Need help on Lionel 89' scale Autoracks...

I know the CN (black)  and GTW Autoracks have been around for decades. I even checked the specs on my Autoracks, and the "Built" dates are 4/73. I'm not sure when CN started using the yellow Autoracks, but only MTH makes those anyways. The new CP logo came out in 1997, so you should be good with that as well.  I'm not sure how many would been painted by 1998, though.  You could also use the BNSF "cross" logo, It was out in 1996. ATSF and CSX cars would have also been used at that time. Of course, UP hasn't changed much since its beginning.

TRAILER TRAIN changed to TTX in 1991. 

The Southern Pacific/Rio Grande Industries merger into the Union Pacific was in 1997. 

Andrew

The SOO LINE acquired the former Southern Pacific auto carriers that were painted all red in 1988. 

Andrew

The CN auto carrier scheme that Lionel has produced so far was introduced after 1985. 

Andrew

falconservice posted:

The SOO LINE acquired the former Southern Pacific auto carriers that were painted all red in 1988. 

Andrew

Do you happen to have a color picture of these?

There were two UP decos.  One with slogan and one without.  I think i looked up the date for the slogan before...  it was in the 1990s i think.  I would ask you guys for the actual date on that.

Im kinda doing the same project.  But i want to know whick autoracks are accurate for the 1970s...  im building an autorack train for my 1970s engines...   so i used the UP autorack without the slogan...   sorry to hear the black CN was 1985, that comes out of the train.

Super O Bob posted:

There were two UP decos.  One with slogan and one without.  I think i looked up the date for the slogan before...  it was in the 1990s i think.  I would ask you guys for the actual date on that.

Im kinda doing the same project.  But i want to know whick autoracks are accurate for the 1970s...  im building an autorack train for my 1970s engines...   so i used the UP autorack without the slogan...   sorry to hear the black CN was 1985, that comes out of the train.

 

To venture a guess, I would say so far, the:

6-82503 Chessie System

and the upcomming 6-84908 & 6-84909 Southern and

6-84914 & 6-84915 MKT Autoracks in the 2018 catalog.

for the flats- a dead giveaway is:

• the Flat car must have the old "TT... Trailer Train" logos spelled out on the flat car
• NO Conspicuity striping

However the Lionel Autoracks may not be totally correct as the the design of the Lionel autoracks, if any, was just starting top be produced in the late 1970's. Also I think Trailer Train changed their reported flat car markings in the 1980's and the Autoracks may NOT have been designated as just ETTX and TTGX. I remember there was KTTX, CTTX, TTBX, and others. Somehow my memory states either MR or RMC had an article on TTX Flat Car markings changes.

Anyway, here are some 1980's to 1990's Autorack cars that I HOPE Lionel will decorate in the near future!

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rslist.aspx?id=TTGX

[NO NONE of these pics are mine.]

note ATSF red instead of freight car red for paint.

That CNW Chicago & North Western auto carrier was built in 1993 or 1994.

I have great photos of two of them in Battle Creek, MI in 1993 and the photos were on print negative film. 

My preference for the GT Grand Trunk Western auto rack on flat car is this, with the TRAILER TRAIN name and TT logo.

Andrew

The older CANADIEN NATIONAL/CANADIAN NATIONAL auto carriers had the CN name on the sides. 

Andrew

There used to be a lot of Rio Grande auto racks, until the SP and UP repainted them. 

Lionel has to offer the D&RGW racks in the TRAILER TRAIN scheme. Notice the inside is painted white. 

Andrew