Your Opinion on Weaver Freight cars

The latest ones are great.  I have piggyback trailers and boxcars too.

i have several and the latter one's are really nice. not brass quality but if you need fillers they do a great job and the prices are low. it all depends on the detail level you are looking for .

Detail is irrelevant to me. Price is the concern. I was going to buy some on a  "banned" website. What you guys have said is encouraging me to go that road. Thank you.

Nickstrains

i have several of their reefers and flat cars with loads.  nice stuff. occasionally will find a weak coupler, but that is easily remedied.

I have a lot of their rolling stock and one engine. The quality is as good if not better than other manufactures until you get to brass models. I also run some of their passenger cars with no problems.

  Customer service is a notch above the others and they have a good product line.

Douglas

New question, are their "Ultra Line" freight cars 1:48 scale or "semi-scale?"

I have quite few Weaver Ultra Line freight cars, and the "bang for the buck" is unbelievable. Very good molded detail, and the printing on them is really good. Plus, they're relatively easy to convert to 2R.

My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that I find them rather light, so I usually add some weight. 

They're reasonably priced new, but you can typically pick them up used for $20 and I wouldn't hesitate to do so.

Fred

I'm pretty sure that virtually EVERYTHING that Weaver makes & sells is 1:48 SCALE. I have a number of their "limited run" freight cars, such as the B&O wagon top boxcars, Milwaukee Road ribbed side boxcars, and the PRR large covered hopper cars, and all are truly spectacular. My only issue with the Weaver boxcars, over the years, has been that they are too light in weight, thus I add lead weight to the inside.

Most Weaver freight cars are sold new with plastic trucks. It will likely cost at least 10 bucks to upgrade to their metal trucks. Base your value on whether they have plastic or metal trucks.

Pete

Weaver freight cars are all 1:48 scale as far as I know, and I think are also based on real prototypes as opposed to "looks like".   For example, the "steel side" boxcar is a model of at 1923 ARA boxcar which is about the same size as a PRR X29 but different rivets patterns and some other details.   The PS-1 boxcar is a model of the PS-1.    All the hoppers are based on prototypes too.   The old 2-bay unfortunately was based on a modern 2-bay welded car that was used extensively by the L&N.   Not sure how many other roads had.    

They have done some unique "gold edition" or whatever they call it cars also that have been mentioned, the B&O wagon-top boxcar for one is one of the best models of this car including brass made.   The mounting of the doors and door channels are pretty much correct.   Many of the brass versions have the door cut into the ribs which it incorrect I think.    The Pennsy H30a covered hopper is a simple gorgeous car and the Milwaukee ribbed side boxcar is well done also.

The Ultra line cars have molded on hand grabs and details as opposed to separately applied parts as much of the newer MTH Premier stuff.   However, the price reflects this.

PS: the Weaver Outside braced Boxcar is based on a prototype too.    It is not the USRA car which Atlas O modeled.   It is slightly more modern.   There was an article in Railroad Model Craftsman some years ago and it described the prototype for this car.   At a minimum, it was built for some Western roads.

Know what you are buying. There was a stretch where Weaver cars were sold with not only plastic trucks, but plastic wheels and axles also. That is what the lowest priced Weaver cars you see will be. Add at least the price of 4 new metal wheelsets to those ultra-bargain prices.

Jim

Weaver gave up on the plastic 3-Rail trucks some years ago, due to all the "issues" with the wheel sets furnished with those plastic trucks. I'm pretty sure that ALL their 3-Rail products now come with diecast trucks.

I have many Weaver freight cars, all with the die-cast trucks (the plastic trucks are no longer available) and every locomotive that they produced in the Boston & Maine livery. All of their products are 1/4" to the foot, well made, mostly in Pennsylvania, with excellent graphics. The level of detail is not equal to the top of the line competition, except for the steam locomotives, but are priced accordingly and can be handled by children as well as adults. Their latest B&M steamer is as detailed and as well constructed as any O gauge locomotive on the market.

I have a few of their boxcars and am very happy with them.

