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Post by stevewagner on Feb 5, 2016 6:05:20 GMT -8
One new Master series (highly detailed, with wire grab irons) model not included in the new catalog issued by Atlas at the end of January but announced at West Springfield on a printed page taped to a wall is an FMC-built 50-foot boxcar of 5347 cu. ft. capacity. Paint schemes shown are Apalachicola Northern (yellow with blue lettering and blue and silver herald), Chicago & North Western (brown “plain Jane” with no name or herald), Delta Valley & Southern (orange), Georgia Ports Authority / Savannah State Docks (blue and white with multicolored signal flags), Mississippi Export (yellow with black lettering and white and black map herald), New Orleans Public Belt (orange with white, black and red belt herald) and Providence & Worcester (red or red-orange with white door). This seems a rather strange choice for a new model, because Athearn made a very satisfactory model of what I’m almost sure is the same car type a few years ago, including at least two cars (AN and P&W) wearing the same paint schemes. An Atlas staffer said the run would be formally announced in the catalog to be issued in July.
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Post by atsfan on Feb 5, 2016 7:20:02 GMT -8
If is announced in July it will arrive summer of 2017.
I wonder how strong the pent up demand is for an another $40+ 50 foot boxcar is.
I have the Mississippi Export cars already for example.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Feb 5, 2016 7:48:56 GMT -8
A person could wonder if FMC made a plug door 5347. As opposed to the slider on the Athearn.
Ed
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Post by dti406 on Feb 5, 2016 8:05:14 GMT -8
How can Athearn's be satisfactory, when it is just the warmed over MDC car that is a foot too wide?
Rick J
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Post by mkulak on Feb 5, 2016 8:13:29 GMT -8
The model was actually anounced at Trainfest. If I can find the picture of the announcement sheet I will try and post it later. While I welcome any new freight car at this point Atlas is just re-hashing another car already made for a higher price. Yes, the Athearn/MDC does have it's flaws but I don't think many people will be dumping them for this model. The worst part will be as soon as they get past all the correct paint schemes it will be foobie city for this car as well.
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Post by stevewagner on Feb 5, 2016 8:30:24 GMT -8
Rick J, this is the first time I'd heard that the Athearn FMC 50' 5347 boxcar was too wide. I'd heard that long ago about Athearn's Pullman-Standard 50' 5344 boxcar, which the firm first released as kits and later as RTR. Are you sure the Athearn FMC 5347 is also too wide?
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Post by dti406 on Feb 5, 2016 8:58:15 GMT -8
Rick J, this is the first time I'd heard that the Athearn FMC 50' 5347 boxcar was too wide. I'd heard that long ago about Athearn's Pullman-Standard 50' 5344 boxcar, which the firm first released as kits and later as RTR. Are you sure the Athearn FMC 5347 is also too wide? Steve, I was incorrect, I had thought the Athearn Car was the old MDC car, which was 1' too wide. But in checking on the MFCL list Athearn did have new tooling for the FMC 5347 while the MDC car was some other size car. There was much discussion that the car was too tall, but it was being compared to a 5277 which was shorter than the 5347. Gets rather confusing sometimes. Rick J
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Post by stevewagner on Feb 5, 2016 9:17:39 GMT -8
Rick J, thanks very much. Years ago I actually bought some of the Athearn FMC 5347 models to replace older and somewhat cruder MDC Roundhouse ones (notably Bath & Hammondsport and, I think, Maine Central in Harvest Gold with Pine Green graphics.
I do have the Athearn AN and P&W FMC 5347's, plus quite a few more in paint schemes not listed in the announcement for the new Atlas model. I have the same billboard New Orleans Public Belt livery on an Athearn FMC-built plug door car. The new Atlas car I'm most likely to try to get is the Georgia Ports Authority / Savannah State Docks one. (Since, if I'm remembering right, the three signal flags are all different, they presumably stand for GPA rather than SSD).
