MTH Premier Center Beams

If the sequential numbers bug you too much, just split them up in the train or put them in different trains. Most people can't read that fast and remember the numbers anyway. I just bought four of those from Mr Muffin. I really like them too.

Did I miss something? I thought MTH has always had I-beam flatcars in the Premier line, albeit with the trucks at the ends of the cars like the autoracks used to be. 

---PCJ

RailRide posted:

Did I miss something? I thought MTH has always had I-beam flatcars in the Premier line, albeit with the trucks at the ends of the cars like the autoracks used to be. 

---PCJ

Nah, I think he just means this latest batch. They have been around for quite a while.  It does look like they moved the trucks in. I did like all the road names, and bought one each.

<does a little google-ing>

Yes, it appears they have moved the trucks in. Might have to get a couple...this and the coil steel cars are two of the three modern prototypes I have yet to represent in my collection.

---PCJ

RailRide posted:

Did I miss something? I thought MTH has always had I-beam flatcars in the Premier line, albeit with the trucks at the ends of the cars like the autoracks used to be. 

---PCJ

Y'all are both correct. They've had them for years, but I was referring to this batch. This is also the first time in a while they've done the diagonal braces instead of the "opera window".

Wow, they really are different. Too bad that detail is hidden by the load, if you choose to keep it. I haven't taken mine out of the boxes yet. Looking forward to it now. Thanks for the heads up.

Will,

It does seem the TTX cars have loads attached while the others are removable (UP, BNSF and NS)

Yes I'm doing some rearranging and the BNSF loads just popped right out. My plan is to put the loads on my opera window style cars since those are less common these days. Those cars came with log loads which the railroads refuse to haul anymore. 

Like you, I'm also enamored with the 73-foot Center Beam flats. I just picked up a pair of older Milwaukee Road Center Beam cars. I haven't even looked to see if they're diagonal braced or opera window. The loads came in this week, so I'll do one loaded and the other empty. I also found out that these were preceded by a 63-foot car which DID have the trucks toward the ends. I was too lazy to make replacement loads, so I bought some from eBay here: O Scale Lumber Loads

If you contact the seller (Mike), he can make them up in a single branding. I bought 45 loads to do one car (5 sets). I've also been converting them to scale wheels and putting the trucks in the right place.

I have to say im impressed with the weight on these too. I have some empty ones at the front of a 20 car train and they didn't derail on O-72 curves. 

I don't know if this was the most-recent thread, but here's a comparison of the "new" style of 73-foot Center Beam lumber cars vs the "old" style. Both are in Burlington Northern livery. The new style is on top. Inspection of the mounting holes indicates that the chassis is interchangeable with an older car. I didn't have an MTH Auto Rack handy, but I believe they use the same chassis.

This is the part number for the new car.

This is the part number for the old car.

If you're adventurous and want a 63-foot Opera Window car, there's one less opera window and panel sections on the ends are shorter on the 63-foot car. A few straight cuts, some cement and paint and you can keep the trucks at the ends of the car after cutting 10 feet out of the chassis (roughly two cross ribs worth). I know that Burlington Northern did use the 63-foot cars, but I don't know if they used the 73-foot cars later on (haven't been able to find photos). I'm not sure of the manufacturer of each car, but from the photos I've found there have been both 63-foot and 73-foot cars in the Opera Window style and 73-foot in the diagonal-braced cars.

Another load seen on these cars is wooden crossties. So far I've only seen them loaded this way in videos of Norfolk Sothern trains though.

---PCJ

Here are untreated cross ties on NS train. A few years ago I saw some metal pipes on a center beam but I think they were actually filled with something. 

Here is another loading pattern.  

The loads are not glued in exactly. The loads have too thick of a layer of paint on the pins that hold the loads in place on the flat car. The paint is making them stick tightly. You need a very small diameter flathead screwdriver to create a lever that will carefully push the load out at the pins and the hole.

Once the loads are out then you can remove the excess paint on the pins using a razor sharp knife.

Andrew

Andrew, at least on my TTX cars the loads are definitely glued in place. I can see the CA glue on the bottom. 

AGHRMatt posted:

I don't know if this was the most-recent thread, but here's a comparison of the "new" style of 73-foot Center Beam lumber cars vs the "old" style. Both are in Burlington Northern livery. The old style is on top. Inspection of the mounting holes indicates that the chassis is interchangeable with an older car. I didn't have an MTH Auto Rack handy, but I believe they use the same chassis.

This is the part number for the new car.

 

 

I think you mean the new style is on top, as the trucks are inward and they are the new style trucks. I just didn't want people to get confused.

VThokie Steam Fan posted:

I think you mean the new style is on top, as the trucks are inward and they are the new style trucks. I just didn't want people to get confused.

You're right. Fixing it in the above post.

If you can see the glue, then the glue can be scraped or peeled off with a hobby knife or razor.

The loads could be gradually loosened with a punch and a small hammer.

Andrew

Trust me, I have tried plenty of techniques and they ask result in breaking the tabs. Too much glue for any situation, especially where there shouldn't have been any in the first place. 

Will Ebbert posted:

Trust me, I have tried plenty of techniques and they ask result in breaking the tabs. Too much glue for any situation, especially where there shouldn't have been any in the first place. 

The loads that come with these cars are really toy-like. I'd spend the money to buy some wood loads or make some. The remnants of any broken pins would be hidden by the loads. If you put in wood loads, remove the weight from the bottom of the car -- trust me, you won't need it.