Weaver Models Spring 2012 catalog now on-line

I'm in for a B&O TOFC, a B&O wagontop box and maybe a Milwaukee rib sided box.

The new wooden gondolas are good for those of us who would like something to go with our wooden boxcars and riveted tankers. Actually they look more like flatcars with sides. They were announced a month or two ago and I placed my order then. Now let's see some new loads - maybe gravel rather than coal and whatever else might travel in a gondola. 

Bob:  We had a good sampling of the woodside gons at York.  They really are very well done.  it's a simple car design but the level of detail is excellent, particularly the rivet work on the upright stanchions that hold the wood grained sides.  The cars are actually done but Weaver is waiting for packaging which will be another few weeks.

While I was in Northumberland, I visited the die making shop that is doing both the woodside as well as the Milwaukee Road rib-side box car.  Wow!  Talk about extra detail.  These cars will have virtually all details added during assembly.  Very few molded on parts.  Very sharp, accurate details.

Goes without saying that both of these cars will be made in the U.S., a fact, which when I mentioned to the Grandstand at the OGR meeting, drew a hearty round of applause from the crowd.  It's really great to see that enthusiasm for locally made products.

I should also mention that during the research on these two cars as well as on Weaver's gorgeous new H30 Pennsy covered hoppers, I discovered a couple of amazing statistics:  First, The Milwaukee Road actually built over 13,500 of the rib-side box cars in several different formats.  This really explains why you can see photos with Milwaukee rib-siders in trains everywhere around the country.

Second: The H30 covered hoppers, which were the first constructed, covered hoppers anywhere, were built from 1935 to 1951 and wore Pennsylvania, Norfolk and Western, PennCentral and Conrail logos and colors.  They were also very similar to cars used by the New York Central and Lehigh Valley. 

Finally, those woodside gons were similar to literally thousands of cars that were built by and for railroads all around the country.  They would be correct in very vintage settings, along with woodside box cars, riveted tank cars, wooden cabooses, etc, but also continued in use right up to the present day.  They were commonly, but not exclusively, used in Maintenance of Way service, after their usefulness in interchange freight.

Paul Fischer

Thanks, I didn't know the woodside gons were going to be made in PA as well as the ribsides. Before I placed my order I looked at some Milwaukee Road picture books and that type of car seemed to be mainly in MoW use. However, most of the photos were from the 60's or later, so I imagine the Milwaukee Road had plenty of them in revenue service in the 20's and 30's. In any case, it's nice to see a woodside gondola different from the USRA model that's about the only thing currently available in 0. The next thing I'd like to see is the Milwaukee Road "peekaboo" gondola used for transporting pipe. Walthers made a kit back in the 60's, but those are hard to find. I actually have two of the kits, but no time to build them. Gravel loads for the new Weaver gondola and the MTH drop-bottom cars would also be nice. I could make some, but who's got the time?

I really like the Army RS-3.  It would go great with my WWII Army consist.

TEX

Steve

They are making more of the Canadian National 57' Mechanical Refrigerator cars in the Yellow and Black scheme.

They also need to make the CN Mechanical Refrigerator cars in the scheme of a Silver body, Black graphics, and the Blue Door.

Andrew

The majority of catalog cars were shown some time ago.

Problem with Weaver is the cars trickle out very slowly.

Cars announced almost 2 years ago are just now starting to arrive with much higher prices.

The separate trailers are a nice idea but pricey.

Still waiting for the B&O Sand car???

SIRT:  (Isn't that the initials for the Staten Island Rapid Transit?) Actually, I think that Weaver has been pretty close on their freight car promised dates.  Recently, however, Weaver, like most companies that source China for their engines, have been running well behind their original promised schedules.  I think that this has been explained pretty well in other posts, but suffice it to say that Sanda Khan, one of the primary builders of model railroad equipment over in the Orient, has been caught up in a change in policy that required most other suppliers to seek other builders of their products.  But most cars have been coming in within 4 to 6 months of their original projections.  The problem had caused Weaver and all other companies to source elsewhere and we're seeing improved shipping dates all the time.

Weaver has sourced their primary line of freight cars here in the U.S.A. for many years now, and recently they have located another American company to design and mold their new cars which will be shipped starting in May with an additional car coming probably in July.  This "American connection" should lead to better cars, more new variations, excellent quality and on-time deliveries.

I'm not sure I know of the B&O sand cars you mention.  Which catalog did they appear in?

Paul Fischer

Where is a good store  to buy Weaver products?

Thanks,

Yardman

AM Hobbies (http://amhobbiesonline.com/).

Hi Paul thanks for the info. and yes you are correct on– SIRT.

I am aware of the China situation.

I’ve contacted W.C.S.and received an expected delivery range many times form them only to find out it wasn’t even close.

Customer service and the staff are always top notch. Unfortunately we have unreliable overseas suppliers to deal with in most businesses today.

  Still waiting on some items listed…

  U1943 B&O Sand Service car $41.95 spring 2011

  U18007 C&O 9 pnl 

  U18020 Chess-WM 9 pnl 

  U14028 N&W  - avail now. Found a better price on an MTH

  U25006 Yale Trailer avail $26.95 avail now

  U25004 REA Trailer - avail now

  U14029 PC Fall 2011

  U14030 SCL Fall 2011

 Die cast trucks/couplers just out after close to a 2 year wait

Only two stores I know of.

Limited Weaver products here –

http://www.amhobbiesonline.com/

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=weaver&Search.x=23&Search.y=13

I wonder if they will bring back the sound for the 57' Mechanical Refrigerator?

...keep the rails polished...

Public Delivery Track stocks Weaver.

www.cmtrains.com is a great Weaver dealer.

...keep the rails polished...

Stores and dealers west of the Mississippi are not competitive for the east side in retail pricing or shipping.

It costs almost 2.5x more to ship.

The 2 dealers I listed generally can’t be beat for retail, quick shipping and service.

I know Bob has some family issues but he is willing to work with you on quantity of items.

For MTH – Jason is reasonable.

Others want full retail which means they get stuck with the stuff.

On the other hand, there will always be the uneducated buyer.

As for dealers, if they don’t show a current running stock inventory, I move on. Have no use for meaningless web sites.

Linking us to a known MFG. web site is pointless as a consumer.

I can do that.

I need to locate the item at the business, place an order and have the stuff with-in 3 days.

MB KLEIN M.T.S. always makes that happen. In fact, I ordered some HO decals and O scale cars together.

The shipping guy emailed me back to make sure I didn't make a mistake ordering two different scales.

How about service? 

I have been ordering Weaver from JD's Trains in the St. Louis area (not to be confused with JDS Productions, which does custom smoke unit work and DCS conversions). He's reliable, has good prices, and gives quantity discounts (handy when you are ordering a dozen Milwaukee Road ribside boxcars!). 

http://www.jdstrains.com/

You can buy direct from Weaver just call. As has been mentioned AM Hobbies has very good stock and works closely with Weaver.  I have recieved purchases from AM Hobbies that were shipped from Weaver Models.

Weaver Model dealer list which is part of their website.