I realize this is a subjective question - but who makes the best scale boxcars in terms of detail and/or quality?
Looking to add some freight cars to my new scale layout, and want to buy the right stuff first time so thought I'd put this out for some wisdom!
Replies sorted oldest to newest
MIKEOWEN17,
This is all very subjective however IMO the Atlas O Steam Era Primer Box Cars are very tough to beat. I love the detail for the money expended.
PCRR/Dave
Atlas Master/Big O Rolling Stock and Lionel. The Atlas boxcars are nicely weighted. The latest scale offerings from Lionel like the 86' boxcars are on a level with Atlas.
The Atlas Trainman boxcars are nice, too, and have about the same level of detail as MTH Premier.
mikeowen17 posted:I realize this is a subjective question - but who makes the best scale boxcars in terms of detail and/or quality?
I've always liked the Atlas "Master Line" of boxcars, however they have pretty much priced themselves way to high for my budget. I have switched to the MTH "Premier" boxcars/reefers, which I also find MUCH easier to up-grade to Kadee couplers (MTH even includes the correct thickness shim for the Kadee mounting). I have also found that the MTH product are more robust since most of the added-on detail items are metal (brass?), whereas the Atlas cars seem to have easily broken-off plastic details. Besides, the MTH freight cars are MUCH more affordable, in my opinion.
HOT WATER,
I have to agree that recently the Atlas pricing has increased, I was disappointed to see this happen. The MTH Primer Box Cars are nice stuff also, IMO no need for the Kadee Couplers however.
PCRR/Dave
Pine Creek Railroad posted:HOT WATER,
I have to agree that recently the Atlas pricing has increased, I was disappointed to see this happen. The MTH Primer Box Cars are nice stuff also, IMO no need for the Kadee Couplers however.
That is only your opinion! Please remember that the original poster asked his question on the 3-Rail SCALE Forum, and Kadee couplers are regularly discussed and used here.
PCRR/Dave
Most Trainman rolling stock can be had for under $50 from a reputable dealer which makes it the best value in O scale to me. You get a nicely-detailed car that can take some rough handling. That can't be said for an Atlas Master railroad car. The stirrups on either end of car are probably the easiest parts to break.
Atlas Master Line is my choice, followed by their Trainman line, Lionel, and MTH Premier.
All have made cars in "fantasy" paint schemes, do your homework if you want prototypical painted cars.
The old Weaver line is good also, hopefully we'll be seeing them again from Lionel and/or Atlas, depending on who got the molds.
Prices are high, be selective when you buy and you won't spend more than you need to spend. I recently bought an Atlas GN boxcar and SHPX tankcar for about $80 each, but they were something I had been looking for and wanted so to me that was a fair price.
Thankfully I've run out of room to store/display my freight cars so at 52 pieces these days are coming to a close (unless someone makes a true SAL Turtleback round-roof boxcar)!!!
Oh, and we're leaving out any brass builders who make probably the most scaled equipment you can find, but it's mostly/all 2-rail.
Atlas Trainman, in my opinion, has the best detailed boxcars for the money.
Atlas / Pecos River would be my choice.
George
In my opinion Atlas 'O' Master Line Series and older Atlas 'O' Trainman are great.
Master Line is very near prototypical in all detailing, but are very pricy now-a-dayS!
Trainman, for the most part, was near prototypical in all detailing on their older items.
Now, newer Trainman items miss the mark regarding close to prototypical detailing! I don't know who is goofing up the modeling for Atlas 'O' Trainman newer goods?
The good thing with older and newer Trainman items are that the prices are reasonable.
Ralph
currently, RY models and Protocraft.
David Eisinger posted:currently, RY models and Protocraft.
Except both of those suppliers are 2-Rail SCALE only.
David Eisinger posted:currently, RY models and Protocraft.
Hey David, I noticed you're sitting in a engine and at first thought a" steam engine." What type of engine is it?
catnap posted:Atlas Master/Big O Rolling Stock and Lionel. The Atlas boxcars are nicely weighted. The latest scale offerings from Lionel like the 86' boxcars are on a level with Atlas.
