I just saw the 2015 Lionel catalog and must say Lionel has done it again...love a lot of the New stuff...my question is, I see the autoracks and 86' boxcars, and all the detail that goes into the steam engines, but I can't get a decent piece of modern intermodal rolling stock...what gives? The ho guys got a lot cool intermodal cars and equipment. And I know price, cost, and tooling, are factors but someone can compromise somewhere.....
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MTH has had a lot of intermodal rolling stock the last couple of years. I have purchased quite a few pieces in the BNSF road name. Several other road names have been available as well.
I agree we need the 53' articulated well cars beyond any doubt. Would be a total sell out.and I'd be the first one in line to stock up!
I just saw the 2015 Lionel catalog and must say Lionel has done it again...love a lot of the New stuff...my question is, I see the autoracks and 86' boxcars, and all the detail that goes into the steam engines, but I can't get a decent piece of modern intermodal rolling stock...what gives? The ho guys got a lot cool intermodal cars and equipment. And I know price, cost, and tooling, are factors but someone can compromise somewhere.....
"What gives" is Lionel has to be persuaded to make something. I think the auto racks and 86' box cars are reason for optimism--Lionel has recognized that there's a market for scale versions of large modern equipment. I have three suggestions: First, I can think of about four or five types of contemporary intermodal car that have not been made, but the three-unit 53 foot well cars seem a good place to start. A lot of people have expressed interest in those in the past. Second, start a thread, or re-title this one to focus attention on the desire for this particular type of car. Third, email the product development people at Lionel, suggest to that that's what modern-era operators want next, and draw their attention to the thread.
I would suggest the Gunderson 53 foot well three-unit sets (I think they are "Maxi IVs"). I think there are single-car versions, but the three-unit articulated sets are the most common in real life. They could forget about opening doors on the containers. I've yet to meet anyone who thinks that's a worthwhile feature. (I've never opened the doors on any Atlas containers; I open the doors on Atlas trailers just once--to store the extra "retracted" landing gear part inside the trailer).
RM
I think if anyone will make 53 foot intermodal cars it will be Atlas. They make them in HO and some of their HO products have made it into O scale (eg their 25k tank cars). I agree with Rich about the opening doors. They are a nice feature but to me not needed.
I'm partial to the National Steel Car 3-car articulateds
Intermodal modelers could use both cars. There's a method to the madness, here. Lionel is the manufacturer that's been making new modern era scale equipment, so it makes sense to approach them. Atlas has other fish to fry as they still seem to be trying to get production of older items back on track. I hope they do; I'm an Atlas O loyalist from the beginning. And maybe then Atlas will scale up their HO NSC car to O scale. But for now, Lionel just seems to be the best bet for any new tooling, and it makes sense to lobby them for the Gunderson (a car Atlas is less likely to offer). Make sense?
RM
I think that we have tried everything to try to get someone to make new intermodal
cars. The only thing I know to do now is to quit buying the cars that they make.
Granted, I have several stack cars but I have decided that if that can't make what I
want, then I will NOT buy what they make.
If anyone has a better idea, I'm all ears.
Atlas O's Train Man line would be the line for new O Scale Intermodal cars and containers based on the Atlas Model Railroad Company's HO Scale and N Scale intermodal cars and containers.
Andrew
Falcon Service
I will admit I'm prototypically challenged, but didn't Atlas make some kind of O gauge intermodal cars recently, like just in the last 3-4 years or so? Or have I been reading too many of those other (HO) magazines lately?
Atlas-O reissued their Gunderson Twin-Stack car again in the last 2 years with some new paint schemes. That was an O-Scale model of one of the first prototype double stack cars from the 80’s that could only carry up to a 40’ ISO container in the lower position. This thread is focusing on the modern / current intermodal car that carries up to 53’ domestic (US) containers. Lionel & MTH have made O-Scale models of stack cars from the 90’s that could carry up to a 48’ container in the lower position. You will still find all the generations of intermodal cars in use on the current US railroads but 53’ stack cars are becoming predominant & it is unfortunate that no importer offers them in O-scale.
These are just my opinion,
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
Thanks for the clarifications, I get it now.
Some of the HO manufacturers do make some great products. I don't know if a petition would work with them, but sure might be worth a shot. I think there is more O gauge stuff available today than I ever imagined possible 30-40 years ago, but I would sure welcome more competition in the O gauge market. I think it would be good for the hobby and all involved including the manufacturers. It also promotes innovating new products. The more the merrier! Mike Wolf has even said he likes competition for the same reasons. MTH has recently gotten into other scales, HO is one.
Atlas O will have the new MAXI-STACK cars and 53' Containers coming within a year.
The 20' containers will be formerly Weaver Models.
Atlas O will have the new MAXI-STACK cars and 53' Containers coming within a year.
The 20' containers will be formerly Weaver Models.
I see Atlas offers the 53' containers in 3 packs in their HO line I wonder if they will do this for O gauge as I see these containers pushing 40 +/- each list.I have some of the Weaver 20' containers while adequate they are not as well done as the Atlas models,will be interesting to see if they update the tooling on these.Coming within the year seems overly optimistic for Atlas delivery.JMO
Atlas has found a way to shorten the delivery time for the PS-4750 3-bay covered hoppers and the ACF 60' Box Cars.
They should have everything running faster in China now.
Andrew