Mass produced Steam Era Scale Size Tank Cars?

Atlas 8000 gallon and Lionel 8000 gallon tank cars can occasionally be found inexpensively.  Old K-Line and Industrial Rail tank cars are similar in size and typically are reasonably priced.  Steam era tank cars were usually small (6000 to 8000 gallon), so any of these models can be considered scale size.

As Bob says K-Line tank cars are essentially the same size as Intermountain 8000 tank cars. K-Line also had Intermountain produce a series of their reefers minus some detail to allow use of three rail trucks and couplers. All of the K-Line diecast cars are scale size as well as many of their plastic cars.

Pete

@Bob posted:

Atlas 8000 gallon and Lionel 8000 gallon tank cars can occasionally be found inexpensively.  Old K-Line and Industrial Rail tank cars are similar in size and typically are reasonably priced.  Steam era tank cars were usually small (6000 to 8000 gallon), so any of these models can be considered scale size.

Thank you very helpful!

@Norton posted:

As Bob says K-Line tank cars are essentially the same size as Intermountain 8000 tank cars. K-Line also had Intermountain produce a series of their reefers minus some detail to allow use of three rail trucks and couplers. All of the K-Line diecast cars are scale size as well as many of their plastic cars.

Pete

Hi Pete - Thanks once again for your help.  Sorry never made it your way last year.  This coming spring/summer I will make it up your way.

I did take Amtrak past you last year going out to San Diego and back, but do to the length of the trip wasn't up to stopping over.  3 days in coach is enough.  LOL

I sing with the chorus, I believe that most of the common 8,000 gallon tank cars are scale sized or so close as to not matter.

Here's a drawing of prototypical tank cars of the era.

https://myp48.files.wordpress....14/10/acf-type-x.jpg

I measured some of my 8,000 gallon tank cars and actually according to that diagram, they're a bit larger than scale.  Scale would the the tank straight section as 7" long, most of mine are around 8" long.

Jim, The Sunoco car is a Lionel post war tin car. The Texaco is an RMT tank car. RMT is using K-Line tanks on their own frames. You can find K-Line tank cars many times for less than RMT with the benefit of good trucks and couplers.

Intermountain decaled as a 715 next to another RMT Tank car.

Pete

A "scale" tank train.

One other note about K-Line tank cars. They made essentially two versions. Both had plastic tanks but some came with plastic frames and others had diecast frames. The ones with diecast fishbelly frames came with detail like warning placards and brake gear attached. The ones with the plastic frames had that detail enclosed in small bags for the owner to attach. When buying used make sure the car has those details.

K-Line Conoco car with a diecast frame.

K-Line Mobil car with a plastic frame. Warning placard decals added.

Pete

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I sing with the chorus, I believe that most of the common 8,000 gallon tank cars are scale sized or so close as to not matter.

Here's a drawing of prototypical tank cars of the era.

https://myp48.files.wordpress....14/10/acf-type-x.jpg

I measured some of my 8,000 gallon tank cars and actually according to that diagram, they're a bit larger than scale.  Scale would the the tank straight section as 7" long, most of mine are around 8" long.

Thanks for the drawing, it allowed me to measure some cars, I purchased about 2 weeks ago from that Auction Site.   They popped up at a BIN price, including shipping that I couldn't pass up.  Yes the original shrink wrap from 1995 still on them.  I had decided they were too small before this information.  Turns out they aren't.  Ate supper and got ready to post pictures and well you and Pete had added more comments.  Funny how great minds think alike.  LOL

Nice score on the tank cars.

@Norton posted:

One other note about K-Line tank cars. They made essentially two versions. Both had plastic tanks but some came with plastic frames and others had diecast frames. The ones with diecast fishbelly frames came with detail like warning placards and brake gear attached. The ones with the plastic frames had that detail enclosed in small bags for the owner to attach. When buying used make sure the car has those details.

K-Line Conoco car with a diecast frame.

K-Line Mobil car with a plastic frame. Warning placard decals added.

Pete

Thanks Pete, see my previous reply to John.  Mine have plastic frames, diecast trucks and couplers.  Since factory sealed all the detail parts are there.  K-Line made a single silver CGW car that matches, need to buy one to complete the set.

@harley rider posted:

Nice score on the tank cars.

Thanks.  I don't like to talk price, but if you search completed transaction on ebay (K-Line 4 Pac) Jan 14th you can find them.

I figure any of the 8,000 gal tank cars that I have are scale sized or scale sized ++, none of them have tanks less than 7" long.

Menard's older style tankers are scale sized and reasonably well marked.

The Lionel 8k tank cars are really fantastic models and older models can often be had for very reasonable prices ($20-30 is what I’ve paid for most of mine). The Atlas 8K and 11K gallon tank cars are a bit nicer but are harder to get for a “cheap” price; I think the best deal I’ve ever gotten one for was $35.

Note that these are highly detailed models with many seperately applied parts. They are also quite delicate.

As a thought:

KMT, which went to Williams, which is the RMT car now, I think. Got this KMT at a show for not much. I replaced the mostly missing handrails with some from a partial Intermountain kit, as I recall.

The GM&O did have these (who didn't, I guess?). They can look quite nice; I even kept the plastic couplers/trucks. I did add weight in the tank.

How about the tank cars from RMT? If they aren’t scale I believe they are very close. Normally I only buy 2 rail stuff but for $29.95 plus shipping I had to buy one. They have very nice detail.

The RMT cars tank is the same size as most of the others, looks scale to me.

Thank you all for the additional posts and ideas where to find scale tank cars.  Once again the collective knowledge of the forum has given me direction and saved me money.  Another benefit is these threads document the information and become a resource for others.