I wish I had started with Weaver rather than buying non scale cars when I came to O from HO.

I do rework most of them....paint the frame, add weights and when I buy used cars most corner steps need replaced. GREAT looking cars.

Custom painted for Ashalnd Chemical. Dad worked for Ashland.

Reworked and weathered Weaver box.

I have one and it works well with new trucks.  Not as much detail as MTH, Lionel, and Atlas but a good value for the money.

Art 

I agree with most of the thoughts expressed here on the Weaver cars. I recently bought some of the Milwaukee Road ribbed boxcars and they run smoothly, are nicely scaled, and have separately applied grabs, ladders, brake staffs, roofwalks, etc. I think that all Weaver cars now come with diecast sprung trucks that couple easily. They are made in the USA which is a big plus in my book. The paint and lettering is excellent. They may ride a bit too high, though, which I can over-look but other manufactures do this occasionally, also. They are a great value in my mind.

"  Is their quality comparable to MTH premier? Should I avoid them, or are they a great deal? "

    I've built as lot of Weaver cars over the years and I think they are a great value. They can be bought on ebay at quite reasonable prices and make great starting points for detailing projects. Here's a Weaver covered hopper I cut down to make a 2 bay cement car and a Weaver 50 foot boxcar I cut down to 40 feet for an SP copper service car...DaveB 

They are heck of a lot easier to convert to kadee couplers than MTH, and Weaver will even weather them for you if you order direct from them.

Their freight cars are fantastic. We ran them on our layout for several years. Their PS-2 hoppers were always my favorite. You will not be sorry, if you buy their freight cars.

I like Weaver rolling stock.  As someone said earlier, they are light.  Do not sneeze near the layout.  Seriously I would recommend adding weight to the cars.  For my 2 rail switching layout I add one ounce per inch of car, the 3 rail cars get about half of that. If you do not weight them there is a chance they will pick a switch or de-rail if included in a longer consist.  Simple inexpensive 1 ounce or 2 ounce fishing weights suffice.  

I've bought Weaver cars for more than 20 years. I like them quite a bit. The earlier ones were sold either as kits (no trucks and couplers) or with plastic trucks, couplers, and wheels. They entered the three-rail RTR market in the late 1980's/early 1990's with hi-rail wheels and couplers on rolling stock.

The early ones had scale-sized stirrups which were frequently casualties of derailments or rough handling. The later ones have thicker stirrups.

Weight-wise, Weaver cars for the most part have been too light. I think that's a carry-over from when they were semi-kits since the trucks chosen influenced the final weight of the car. Even the newer ones with the weights are often too light. For example, I just weighted four ACF hoppers; two had weights and were four ounces underweight; two didn't have weights and were six ounces underweight. This was with plastic trucks and Intermountain steel 2-rail wheels and Kadee 805's installed. Flat cars are problematic because there's no place to hide the weights other than sticking them under the car -- I'd suggest a properly weighted load. I'd also recommend obtaining a postal scale and a supply stick-on automotive wheel weights.

Every Weaver car I've seen has been scale sized with the Crown Model Products cars being scale sized models of smaller prototypes.

Operationally, despite (or maybe because of) the simple design of their plastic equalized trucks, they roll and track very well once properly weighted.

Weaver tends to decorate for smaller roads and private labels now, so you can add some cars to your roster that are road neutral. They also do a lot of special runs which are all over the place from various organizations and retailers.

Two very nice newer cars are the new 50-foot piggyback flat car with trailer and the 57-foot mechanical reefer. The reefer goes back a few years and at one time was available with sound. The flat is very nice, though the working ramps are a bit on the thick side because they're plastic (if I start to care that much I'll make replacements). Some have been around for years like the PS-2 hoppers and ACF 4-bay Centerflow hoppers -- both of which still compare well with offerings from other manufacturers (Weaver was ahead of the curve).

They're all over eBay at varying prices and configurations (I'm watching four right now). The hot ticket is to get them without the trucks inexpensively and put a good set of die cast trucks on them. For 2-rail, a good match is Athearn plastic trucks and installing Intermountain steel wheels.

