Pictures of Menards new tankcar and hopper

Glad to hear it, Cabinet Bob. If Menard's provides the "O" Gauge market with good quality cars, at $20.00 each the sky is the limit.

jim sutter posted:

Glad to hear it, Cabinet Bob. If Menard's provides the "O" Gauge market with good quality cars, at $20.00 each the sky is the limit.

I got to be honest, the workmanship and details are first class..

I just put these to the test on the layout..no problems.

Are the trucks sprung?

Even the trucks are good? Wow!

Cabinet Bob,

Please, tell us about the trucks on these two new cars. I value your opinion. Thank you.

I believe the trucks are the same as the last release's. these are not sprung trucks but still operate fantastic.I placed them on the layout with many cars in front and behind with no problem. But..the best thing is the Quality of this new design.. You can't believe it until you see it in person.Bob

Good Day Bob,

Does the hopper car have moving roller bearing caps on the  trucks?  

Regards,

Frank

Thank you, Cabinet Bob for your review concerning the trucks on your new freight cars from Menard's.

I love the fact, as I'm sure do others, that Menards is truly listening and responding to our suggestions on this forum as to product improvements! Those cars look great!

Cars look great. Would like to see some Eastern RR names, PRR, NYC, CNJ, LV, Reading, NH, Lackawanna, &  Erie,  Menard's is proving that quality rolling stock and accessories don't have to be expensive. AFAIK, even the trucks are metal. I can only guess that these trains are being made by a source trying to make a name for itself in the industry.

And they sure are!!

I'm guessing these are the same trucks that were on some of the rolling stock in stores during in Christmas. The trucks in general on the $8 flat cars improved from last year to this year, but also the Pennsy flat with covered load had even nicer trucks which was $20 I think. Having had all on the track this year under the tree, I must say the improvement is substantial. Both these Santa Fe cars are a bit too flashy/fantasy scheme for me (Not trying to be THAT guy, just want something a little less flashy on my rails, even in semi-scale) but I will have no hesitation in purchasing more rolling stock from Menards...and the 3 dome tanker is real tempting.  

Thanks for the pics and comments on these cars.  they look great.   Only problem I have with Menards is that I'm going to need a second job just to keep up with all the new products... even though they are incredibly affordable at about $20.  

Is there an option to buy a case or 2 of hoppers at a discount?  

JGL

Swafford posted:

Good Day Bob,

Does the hopper car have moving roller bearing caps on the  trucks?  

Regards,

Frank

Friction (solid) bearing trucks (appropriate for the era these cars represent) don't have visible rotating axle ends--the rotating portion is hidden behind a hatch since that's where the oil reservoir and cotton packing is.

---PCJ

cabinet Bob posted:

I believe the trucks are the same as the last release's. these are not sprung trucks but still operate fantastic.I placed them on the layout with many cars in front and behind with no problem. But..the best thing is the Quality of this new design.. You can't believe it until you see it in person.Bob

Just out of curiosity, do these trucks have a release tab behind the coupler head? (i.e. can the couplers be opened without an electromagnetic uncoupling track)

---PCJ

Railride ;no, they do not have a release tab... Bob

JohnGaltLine posted:

Thanks for the pics and comments on these cars.  they look great.   Only problem I have with Menards is that I'm going to need a second job just to keep up with all the new products... even though they are incredibly affordable at about $20.  

Is there an option to buy a case or 2 of hoppers at a discount?  

JGL

Yes they sell the hoppers by the case at a discount.

Case o' Hoppers

Any one who has the hopper, can you give me the inside dimensions? I'm looking to compare to the Lionel and Williams quad hoppers.

Thanks,

Don

Don: it is 2 x 9  1/2 inches

Well yes, I meant like a case of 24.  I'd love to have about 80 of these to pull behind each of my Alleghenys (Alleghenies?) A C&O paint scheme would be fantastic as well, but I honestly don't care much about road names or even having the right type of hopper to be prototypical.  

JGL

cabinet Bob posted:

Don: it is 2 x 9  1/2 inches

Thanks Bob, those are about identical to the Lionel quad hopper dimensions. The length is actually just a tad over 2 7/16". The Williams car is just a tad over 2 3/8". 

Don

Question - can you change out the trucks to use MTH, Lionel or Atlas?

Very sharp looking.

PSU1980 posted:

Question - can you change out the trucks to use MTH, Lionel or Atlas?

Very sharp looking.

Yes, you can, the trucks are held on with c-clips that can be removed with a large flat screwdriver or pair of pliers.  I'm unsure if it is worth the effort, however, as Menards is continually improving their trucks, and I don't know if the value is there in putting $25 trucks on a $20 car.  

JGL

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the Menard's line of O scale. I gather from this thread that these $20.00 cars are of good quality and workmanship?

Thanks

Trackahead posted:

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the Menard's line of O scale. I gather from this thread that these $20.00 cars are of good quality and workmanship?

Thanks

I think that for $20, these are very good cars.  Many folks have had problems with the couplers on the earlier generations of these and some folks don't like the trucks.  In another thread I said I feel like I am getting $30 worth of car for $20.  if you want $50 worth of car you might want to look to the other companies that I feel give you about $50 worth of car for $70.  

JGL

Thanks for the reply John,  going to order a couple cars today.

Looks like Menards has gone hard onto the fantasy paint scheme decoration route. I have no interest in that, but they'll probably sell well.

Is this a new tooling?  Is it based on a prototype ?