Menards Newest Releases (Pictures)

Great Pictures Bob, thanks for posting them! I sure hope the tank cars are still there when Momma gives the go ahead to buy again! LOL

Bob, either you got the pre-production CSXT tank car, or Menards shows one on their website and the initial announcement. The differences being the logo and info on the car ends, and the placement of the car number.

I like the placement of the car number more on the below photo, but otherwise the one you received Bob looks good. I wouldn't mind capacity info on the car ends, but I think the lack of the CSX logo on the ends looks better. The new CSX logo is a nice bonus for a traditionally sized car.

Maybe Menards is now entering the factory mistake or variation business.

Nice looking car either way for the money.

I have eight cars from Menards. Five are boxcars, two are tankers and one is a flatcar with a bulldozer on it. Plus I have a Chippewa Valley Farm Supply warehouse. ambulance and four pickup trucks. As well as four Lemax buildings. I'm not disappointed with any of them.

Love the bulkhead log car. Here is a Lionel one where I doctored up the logs. 

Bob, thanks as always for the mini review! Psst, I think Brianel called you a factory mistake! LOL

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Bob, either you got the pre-production CSXT tank car, or Menards shows one on their website and the initial announcement. The differences being the logo and info on the car ends, and the placement of the car number.

I like the placement of the car number more on the below photo, but otherwise the one you received Bob looks good. I wouldn't mind capacity info on the car ends, but I think the lack of the CSX logo on the ends looks better. The new CSX logo is a nice bonus for a traditionally sized car.

Maybe Menards is now entering the factory mistake or variation business.

Nice looking car either way for the money.

Sorry Brian, here is the other end of the car.

I know you were kidding Play Trains, but I would never call Bob a factory mistake. Cabinet Bob gets razzed a little bit (hope he takes in stride... sometimes it seems a tad harsh), but I appreciate his photos, mini reviews and alteration projects.

And Bob, you got me... never considered one end side of the car would be different from the other side. But again, you've provided some photo info on the car that isn't clear on the Menards listing: That only one end of the car has the logo.

With such limited roadnames I wish they would offer some of their cars unlettered.

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

I know you were kidding Play Trains, but I would never call Bob a factory mistake. Cabinet Bob gets razzed a little bit (hope he takes in stride... sometimes it seems a tad harsh), but I appreciate his photos, mini reviews and alteration projects.

And Bob, you got me... never considered one end side of the car would be different from the other side. But again, you've provided some photo info on the car that isn't clear on the Menards listing: That only one end of the car has the logo.

Don't feel bad, he called me a WALLMART greeter..  LOL..

Of course I knew you were kidding Brian! How could we not love Bob! LOL

Bob, did you order the Old Crow Express Boxcar? If so do you have any pictures?

Did he order it? Who do you think posed for the picture? LOL

play trains posted:

Did he order it? Who do you think posed for the picture? LOL

I'm  really  hurt now.... LOL

Aw Bob don't be hurt! How many people get their pictures on a boxcar?  LOL

This is a Beautiful car !     Has to be the absolute heaviest car in my fleet.

Thanks Bob, your posting of pics always makes my decisions easier.............Paul

TShearer posted:

This is a Beautiful car !     Has to be the absolute heaviest car in my fleet.

 

I love your Paul Bunyan saw !

TShearer posted:

This is a Beautiful car !     Has to be the absolute heaviest car in my fleet.

 

That's a great big little bitty Stihl chainsaw! LOL  

Jim

On a real freight car, what keeps all of those logs from falling off? I mean even if the car was sent down some wobbly branch, couldn't a lot of the logs simply slide off?

Cabinet Bob told me they use velcro strips installed by baby beaver! LOL

Got my log car the other day. It's amazing. Unfortunately the trucks  fell apart when I took it out of the package. The plastic sides that hold the wheel sets in place were poorly riveted to the metal truck. They wiggle and wobble back and forth and the wheel sets drop right out. No way to fix.  So disappointed. Ordered 2 new cars.  Hopefully get a good one out of those two. Will return the others. 

EnRouteCODE3 posted:

Got my log car the other day. It's amazing.Unfortunately the trucks  fell apart when I took it out of the package. The plastic sides that hold the wheel sets in place were poorly riveted to the metal truck. They wiggle and wobble back and forth and the wheel sets drop right out. No way to fix.  So disappointed. Ordered 2 new cars.  Hopefully get a good one out of those two. Will return the others. 

I don't get it, I got 6 ALASKA cars three weeks ago, 2 box, 2 tank and 2 hopper. Yeah some had the wheels out of place when I got them but all it took was to push the truck ends together some and replace the axles and they were fine. One box car was missing the air brake part under it and Menards swapped it out without question. What do you guys want for $19.99 to $ 24.99 ?????? Maybe you should start purchasing the big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ cars and then you will find they have even worse quality with no customer service. Try to find any rolling stock on the bay for less than $20.00 and see what you end up with.  I don't think we will get to the point where these people will pay us to buy their products.

Pulpwood car looks great, thanks for the pics!

How heavy is the Flatcar with woods pad?

I noticed on my pulpwood cars that the trucks are different than past flatcar trucks from Menards. They look like the trucks used on boxcars to me.

I am no expert- but I am curious if this is correct? Is there a back story about the difference?

Would love to hear any information that is out there.

SDIV Tim posted:

How heavy is the Flatcar with woods pad?

I am assuming that you are asking what is the weight of the Flatcar with load.

My jeweler's scale doesn't read that high but a postal scale that I use for shipping reports .4kg as the all-inclusive weight.