Apparently Beth has a lot of old Weaver stock then. 

Weaver are the majority of my fleet, I like the Delrin trucks and wheels, they roll easy and quiet. The Delrin couples are not so good. I use Kadees. Not using the claw lowers the car where it should be, and you don't need shims or a drill to mount the Kadee. I don't mind weighting my own cars.

Clem 

The older Weaver molds (the regular ARA boxcars, single-sheathed boxcars, woodside reefers, etc.) do not have a lot of externally applied detail; more of it is molded in. They are nicely decorated, available in a bigger variety of road names than anybody else's rolling stock, and are quite rugged, which is important if you are taking trains to a club or museum to run them. They are good value for money, especially if you are getting them on the secondary market. 

The newer molds, such as the TOFC's, the B&O wagontop boxcars and the Milwaukee Road ribside boxcars, have separately applied detail and are up the the standard of the better Lionel and MTH Premier cars. The wagontops offer about ten different paint and door variations. The Milwaukee Road cars are made with even more variations, maybe 15, and they are made in USA except for the trucks. I have a lot of these and am very happy with them. 

Weavers are my favorite cars when I feel like running scale, though I have only boxcars and a caboose.

Weaver makes excellent product, and a good percentage of it is made in the U.S.A..

I run it mixed in with MTH Premier, Lionel Standard O and Atlas cars and they all work well together.

Andy

Nick,
  Weaver is a fantastic US company, it all depends on how much money you want to spend, the Military Rolling stock is simply fantastic, the Masonic train cars are very detailed but very delicate, Weaver has many different levels of quality to pick from.  Lots of their rolling stock is produced here in Pa and, I have one of the last engines made in the USA.  My Masonic train is one of my Weaver favorites, soon as I get my money together, I am slated to purchase another one to run, double header Masonic trains.
PCRR/Dave

The Weaver Masonic Train


The Short version

The Weaver Ultra line cars are about equivalent in Detail to the Atlas O Trainman line.    Remember the Weaver PS1 boxcar is a model of a Welded car introduced by Pullman-Standard, I think in the early 50s or late 40s.    the Atlas O trainman boxcar is a model of a riveted car of about the same vintage, but has different style relief on the sides because of the rivets.    The detail level is about the same.

I have 276 two, three, and four bay Weaver coal cars.

I have had no problems with any of them.

...keep the rails polished...

276??

Wow, you must like coal hoppers!

I have a bunch of Weavers including 100 ton ACF's, 70 ton hoppers, PS-2's, CD hoppers, bulkhead and regular flats and boxcars.

All great, and for the most part the plastic trucks and couplers don't bother me.

I agree with the observation that most all need weighting to make them track properly.

The fact they are made in the USA is a big plus; and they will do custom runs if the quantity is big enough. Petersen Supply in Oregon has done many custom runs with Weaver.

Another plus is they have quite a good selection of custom loads designed to perfectly fit their various flatcars.

Good bang for the buck in my book.

Rod

Another nice feature is that many of their cars are made with different car numbers, so you can have multiple units without duplicating numbers.

Most of my collection is Weaver. All rolling stock except for the wagon tops an H 30 covered hoppers are American made. Diesel locos are American made as well.

Don

I have about 8 Reading & Northern 4 bay High side hoppers with the blue ends and 4 with the orange ends.  Runs great and looks good.  Only wish they remake the orange ends U4920 if anyone is listening.  Been trying to find these for a few years now.

I bought these from a vendor at the 2 rail show in Strasburg last Saturday...He said they were Weavers but I cant tell one from another.

I just parked them on a siding until I can change the trucks. $25.00 for 3 cars I thought was a good price.

Personally I do not like Weaver freight cars. There is just something about them that turns me off. I think that some of them are well detailed and some are not, and I do not like plastic trucks. I also think that I should not have to add weight to a car once I purchased it. Now the last Weaver car I purchased was back a few years ago so things may have changed. I do like Weaver engines, and I really like the new steam engines that they are producing now.

All in all, it is what you like and what you want to run.