New Atlas Announcements - Two all new tooling O scale models are on display in the Atlas booth at Fall 2024 TCA Eastern Division York Train Show!

Naveen shared that they (lumber cars) are metal!

https://ogrforum.com/topic/new...2#185988372439387472

The lumber car is definitely NOT a re-issue of the MTH Center Beam car. An Opera Window version would be nice, but they were from the early days (but they look so cool). Seriously thinking about getting some. Undecided about the box car, though.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Naveen shared that they (lumber cars) are metal!

https://ogrforum.com/topic/new...2#185988372439387472

Joe, thinking with the recent work on the maxi-iv, rebuilt well cars being diecast, I would expect this center partition car to follow suite.   Great to have Naveen's confirmation.

@AGHRMatt posted:

The lumber car is definitely NOT a re-issue of the MTH Center Beam car. An Opera Window version would be nice, but they were from the early days (but they look so cool). Seriously thinking about getting some. Undecided about the box car, though.

Matt, for sure no doubt not a re-issue of the MTH premier level car.  It's noted in the Master line!  Yeah!  At first glance it looks to follow the design from their HO release.  I am so happy to see this car done more accurately... as you tell there is no drop center sill visible on the underframe like is present in the MTH premier release.

The PS 5344 boxcar is a fantastic compliment to the premier level 50' high cubes.  The PS 5344, was designed to carry a wide range of commodities. Some of the most common items transported in these boxcars:

So these boxcars are great, flexible boxcars used across many roads, all over the NA continent, and still in service today, many have been rebuilt and used by leasing companies. I think production on these started in 1977 through maybe 1981 and maybe 7K - 8K were produced.

@Mike DeBerg posted:

Matt, for sure no doubt not a re-issue of the MTH premier level car.  It's noted in the Master line!  Yeah!  At first glance it looks to follow the design from their HO release.  I am so happy to see this car done more accurately... as you tell there is no drop center sill visible on the underframe like is present in the MTH premier release.

Yeah. When I converted mine I shortened the center sill, but couldn't shave it down since it was hollow. The prototypes do have the sill, but it's not as exaggerated as the MTH (the underframe is the same one they use with the 18" Auto Racks). The center beam stiffens up the flat car frame from above. I've done five--have one to go. I got pairs with the same road number for loads in/empties out (don't know if I'll actually do it on a layout) and take the weight from the one with the load and add it to the empty one.

@AGHRMatt posted:

Yeah. When I converted mine I shortened the center sill, but couldn't shave it down since it was hollow. The prototypes do have the sill, but it's not as exaggerated as the MTH (the underframe is the same one they use with the 18" Auto Racks). The center beam stiffens up the flat car frame from above. I've done five--have one to go. I got pairs with the same road number for loads in/empties out (don't know if I'll actually do it on a layout) and take the weight from the one with the load and add it to the empty one.

Correct, it does have a center sill, but as noted is not a drop center sill like is present on the MTH Premier offering.  I completely cut mine down flush.  I know many have completely redone the underframe out of styrene.   Never wanted to go that far because it would make me also want to shave off other oversized or molded on details.

@Mike DeBerg posted:

Correct, it does have a center sill, but as noted is not a drop center sill like is present on the MTH Premier offering.  I completely cut mine down flush.  I know many have completely redone the underframe out of styrene.   Never wanted to go that far because it would make me also want to shave off other oversized or molded on details.

I know what you mean. As I convert more cars I find myself tempted to go further. Been looking at drilling out the holes for the hooks and adding load strapping to my loaded center beam cars. I'm still a hard core 3RS operator but the appearance of the cars post-conversion is quite dramatic.

Building two layouts isn't practical so my layout will be hybrid as I've also acquired pure two rail locomotives.