Who makes Menards train cars

I recently purchased a yellow Union Pacific flat car from Menards. There are several perforations notched out on the bed for stakes and bulkheads I assume. However, my Lionel stakes and bulkheads will not fit. Does anybody know where I can find stakes and bulkheads for this car?

A manufacture based in China.  Like many things one manufacture can serve more than one 'importer' stateside.  

Bring on passenger cars.

Yes, I would love to see Menards be a full line full time model train seller. Nothing gets people interested in the hobby more than great products at reasonable prices that they can see and hold in their hand before they buy it. Without the entry level there is no interest in the higher end models. I want to see our hobby thrive and menards is doing a great job of bringing the interest back to mainstream public. 

The manufacturer is Golden Wheel in China, most of the cars were tooled (cloned) from Williams models which were cloned from Lionel postwar models, and Menards is the company that commissions them.

It has all been discussed here before and it has all been verified. There is no mystery.

Gentlemen,

    Golden Wheel in China seems to be correct, and Menard's is making any problems with Golden Wheels product good by correcting anything that is wrong when the American purchaser receives miss-assembled or miss-packaged rolling stock, Menard's is standing behind their China made rolling stock, in fact Mark is a great contact point for any problems right here on the OGR.

PCRR/Dave

I especially like the WWII Military Rolling Stock and have a complete Consist.

Diok S posted:

Golden Wheel Die Cast in China.  See their web site.

Just for the record, I've looked at the Golden Wheels Die Cast website - assuming this is the right company - and can find no reference what-so-ever to Menards.

http://www.hktdc.com/manufactu...Fty-Ltd/en/1X001BEP/

Just because you read something here, doesn't necessarily mean it's entirely accurate. Like what Jim R. said:

I heard that the Menards "train stuff" was made by Elves (or was it Elvis?) in a hollow tree in Kalamazoo Michigan????

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Diok S posted:

Golden Wheel Die Cast in China.  See their web site.

Just for the record, I've looked at the Golden Wheels Die Cast website - assuming this is the right company - and can find no reference what-so-ever to Menards.

http://www.hktdc.com/manufactu...Fty-Ltd/en/1X001BEP/

Just because you read something here, doesn't necessarily mean it's entirely accurate.

I believe the website you're looking for is this:

http://www.goldenwheeldiecast.com/

Stu

It's none of our business who makes them or why should we care???

I know if someone asked where the plastic kits I work on are made I'd tell them to go to China and make their own connections.   

Dave, I basically agree with you. I tried to find out only because a number of people said it was Golden Wheel Die Cast, and wondered, well is that right?

I may not know as much as you know, but we both seem to have an understanding of the manufacturing process overseas and know that things are not as simple or easy as many here believe they are. You read comments posted here like "oh, that would just be a small easy modification" when in fact it might mean an entirely new set of dies just for a seemingly simple modification to an existing product. Then the projected overall sales have to be considered. "I would buy that" does not justify a production run. And the smaller the run, the more likely there will be price increase. Or that price increase gets spread out over an entire product line.

Another thing that is none of our business is cash flow. Any company needs timely sales with profits coming in to justify investing in new tooling and dies. And from my information, all these trains coming from China have to be completely paid 100% for in advance of shipping to the US. Again, a cash flow issue, and again none of our business. Or people here continually wonder why there are so few O scale decals? Dave, you and I both know the answer to that. No one stays in business producing products that do not sell in a timely and sufficient manner. End of story.

But when one reads of all the complaints here about what hasn't been made yet or that it's made in HO so why not O scale... well having an understanding of the business, the market and the manufacturing process answers a good deal of those questions.

So then it comes down to people just learning to enjoy the trains they do have and to be thankful for what HAS been made already. Giving all the grumbling I read, I guess that's a very hard lesson for some.

Yes, the source material for Menards cars isn't only Williams. The key is that Menards had to draw from designs that aren't currently patented or someone's intellectual property, so to speak. 

brianel_k-lineguy posted:

Dave, I basically agree with you. I tried to find out only because a number of people said it was Golden Wheel Die Cast, and wondered, well is that right?

 

Brian,     I understand why folks want to know about Menard's products.  If five years ago you'd told me that a hardware/building based company would get this deep into the O scale hobby I'd laughed. 

But when some start asking about cost, production numbers, origins and product manufacturing I feel it crosses a line. Mark/Menard's goes way beyond the norm in answering questions thrown at him....but some have gone too far. I just kinda went off when I posted the 'none of our business'.....mainly because even the companies I do work for would not be happy if I asked some of those questions......at one point it starts invading proprietary information. Thanks 

Jim R. posted:

Yes, the source material for Menards cars isn't only Williams...

Not only that, but they are not at all  Williams. As per Menards... they are not sourced from Kader.