The Atlas Trainman boxcars are nice, too, and have about the same level of detail as MTH Premier.
Atlas Master Line boxcars are very nice, but as others have noted, delicate parts can be a problem, so you have to handle with care. The Lionel PS-1 boxcars, both in terms of detail and robustness of construction, are hard to beat.
breezinup posted:catnap posted:Atlas Master/Big O Rolling Stock and Lionel. The Atlas boxcars are nicely weighted. The latest scale offerings from Lionel like the 86' boxcars are on a level with Atlas.
The Atlas Trainman boxcars are nice, too, and have about the same level of detail as MTH Premier.
Atlas Master Line boxcars are very nice, but as others have noted, delicate parts can be a problem, so you have to handle with care. The Lionel PS-1 boxcars, both in terms of detail and robustness of construction, are hard to beat.
OK, but aren't the Lionel PS-1 boxcars even more expensive than the Atlas Master Line?
I like the Lionel PS1s, but have to add kadees and scale wheels. However, if you are a 3 rail scale buff and use kadees the biggest bargain with great fidelity are the old All Nation/Athern boxcars. They generally go for around $20 to $25 hard to beat and they generally have some natural age patina. IMHO
Gregg posted:David Eisinger posted:currently, RY models and Protocraft.
Hey David, I noticed you're sitting in a engine and at first thought a" steam engine." What type of engine is it?
western Maryland scenic railroads number 734. a 2-8-0 consolidation steam locomotive. They offer cab rides.
Lionel PS, GLA and X31 series.
Also new MTH PS 50' series with separate grab irons. All else is 2nd best.
Crumbling Atlas O is over priced and a thing of the past. They do not hold up to daily operation and are too heavy for 3 rail. You cant keep buying someone else's old molds to stay in the O business.
Lionel PS-1 and Round Top boxcars, unmatched in detail AND durability. Atlas are nice, but darn! I think a stirrup step just broke because I was talking about it. They're that fragile.
Lionel PS-1:
Lionel Steel Reefer:
Atlas master:
SIRT posted:Lionel PS, GLA and X31 series.
Also new MTH PS 50' series with separate grab irons. All else is 2nd best.
Crumbling Atlas O is over priced and a thing of the past. They do not hold up to daily operation and are too heavy for 3 rail. You cant keep buying someone else's old molds to stay in the O business.
I just received a pair of 3-rail trucks for an Atlas 89' flat car that was originally 2-rail. I wanted to paint the side frames to match the car, kind of like a wine color. Anyways, upon taking apart the trucks I noticed one of the bearings came out and looked down and much to my surprise I saw a piece of metal. Then another bearing came out. The "die-cast" trucks were literally disintegrating in my hands. I was able to snap one of the side frames in half without any resistance.
Fortunately, the bolsters and couplers were OK and I had extra 70-ton roller bearing trucks to replace the ones that essentially flaked apart.
Hot Water posted:breezinup posted:Atlas Master Line boxcars are very nice, but as others have noted, delicate parts can be a problem, so you have to handle with care. The Lionel PS-1 boxcars, both in terms of detail and robustness of construction, are hard to beat.
OK, but aren't the Lionel PS-1 boxcars even more expensive than the Atlas Master Line?
No. Looking at C. Ro, for example, a Lionel PS-1 runs $57.95. Equivalent Atlas O Master PS-1 boxcar is $59.99. There are variations, of course.
CentralFan1976 posted:Lionel PS-1 and Round Top boxcars, unmatched in detail AND durability. Atlas are nice, but darn! I think a stirrup step just broke because I was talking about it. They're that fragile.
+1.
Many of my expensive 40' Atlas O Master box cars grab irons and ladders crumbled just sitting on the shelf. I found new replacement ladders and grab irons on the bay to restore that old crap. Contaminated Chinese metals. No more Atlas unless I see lower prices other than 70 bucks a car and new tooling. Boat anchors. Even the doors don't open. Bamboozled over the years. They have been out paced by MTH Premier & Lionel.
