Just received all four road names in today. Here are some photos of the new car. The trucks now are sprung trucks and look great along with the new coupler. the only thing I noticed on all four cars was the deck had a upward bow in all of them. Other than that they look fantastic !!!
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Now they got to make one in Santa Fe.
Thanks for taking photos.
Using Lionel trucks and couplers?
Using Lionel trucks and couplers?
Could be that Menards manufacture is purchasing the trucks from the same company that Lionel's manufacture is using.
Bill T.
I'm going to put these on the layout this afternoon to see how well they work
let us know. I'm waiting to have someone review them before I buy. They look sweet though!
What four roadnames?
just placed these on the layout. First of all the need oil first, they were very dry, but they went around o27 curves with no problem. just watch for close items by the track. all in all I'm impressed for the low price..
What four roadnames?
I think it's BNSF, PRR, CNW & Alaska
Do the roller bearing cap ends rotate?
Are there rivits showing holding the wood floors to the car?
no. the roller bearing caps do not rotate
The Alaska flat car looks like it was completely weathered and the number was repainted on a grime covered car.
Andrew
Probably one of those instances where the logo needed to be stamped two or three times.
---PCJ
The truck screws and other screws through the deck look very tacky.
Are these trucks using the needle-point axles or are they like the boxcars with the older PW style axles? My only real gripe with the Menards boxcars is the rolling resistance when you get 25 of them in a consist, they offer noticeably more drag than modern Lionel or MTH cars.
The truck screws and other screws through the deck look very tacky.
I agree that they don't look good, but they could be filled in with putty or painted to be less conspicuous or just covered with a load.
Andy
another view of the Alaska car. you see the difference in color between the other Alaska car and the new flatbed car. Also the number seems to be heat stamped. I also stand corrected about the roller bearing caps, they DO rotate..
Very nice cars. Good to see they DO NOT have "thumbtack couplers". 
The good news is they dumped the bad couplers that would not mate with with any other cars. I will have to purchase some and swap the Nascar loads to these fine specimens.....
Good Day Menards,
Great flat cars and great value!
Received my BNSF flat cars today. WOW, great looking flat car with roller bearing trucks and the car information and car numbers are painted....no decals!
How about MKT and Santa Fe flat cars next?
Regards,
Swafford
Nice looking flat. What are the dimensions?
Good Day Matt,
Coupler end to end: 14 /3/8
Top width of flat: 2 5/8
Top length of flat: 13 3/8
If they offer the ATSF and MKT flats, I'm in for another 8 flats.
Regards,
Frank
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