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Tom
Full Member
Posts: 225
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Post by Tom on Feb 5, 2016 11:09:50 GMT -8
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Post by PennCentral on Feb 5, 2016 13:09:06 GMT -8
So take a look at the car that Atlas displayed at Trainfest and then take a look at the Athearn car here: www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH96620Can anyone spot the glaringly obvious difference? AFAIK or remember, the version Atlas is doing has not been done in plastic. So, yes, it is another whatever price 50' boxcar, but it's a DIFFERENT 50' boxcar. Jason C
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Post by atsfan on Feb 5, 2016 13:40:24 GMT -8
I last counted over 180 50 Foot Boxcars I have. Many are old Athearn etc, or Roundhouse. But all usable and serviceable. The newer Athearn car is perfectly suitable for my needs.
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Post by roadkill on Feb 5, 2016 13:41:09 GMT -8
Hmmmmm... what's different... hmmmmmm
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Post by atsfan on Feb 5, 2016 13:47:01 GMT -8
Hmmmmm... what's different... hmmmmmm I guess the price per door?
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Post by roadkill on Feb 5, 2016 13:49:13 GMT -8
Hmmmmm... what's different... hmmmmmm I guess the price per door? THAT'S IT!!!
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Post by drolsen on Feb 5, 2016 13:51:39 GMT -8
No, Atlas is in fact producing a model of the same FMC 5347 box car that the Athearn model represents. However, this is actually the second FMC 5347 that they have announced, with the first being the double sliding door version of the car. I think the double door car was a logical follow-on to their Plate B single and double door cars (both offset and centered double doors, by the way). So this is actually the fifth FMC 50' box car variation in their line. I think Atlas probably just decided that as long as they were doing all the other variations, they might as well offer this one too (using interchangeable sides on their mold with the existing floor, ends, and roof that they already produced).
The Plate B cars are fantastic, and I understand that the Plate C cars are being tooled by the same guy (who also did the Intermountain PS 5277, FMC 5283, PCF R-70-20, and other excellent models). The main differences from the Athearn model will be separate doors (to allow for different types of sliding doors), separate door tracks, and all the beautiful underbody details that their Plate B cars have (the Athearn underbody is very basic). If those additional details don't appeal to you, the Athearn version is still a great model. I like that kind of detail and will probably sell my Athearn cars in favor of the Atlas model.
Dave
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Post by roadkill on Feb 5, 2016 13:57:09 GMT -8
That Atlas car does look quite nice, just too new for me . Was there a combination door version of that car?
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Post by mkulak on Feb 5, 2016 14:05:06 GMT -8
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Post by drolsen on Feb 5, 2016 14:28:48 GMT -8
Was there a combination door version of that car? The combo door is the FMC "ABOX" offered by ExactRail and the older Athearn (upgraded MDC tooling). The prototype is 5277 cuft, so I believe it's slightly shorter in height than the 5347, but I'd need to look that up. Dave
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Post by fiend540 on Feb 5, 2016 15:04:40 GMT -8
I last counted over 180 50 Foot Boxcars I have. Many are old Athearn etc, or Roundhouse. But all usable and serviceable. The newer Athearn car is perfectly suitable for my needs. We have what 6 or 7 different sd40-2s that are perfectly suitable for most people's needs, yet you are constantly harping for a newer high detailed version. Just because YOU don't need another 50' boxcar doesn't mean the rest of us don't need/want them.
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Post by atsfan on Feb 5, 2016 15:57:19 GMT -8
I last counted over 180 50 Foot Boxcars I have. Many are old Athearn etc, or Roundhouse. But all usable and serviceable. The newer Athearn car is perfectly suitable for my needs. We have what 6 or 7 different sd40-2s that are perfectly suitable for most people's needs, yet you are constantly harping for a newer high detailed version. Just because YOU don't need another 50' boxcar doesn't mean the rest of us don't need/want them. Huh? Where did I say one word about you or "the rest of us"? I didn't. I am talking about ME. You talk about YOU. That is how things work in writing. Feel free to stock up all you want to. It is a free country to do so, or not to. Again, that is how it works.
