I don't own any Weaver cars, but I'm considering some mechanical reefers, hoppers some coal cars. Can you comment or post pics of their modern cars? Are they all die cast trucks now? dealers w good prices and stock? Etc. Thanks everyone.
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I am also looking at the Mechanical reefers for my layout.
The USA cars are low on detail. The made in China cars are very nice.
I normally pick them up from my local hobby shop special order.
I like the Mechanical Reefers a lot, but given the few road name variations offered in the last few years, I haven't bought any in a while. The last one I bought was about three or four years ago and came with die cast trucks, but that was three rail so I could "three rail scale" it. The two-rail cars come with a shock-control style extended draft gear box.
The mechanical reefers are better detailed than some of the older offerings, with add-on ladders. Those are plastic, and a little fragile, but with ordinary two-railer care in handling should be fine. Other details, like the door latches, are cast-in (the doors don't open; the diesel engine access screen does). I've lobbied Weaver to offer more of these in the Fruit Growers Express schemes. This one is my custom-painted three-rail scale car.
You didn't ask about the tank cars, but I also like those. Here is an example of the 40 foot tank car in two-rail offered about two or three years ago:
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Santiago,
The Weaver 57' reefers are my favorite Weaver freight car. Weaver cars aren't as detailed as Atlas, MTH or Lionels current releases, but they are good for the price and can be detailed if desired to make them look better. The cars are a little bit too light with the plastic trucks, but diecast trucks/w metal wheels add decent weight to them. Another thing I like about Weaver cars is they have the holes predrilled on every car to facilitate the installation of Kadee couplers. I usually find mine on ebay and you can check with Norms O Scale Trains website for a list of what he has available. Here are a few of mine.
Weaver reefer with shock-control style extended draft gear box as Rich mentioned.
Weaver grain hopper with 3 bay brass bottom from Pecos River
Weaver PS4740 BN grain hopper
50' Tank car
Boxcar with NWSL wheelsets and plastic trucks
Travis
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Thanks for the input! The tank cars look good too. Will order a couple of reefers w die cast trucks. I'm aware of the weathering option and I think it's great that they do it!