TCA Convention flats with Rio Grande and Santa Fe trailers

Chris Dunn posted:

I see in the recent TCA newsletter that the TCA is offering as convention cars a sharp looking pair of flats, one with a Rio Grande trailer and the other with a Santa Fe one. These look like scale items, but the ad has few details, just referring to them as part of the LionScale line.

Anyone know the specifics? I’m curious about scale size, wood decks, coupler specifics, etc. Thanks

Lionscale meaning prior weaver offerings.

scale sized, no wood deck, diecast trucks and couplers 

Thanks, but I'm hoping for some more information, as I'm unfamiliar with the Weaver flats. Has Lionel already produced its own version of these and if so, are they the same as the Weaver ones? What length are they? What's the minimum curve they'll negotiate? And will the trucks have the "new" thumbtack couplers? Appreciate any info people have.

Chris

Chris,  The flat cars look like the 50' piggyback flat cars Weaver produced to carry 35' trailers.  I think Lionel is offering 40' trailers.  The side doors on trailers have their hinges towards the front so if by chance they are not properly latched the wind will help them stay closed.  On the model the hinges are towards the rear.  No big deal.  John in Lansing, ILL

The trailers pictured don't look like Weaver nor trailers Lionel has made in the past. Very nice though. The ones pictured may only be something used to display the color scheme. I suspect the couplers will have thumb tacks. Weaver 3 rail trucks had them but I doubt lionel will be sourcing trucks from MTH who is now selling the old Weaver trucks.

Best bet is contact TCA for particulars on these otherwise you will only get guesses like this.

Pete 

Chris:

I suspect Stu Rankin, TCA Convention Car Committee Chairman and a member of this Forum, will chime in soon and answer your questions for you. 

Bill

Hope you’re right, Bill. As a TCA member, I first went to the TCA website section about the cars, but it had only the same skeletal information contained in the print ad.