive....

So, are they any good?

If so, I'd sure like to try a couple!

I guess they are as good as one could expect at the price points. You can't compare their $20 boxcar to a $60 or $70 boxcar. You can compare their $20 boxcar to Lionels $40 Traditional boxcar and ask the question why is Lionel's $20 more.

Along with their flat cars, I wish they would make gondolas.