No offense taken AMCDave. The train magazines have done interviews with train company personnel or CEO's, and when those people make disclosures about the business, they're doing that willingly. Sometimes they might not share the whole story, but what they want people to know. Still, that's their right and prerogative. The OGR magazine article from some years ago, "A Visit To Sanda Kan" is an article some need to go back and re-read concerning the manufacturing of trains overseas.

Some train makers are a little more open than others, which is their decision. One of the HO train makers said over 10 years ago, that the complete cost of R&D and tooling up a new HO locomotive was near $200,000.00. Since O gauge trains are larger in size, the dies are even more costly. And costs have certainly gone up in the last decade. It's easy to post requests on a train forum for new products, sometimes repeatedly. Having them made is another story entirely.

I've had conversations with people inside the industry. If I'm told to not share it, I don't. In the last year I had a conversation with someone in the business, and thought it was worthwhile info and asked if they didn't mind if I posted the info on this forum, and was nicely asked not to. So I didn't. Credibility and respect aren't asked for, they're earned!

Menards is doing a great job, that no one expected. Mark has stated here that he likes the suggestions, however unrealistic I personally think some of them are... Mark didn't say that... I did. And Mark has already stated that there are other planned products in the pipeline, so folks just need to sit back and be patient.

And folks also need to read what has already been posted and repeated here many times: It's amusing how many times the same exact questions about Menards products get asked over and over again when they've already been answered many times before. I have to say, I admire Mark's grace and patience posting here.

We are working on product for 2018-2020 right now.....but if I was to spill it....no more work. That's the way biz works. Folks need to know. Thanks

ADCX Rob posted:

Jim R. posted:

Yes, the source material for Menards cars isn't only Williams...

Not only that, but they are not at all  Williams. As per Menards... they are not sourced from Kader.

Yes, I know. Read all of the above posts so you don't take information out of context. By "source" material, I meant using Williams cars to make molds for Menards cars.

Not the elves in Santa's workshop?  Awwwww.  ...

Whoever they are, they do a pretty good job.  Just need to work on getting those wheel sets a little tighter and they would be perfect (a little too much play causes havoc going over switches).  BigRail

I agree with and tip my hat to mark makens at Menards! I Believe! Is more than a quote from a great train movie. It is also waking up Christmas morning and finding a train under the tree, any train, any size, make or model. Without people like Maynards spreading this happyness who's left? We all remember Madison hardware, what happens if the powers that be at manards attempt to satisfy the status quo and sell upscale (re; more expensive) trains and accessories? I just found out about Maynards 20min ago while on this forum looking for track. And got moved to post! Lets all get back to doing what we love, running trains, not our keyboards. Many thanks to all in this brotherhood of rail fanatics, Ron 

I doubt knowing who produces Menards trains is much of  a secret, or what dies or whatnot they use, there isn't much proprietary about that (on the other hand, knowing things like what profit if any they make on their trains, contractual details of how much it costs/unit, etc are quite proprietary), especially given the factories that can do this kind of work are not exactly stealth operations, the same factory making Menards stuff is likely making other things, too. Obviously when someone in a company tells you something that isn't publicly known, that is in fact proprietary, and especially if the company is public that could lead to all kinds of issues...

In the end, that they are producing a fun product for a decent price is really all that matters, that and how many places Jack the dog shows up

😶😑🙄

I find, in my experience as a hobby retail employee, that many people find it gratifying in some way to have knowledge the perceive others don't.  Often customers pipe up with interesting information, accuracy questionable, that they believe only they know just to sound knowing.  In fact, often as not, they have no clue.  I don't correct them, I just nod and smile.  The customer is always right of course.  Knowing all about Menard's production seems to fall under the same light at times.  What ever runs your trains!

Ron464nyc posted:

I agree with and tip my hat to mark makens at Menards!

I’m not sure who you are referring to. The last name of Mark the Menards Train Guy isn’t Makens. Perhaps you were thinking of Matt Makens, a Twin Cities hobbyist who is an MTH repair tech and a frequent contributor to this forum? Matt isn’t associated with Menards, as far as I know.

Sorry for the mistake, I was caught up in the moment, I can't ever remember a train I didn't like, no matter who, what, or where it was made. I grew up on flyer S & HO gauge. When I switched from N gauge to 0gauge I found industrial rail trains a very affordable way to increase my rolling stock. True, non opening doors and plastic trucks but with an abundance of diecast trucks on the 'bay and train meets and a little work, well you get the picture. So again let me state correctly this time hats off to Menard's 

All of the above is great information and in the same vain, I was just wondering if anyone knows who makes the frozen pizzas Menards sells?

J/K!!