EnRouteCODE3 posted:

Got my log car the other day. It's amazing. Unfortunately the trucks  fell apart when I took it out of the package. The plastic sides that hold the wheel sets in place were poorly riveted to the metal truck. They wiggle and wobble back and forth and the wheel sets drop right out. No way to fix.  So disappointed. Ordered 2 new cars.  Hopefully get a good one out of those two. Will return the others. 

I apologize for the troubles you are experiencing. If you email guest@menard-inc.com, they will be able to make things right. We will make sure you are satisfied!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Mark,

When someone receives a defective train item, instead of e-mail, is there a phone number that they could use to report the problem. I'm "old school".  I have always prefer a phone call over e-mail.

jim sutter posted:

Mark,

When someone receives a defective train item, instead of e-mail, is there a phone number that they could use to report the problem. I'm "old school".  I have always prefer a phone call over e-mail.

Jim,

There are plenty of old school folks in the hobby - you are not alone.

The difficulty is addressing each Guest as effectively as possible. In that regard, email has been the best option for us.

If someone emails customer service, the email is forwarded directly do the most knowledgeable person(s) and they will respond as quickly as possible. If someone were to call customer service, you may be transferred several times before you find the right person (assuming they are not away from their desk).

I hope this explanation makes sense.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

To your point Mark, yesterday I e-mailed customer service because I lost the order number and was trying to track a large order! Within 2 hrs I  got a complete copy of my order with the number I needed from Natalie M! Then, a little while after that, she followed up making sure I had everything I needed! Amazing customer service from representatives with a great work ethic! I have said it before, I love doing business with people who know how to do business! I too am old school Jim but my point is Menards makes it as easy as possible!

I Have found that Menards has the best customer service when it comes to our trains. If there is a problem with an item it is replaced without question.

I will buy again when I start a new layout shortly. 

Dave

KRM posted:

EnRouteCODE3 posted:

Got my log car the other day. It's amazing.Unfortunately the trucks  fell apart when I took it out of the package. The plastic sides that hold the wheel sets in place were poorly riveted to the metal truck. They wiggle and wobble back and forth and the wheel sets drop right out. No way to fix.  So disappointed. Ordered 2 new cars.  Hopefully get a good one out of those two. Will return the others. 

I don't get it, I got 6 ALASKA cars three weeks ago, 2 box, 2 tank and 2 hopper. Yeah some had the wheels out of place when I got them but all it took was to push the truck ends together some and replace the axles and they were fine. One box car was missing the air brake part under it and Menards swapped it out without question. What do you guys want for $19.99 to $ 24.99 ?????? Maybe you should start purchasing the big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ cars and then you will find they have even worse quality with no customer service. Try to find any rolling stock on the bay for less than $20.00 and see what you end up with.  I don't think we will get to the point where these people will pay us to buy their products.

And to my point. What did these cars cost???

https://ogrforum.com/t...es-on-atlas-box-cars

Being that I grew up seeing these cars.They were just about in all long mixed freight trains.I just might get one or two.I hope they will do some cars for the seaboard coast line hint hint

play trains posted:

To your point Mark, yesterday I e-mailed customer service because I lost the order number and was trying to track a large order! Within 2 hrs I  got a complete copy of my order with the number I needed from Natalie M! Then, a little while after that, she followed up making sure I had everything I needed! Amazing customer service from representatives with a great work ethic! I have said it before, I love doing business with people who know how to do business! I too am old school Jim but my point is Menards makes it as easy as possible!

Interesting. I emailed them March 6th in the AM and haven't heard back from them yet. I used the email that was on the receipt that was enclosed with the item.

Steve

MG Brown posted:

I noticed on my pulpwood cars that the trucks are different than past flatcar trucks from Menards. They look like the trucks used on boxcars to me.

I am no expert- but I am curious if this is correct? Is there a back story about the difference?

Would love to hear any information that is out there.

These pulpwood cars are based on the 11.5-inch flatcars. They are wider and an inch longer than the traditional-sized ones you're thinking of. There are three distinct flatcars in the Menard's lineup, and two of them (11.5" and 14.5") are scale width.

Only difference is the 11.5 inch flatcars were only available with trailer or vehicle loads, they were never announced or offered as a stand-alone product like the 14.5-inch cars were (thus folks confuse them with earlier traditional flatcars sold with loads).

---PCJ

RideTheRails posted:

play trains posted:

To your point Mark, yesterday I e-mailed customer service because I lost the order number and was trying to track a large order! Within 2 hrs I  got a complete copy of my order with the number I needed from Natalie M! Then, a little while after that, she followed up making sure I had everything I needed! Amazing customer service from representatives with a great work ethic! I have said it before, I love doing business with people who know how to do business! I too am old school Jim but my point is Menards makes it as easy as possible!

Interesting. I emailed them March 6th in the AM and haven't heard back from them yet. I used the email that was on the receipt that was enclosed with the item.

Steve

Steve: Try this email address, this goes to the correct party    guest@menard-inc.com         

Steve, the address Bob posted is the one I used. Whenever I have a problem or inquiry, which is rare, I have always gotten a quick response and question answered or problem resolved using that address.

.....and......AND, my menards has Clearance John Deere RS-3 LionChief Ready-to-Run Train Set!! $100 off. I could, based on the experinence I gain here, get this and paint her in New Haven colors?

hummana hummana hummana. Am I starting to get it?

WOW Menards site for consits (is that correct term?) is definately DANGEROUS, definately. I get three box trucks and bill is only $130.

It's my birthday, it's my birthday, it's my birthday