Mike Owen
You didn't mention the era that you are modeling. That and a home road or favorite road names would be helpful in narrowing down sugestions. There have been over 40 different boxcar models offered in O scale in the last 20 years. Atlas, Lionel and MTH continue to offer new product runs from time to time while their older car as well as those by Crown, Pecos River and Weaver are available as new old stock and used items.
Keep in mind that boxcars typically enjoy about a 40 year service life so wood side box cars from the 1920s could be found behind second generation diesels in the 1960s. Today the cars built for the 1970s box car boom are reaching the end of their lives, a situation posing a problem for remaining boxcar shippers like paper mills.
Here are a few general observations about the big three:
Atlas has offered more different boxcar models than any other manufacturer. As others have said, Atlas Masterline models are well detailed but may be fragile. Be sure to place them back in the box with the B end (hand brake) on the right and you will avoid most damage. Masterline models tend to be heavy, about 19-20 ounces for a 40 foot box car. Trainman models are less expensive and less detailed. They are also lighter, close to the NMRA recommended 15 ounces.
Since 2000 Lionel has produced some very good boxcar models. They have the best 40 foot PS-1 model out there. They also have some nicely done large boxcars based on 1960s and 70s prototypes. Weights are inconsistent. Models based on older tooling lack the detail of newer models and are equivalent to the Atlas Trainman line.
MTH is second only to Atlas in the number of differently tooled boxcar models available. Those produced from 1990s tooling are similar in detail level to the Atlas trainman line. The MTH boxcars tooled in the last 10-12 years have a very high level of detail and are more durable that some of the competitively detailed models. Weights are very consistent. An MTH 40 foot boxcar will weigh 17 ounces regardless of prototype.
Some favorites by era,
1918-1936:
Cars of this era tended to be smaller than those that followed and may fit in with both O scale and traditional sized trains. They are great for scale modeling in limited space.
Atlas, Lionel and MTH all make models of the USRA 40' double sheathed boxcar. MTH has good overall detail and the best rendering of the wood sides. Atlas offers as delivered Andrews trucks.
Atlas and MTH both offer very good models of the single sheathed USRA boxcar. Again, Atlas offers as delivered Andrews trucks.
Crown and Weaver offered boxcars that shared early 1930s style ends and roofs with single sheathed wood sides or steel sides and single or double doors.
Every railroad should have at least one PRR X-29 on the line. Atlas makes them.
Atlas Trainman 50' single sheathed wood side automobile boxcars are based on a late 1920s Pullman prototype. They model the monster size cars of the day and are good stand-ins for any single sheathed 50' automobile car of the late steam to diesel era.
1937-1942:
These boxcars used heights and widths previously found only on automobile boxcars. They are what many modelers now think of as standard size.
Atlas and MTH both offer models of the ubiquitous 1937 AAR 40' design. Atlas uses the old Intermountain tooling and has single and double door cars. MTH uses Viking roofs, appropriate for the Van Swerengen roads, not for others.
There were also several railroad designed 40 foot boxcars built in this era with distinctive appearances. Weaver made B&O wagon tops and Milwaukee Road rib side cars. Lionel makes the PRR X-31.
MTH and Pecos River have offered 50 foot steel side automobile box cars. MTH had fixed end doors. Pecos River offered plain ends or opening end doors. Both cars have 1990s level overall detail.
Pecos River also offered a 50' single door car, the only do do so.
1945-1960s
Boxcars of this era are of similar dimensions to those from 1937 but had new style ends and roof components and construction techniques.
Lionel, MTH and Weaver have all offered 40' boxcar models of the distinctive PS-1. Lionel sets the standard for PS-1 detail and comes with 6' or 8' doors.
Atlas offers a model of a 40' boxcar with commercially available roof and end components used by many car builders in the Trainman line.
Atlas and MTH offer very good models of the 50' PS-1 with a variety of door configurations.
