new Lionel Catalog

I love the auto racks. But they are just too new for my layout. 

Will the auto racks come with the correct 28" wheels?  Or - Who offers the correct 28" wheels to convert them to 2-rail?

Stephen

I would think NWSL would make a wheel to fit the bill.

Cool topic. I'm actually going to order both of those cars and I was wondering, what's the coupler conversion situation for those tank cars? I have a couple of Lionel mechanical refrigerator cars on my way and some NWSL wheels, once I convert them I'll post pictures.

 Love the modern stuff. Hope MTH makes the rest of their cars more detailed. I think the Lionel auto racks will look good with the ATlas. Already got the tankers and would love more. I would like to model some more unit trains.

Scroll to min 6 to see the carrier. They're huge and look amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HCNESdKFLI

Joe, did you install kd's on your tank cars? If so, was it easy?

I hope these Auto Racks are as nice as their Husky Stacks, they'll be very nice cars if so.

NW, Lionel has these Auto Racks advertised as Bi-Level's. I believe the Bi-Level prototype utilizes a 70T RB Truck with 33" wheels, I think Tri-Level Auto Racks utilize the 28" wheel so these new Lionel models should have the 70T 33" wheel truck.

Bi-Level: http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/Bi-Level-Specs.pdf

Tri-Level: http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/Tri-Level-Specs.pdf

If that's the case there are a few options available for upgrading this models truck.

NWSL makes a 33" upgrade wheelset for Lionel "spinner" axles in both a /145 tread, (NWSL part #8292-4 assembled, 18292-4 unassembled),

and a /172 tread, (NWSL part #8892-4 assembled and 18892-4 unassembled), which should be appropriate, of course we won't know for certain until the new Auto Racks are released. See page page 11 of the following NWSL link if you want to check out the info in better detail.

http://www.nwsl.com/uploads/ca...ap3_for_web_9-20.pdf

One can also replace the Lionel trucks with Atlas's or Protocraft's and either model is a nice upgrade. I guess Weaver trucks will work as well but I have never tried so I don't know. In any event either of those model trucks likely will require some shimming to get the car/coupler height correct.

John

 I don't want to discourage you. I just wish Lionel would listen and help us mount KDs a little easier. I always find taking a brand new Lionel car to the drill press, an exciting experience. Worth the time it takes. Just be careful.

 I also did the ones with sound. Was a lot more work.

I also hope the cars are as nice as their husky stacks or their aluminum centerflow hoppers.

John is correct regarding the Bi-level's prototype using a 70ton truck with 33" wheels and the Tri-level's prototype using a smaller 28" wheel.

Last year I won an old Overland Models Tri-level autorack that had the incorrect 33" wheels on one truck forcing me to have to find the correct 28" replacements. I was fortunate to find some on ebay several months later with some Overland trucks. I didn't consider NWSL before that, but I did look at sacrificing an Atlas O front runner that uses 28" wheels like it's prototype and the Tri-level rack. I would've had to grind some off of the axles to decrease the width and maybe a little more than that, but it would've worked had I not found replacements.

If Lionel introduces a Tri-level autorack in the future I guess I'll have to keep a few front runners around to steal the wheels off. Lets see, that's two front runners needed per conversion. If Lionel doesn't come out with a Tri-level, I'll have to do like me and some of my friends did with the Walthers Bi-levels in HO scale, and cut a wheel well in the cars sides and install the 28" wheels.

Below is a pic of Overland Bi-level and Tri-level cars.

 Bi-level with 33" wheels.

 Tri-level with 28"wheels

a couple of new pics of the auto rack

http://lionelllc.wordpress.com...ight-news-from-york/

These look to be awesome and one of the most requested modern scale cars. 

Note the text in the Lionel press release about scale coupler mounting pads on the covered hopper.

It will be nice if the scale coupler mounting pads are featured on all new Lionel scale detailed rolling stock.

Ed Rappe

 The way I read it, they're just talking about the S scale car. I really hope I'm wrong.

When will these cars be available at dealers?

looking at the video posted above, it appears that Lionel made the MTH Whitehead & Kales rack version which holds the most paint schemes for that type of rack from 1980-s to present.

Lionel's catalog version shows the older Portec rack that was only around from the mid 1970's to 1990's. one ca tell by the end side panels "bulging out" from the protec racks as compared to the whitehead and Kales end pannels that are a one piece smooth panel.