I think Menards rolling stock is great and I love the price point.  I don't care if it isn't exactly scale, sometimes has plastic trucks and some of it is fantasy.  I went to their first train show and plan on going to the second if it happens.  Bought four of their nose art boxcars and one of the new flat cars (the REA).  I'm think about one of their buildings too even though my dining table layout currently has none.

Bring it on Menards!  I'm in full support.

Personally I'm convinced Cabinet Bob makes Menards stuff! LOL

and of what importance is the fact that things have been discussed on this forum "before"?  New people come on all the time.  It was an interesting question to me and I had not seen it "before". 

I don't know who makes there Products or Care BUT:

One word of Caution on there 14 1/2 in. Flatcars.  I recently ordered their Long Flatcar (14 1/2 in.) w/ U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter. The first one I received, two of the wheels on one truck were out of round, and it "Wobbled" as it was run.  In addition, the Car was not completely Flat. The ends slanted down. I sent it back for a replacement, which I received very promptly. Upon inspection it was worse than the First one. It "Wobbled" worse and  was warped at both ends. I think there problem is a Long Deck on a "Plastic" frame doesn't cut it!!!  I own their Rocket on that same Car and it is fine!  Also I have one of their Long Flatcars with a Halftrack on it, and no problem. Don't know what s going on. I have returned the second car, but have not received a replacement yet. Anyone else have a problem with this 14 1/2 in. car ???

Fredstrains

AMCDave posted:

It's none of our business who makes them or why should we care???

I know if someone asked where the plastic kits I work on are made I'd tell them to go to China and make their own connections.   

It is the customers' business if it concerns them. 

 I said that I felt cheaper cars could be made a number of times 

 "Blasphemy!"..."Off with his head"🤣

😛😛😛

   Lionel is the only company where it's interesting to know the history and production facts!!! ??????..nah

    If these are toolings from the 40s-50s-60s-etc. amt, kmt, kusan, etc., that would be very interesting to me. If they make it to 100 yrs old I'm sure the knowledge will help some collector.

  I doubt the "other" train companies don't have a clue who is doing what anyhow. By the time we know, it's likely old news.

  It not my fault you have a confidentiality agreement.  Or if someone violated one. Even if I was privy to it happening, I'm not invested either. It's just news to be reported. ....or not .   

The only exception to the "none of your business" rule is the makeup of the manufacturers labor force.  I won't support a company if say it has its merchandise made by a "child-labor camp in Outer Slobovia".  I feel I have a right to that knowledge so that I can make an informed decision as to whether I want to do business with such an entity. 

So in that case, "Don't ask"/"None of your business" doesn't fly with me.

Golden Wheel is one of the manufacturers Menards works with in China. That’s been confirmed. Most likely, that’s where the hand-crafted MDF buildings are made.

One other theory is that Menards also deals with one of Kader’s facilities, though Menards has never confirmed this.

Kader, of course, is Bachmann’s parent company, and Bachmann owns Williams. Because some of Menards’ freight car line appears to have been made or cloned from Williams tooling, the Kader connection is a possibility. But unless Menards says that’s the case, it’s only a plausible theory.

By the way, if you didn’t read Con-Cor founder Jim Conway’s letter (included as a link to the thread about the Affatech plant closing in China that is impacting Atlas and other model train manufacturers), you might be surprised by this fact: Globally, Kader is a major toy maker, dealing with companies such as Mattel, not merely hobby or small volume manufacturers. It wasn’t news to everyone on this forum, but Conway’s letter drove the point home for me.

Kader Holding Company’s website says Kader, collectively, has 2.85 million square feet of production space in southern China. That’s the equivalent of two dozen Walmart supercenters.

Those holdings include the Sanda Kan factory that once produced trains for as many as 70 model manufacturers until Kader decided to maintain a relationship with only a handful of them and booted out the rest.

So it would be hard for Menards not to somehow be involved with Kader. Again, just a guess.

Fredstrains posted:

I don't know who makes there Products or Care BUT:

One word of Caution on there 14 1/2 in. Flatcars.  I recently ordered their Long Flatcar (14 1/2 in.) w/ U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter. The first one I received, two of the wheels on one truck were out of round, and it "Wobbled" as it was run.  In addition, the Car was not completely Flat. The ends slanted down. I sent it back for a replacement, which I received very promptly. Upon inspection it was worse than the First one. It "Wobbled" worse and  was warped at both ends. I think there problem is a Long Deck on a "Plastic" frame doesn't cut it!!!  I own their Rocket on that same Car and it is fine!  Also I have one of their Long Flatcars with a Halftrack on it, and no problem. Don't know what s going on. I have returned the second car, but have not received a replacement yet. Anyone else have a problem with this 14 1/2 in. car ???

Fredstrains

Comments..... Has anyone else had this problem? My Third replacement is on it's way!!  Will let you know how I make out !!!

Fredstrains

Methinks only two were made, you will be getting your first cat back!