The Lionel 50' double door boxcar is from this era. Some have opening end doors.
1960s-Today
Choices abound! Most cars built in this era are 50 or 60 footers. However, models are available from 40-80+ feet in length. Beware the bigger cars, they eat op a lot of real estate.
The Atlas Trainman 40' high-cube cars are a must if you have an appliance factory or warehouse on your layout.
The MTH 50' high-cube is a very detailed model of boxcars built in the 1990s by Gunderson.
Atlas and Lionel both make builder specific models of 60' boxcars.
Lionel is the king of monster boxcars with their 86' auto parts cars.
For info on other types of cars see the O Scale Freight Car Guide.
I have to say, I have two prototypically detailed Atlas 'O' M.L.S. box cars with problems.
The older 40' steel reefer car had a disintegrating ladder problem of which I was able to find good replacement parts!
The other is a newer 50' type, which when gently touched had a stirrup step, never mind break off, but flew off!!!!!!!
Make the UNITED STATES of AMERICA GREAT again and manufacture here!!!!
YES! There will be problems, but NOT as much, as now!!!!!
Ralph
RJL posted:In my opinion Atlas 'O' Master Line Series and older Atlas 'O' Trainman are great.
Master Line is very near prototypical in all detailing, but are very pricy now-a-dayS!
Trainman, for the most part, was near prototypical in all detailing on their older items.
Now, newer Trainman items miss the mark regarding close to prototypical detailing! I don't know who is goofing up the modeling for Atlas 'O' Trainman newer goods?
The good thing with older and newer Trainman items are that the prices are reasonable.
Ralph
RJL,
I've seen that Lionel's boxcars which have the same detail as Atlas O are $90 before shipping and the Atlas O cars are $70-$75. I'd consider Atlas O to be a fair price considering what Lionel charges.
I have several atlas master cars. No real issues. Picked most of em up for under 40 bucks on dabay. Fragle parts are not a issue for me. If it breaks I upgrade to brass parts. I have never had issues putting kadees on them either. Takes a little time but no big deal. Have seen several MTH cars at hobby shops around me and I don't care for em. Just a personal choice. The Lionel cars are very nice. Had my eyes on the 86' cars for a bit.
Ted Hikel posted:Mike Owen
You didn't mention the era that you are modeling. That and a home road or favorite road names would be helpful in narrowing down sugestions. There have been over 40 different boxcar models offered in O scale in the last 20 years. Atlas, Lionel and MTH continue to offer new product runs from time to time while their older car as well as those by Crown, Pecos River and Weaver are available as new old stock and used items.
Keep in mind that boxcars typically enjoy about a 40 year service life so wood side box cars from the 1920s could be found behind second generation diesels in the 1960s. Today the cars built for the 1970s box car boom are reaching the end of their lives, a situation posing a problem for remaining boxcar shippers like paper mills.
Here are a few general observations about the big three:
Atlas has offered more different boxcar models than any other manufacturer. As others have said, Atlas Masterline models are well detailed but may be fragile. Be sure to place them back in the box with the B end (hand brake) on the right and you will avoid most damage. Masterline models tend to be heavy, about 19-20 ounces for a 40 foot box car. Trainman models are less expensive and less detailed. They are also lighter, close to the NMRA recommended 15 ounces.
Since 2000 Lionel has produced some very good boxcar models. They have the best 40 foot PS-1 model out there. They also have some nicely done large boxcars based on 1960s and 70s prototypes. Weights are inconsistent. Models based on older tooling lack the detail of newer models and are equivalent to the Atlas Trainman line.
MTH is second only to Atlas in the number of differently tooled boxcar models available. Those produced from 1990s tooling are similar in detail level to the Atlas trainman line. The MTH boxcars tooled in the last 10-12 years have a very high level of detail and are more durable that some of the competitively detailed models. Weights are very consistent. An MTH 40 foot boxcar will weigh 17 ounces regardless of prototype.
Some favorites by era,
1918-1936:
Cars of this era tended to be smaller than those that followed and may fit in with both O scale and traditional sized trains. They are great for scale modeling in limited space.
Atlas, Lionel and MTH all make models of the USRA 40' double sheathed boxcar. MTH has good overall detail and the best rendering of the wood sides. Atlas offers as delivered Andrews trucks.
Atlas and MTH both offer very good models of the single sheathed USRA boxcar. Again, Atlas offers as delivered Andrews trucks.
Crown and Weaver offered boxcars that shared early 1930s style ends and roofs with single sheathed wood sides or steel sides and single or double doors.
Every railroad should have at least one PRR X-29 on the line. Atlas makes them.
Atlas Trainman 50' single sheathed wood side automobile boxcars are based on a late 1920s Pullman prototype. They model the monster size cars of the day and are good stand-ins for any single sheathed 50' automobile car of the late steam to diesel era.
1937-1942:
These boxcars used heights and widths previously found only on automobile boxcars. They are what many modelers now think of as standard size.
Atlas and MTH both offer models of the ubiquitous 1937 AAR 40' design. Atlas uses the old Intermountain tooling and has single and double door cars. MTH uses Viking roofs, appropriate for the Van Swerengen roads, not for others.
There were also several railroad designed 40 foot boxcars built in this era with distinctive appearances. Weaver made B&O wagon tops and Milwaukee Road rib side cars. Lionel makes the PRR X-31.
MTH and Pecos River have offered 50 foot steel side automobile box cars. MTH had fixed end doors. Pecos River offered plain ends or opening end doors. Both cars have 1990s level overall detail.
Pecos River also offered a 50' single door car, the only do do so.
1945-1960s
Boxcars of this era are of similar dimensions to those from 1937 but had new style ends and roof components and construction techniques.
Lionel, MTH and Weaver have all offered 40' boxcar models of the distinctive PS-1. Lionel sets the standard for PS-1 detail and comes with 6' or 8' doors.
Atlas offers a model of a 40' boxcar with commercially available roof and end components used by many car builders in the Trainman line.
Atlas and MTH offer very good models of the 50' PS-1 with a variety of door configurations.
The Lionel 50' double door boxcar is from this era. Some have opening end doors.
1960s-Today
Choices abound! Most cars built in this era are 50 or 60 footers. However, models are available from 40-80+ feet in length. Beware the bigger cars, they eat op a lot of real estate.
The Atlas Trainman 40' high-cube cars are a must if you have an appliance factory or warehouse on your layout.
The MTH 50' high-cube is a very detailed model of boxcars built in the 1990s by Gunderson.
Atlas and Lionel both make builder specific models of 60' boxcars.
Lionel is the king of monster boxcars with their 86' auto parts cars.
For info on other types of cars see the O Scale Freight Car Guide.
Ted - thanks so much for this well detailed information!! This is most helpful information!
Just received another MTH Premier PS-1. This design is the latest and best in O. Beautiful engineering and weight underneath the car! Metal details, easy assembly, hidden un-couplers and more. I wish this design would become the standard on all cars. I rate this the best along with Lionel’s PS series cars. Now if we could only get them to start offering 40’ & 50’ combination door cars, that would complete the box car line up.
The MTH 50' Hy Cubes are very well done and a number of them are in prototypically correct paint schemes, they are slightly undersize in both height and width but convert nicely to 2 rail and blend in well with Atlas and Weaver cars. These are the only MTH cars I own all other cars are Atlas and a few brass centerflow hoppers. At the current pricing the Atlas Masterline cars are approaching older brass car pricing, I believe as long as their newest offerings are at Trinity level detailing they will continue to sell well, JMO
Intermountain set the standard some 25 years ago. You can still find their kits and assembled cars on the secondary market. Do youself a favor and get one to compare to what is being offered today. Atlas bought the Intermountain O scale line. They strengthened many of the separately applied detail parts replacing delicate plastic with metal. I run my Intermountan cars but you have to be careful handling them.
Intermountain made PS1 and 1937 ARR boxcars.
Pete
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