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Post by fiend540 on Feb 5, 2016 17:52:12 GMT -8
We have what 6 or 7 different sd40-2s that are perfectly suitable for most people's needs, yet you are constantly harping for a newer high detailed version. Just because YOU don't need another 50' boxcar doesn't mean the rest of us don't need/want them. Huh? Where did I say one word about you or "the rest of us"? I didn't. I am talking about ME. You talk about YOU. That is how things work in writing. Feel free to stock up all you want to. It is a free country to do so, or not to. Again, that is how it works. Oh so your jab at the assumed market price, or the demand for a 50' boxcar was just you way of saying you aren't interested The only thing more annoying than you constantly posting about a sd40-2, is you constantly posting about how you aren't going to buy xxx product. No one cares but you, instead of telling us just skip the thread man its what all of us do when some product doesn't interest us.
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Post by atsfan on Feb 5, 2016 18:13:08 GMT -8
Huh? Where did I say one word about you or "the rest of us"? I didn't. I am talking about ME. You talk about YOU. That is how things work in writing. Feel free to stock up all you want to. It is a free country to do so, or not to. Again, that is how it works. Oh so your jab at the assumed market price, or the demand for a 50' boxcar was just you way of saying you aren't interested The only thing more annoying than you constantly posting about a sd40-2, is you constantly posting about how you aren't going to buy xxx product. No one cares but you, instead of telling us just skip the thread man its what all of us do when some product doesn't interest us. Well Fiend you are most pleasant and cordial.
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Post by NS4122 on Feb 5, 2016 19:12:31 GMT -8
What is really puzzling is the clamoring for a "Genesis Quality" SD40-2 to pull old Athearn Blue Box and Roundhouse Boxcars.
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 5, 2016 19:43:17 GMT -8
What is really puzzling is the clamoring for a "Genesis Quality" SD40-2 to pull old Athearn Blue Box and Roundhouse Boxcars. There is a contingent that believes the locomotives and the first few cars are the only thing that matters, so whatever follows that is essentially filler. At least that's how I understand it. I must admit it doesn't make much sense to me.
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Post by jbilbrey on Feb 5, 2016 21:41:34 GMT -8
What is really puzzling is the clamoring for a "Genesis Quality" SD40-2 to pull old Athearn Blue Box and Roundhouse Boxcars. There is a contingent that believes the locomotives and the first few cars are the only thing that matters, so whatever follows that is essentially filler. At least that's how I understand it. I must admit it doesn't make much sense to me. I've that theory as well but thought [and applied] it to unit trains on public layouts. To me, the theory falls flat on smaller home layouts where everything is scrutinized. Back on topic, I bought one of the new 5077 boxcars earlier today at a LHS and welcome just about any new freight car done to that level. The Athearn FMC car was okay, but the tooling is now at least a decade old. I dug my example out and quickly realized that details such as the handrails for the crossover platform, cut levers, brake-rigging and plumbing, etc. were missing. Yes, I can [and probably will] add these details if I keep it. But, the Athearn car won't keep me from getting an Atlas car down the road. James Bilbrey LaVergne,TN
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Post by bncascadegreen on Feb 5, 2016 23:28:49 GMT -8
I need hi/cube boxcars 50 foot Gundersons,Pulman Standard you know 70,80,90s versions. As far as SD40-2s go yeah I'm waiting for a top notch up brass quality models Athearns I gave a few Blue box a RTR.. Not great lookers that's why I don't have anyone else's especially Intemountains..they Are junk to me
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Post by wp8thsub on Feb 6, 2016 7:24:03 GMT -8
What is really puzzling is the clamoring for a "Genesis Quality" SD40-2 to pull old Athearn Blue Box and Roundhouse Boxcars. There is a contingent that believes the locomotives and the first few cars are the only thing that matters, so whatever follows that is essentially filler. At least that's how I understand it. I must admit it doesn't make much sense to me. This makes me think of a layout I visited where the owner used mostly blue box quality cars, running on Atlas code 100 track, but equipped everything with Sergent couplers because he wanted the extra realism. I still can't figure that out.
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 6, 2016 7:35:35 GMT -8
This makes me think of a layout I visited where the owner used mostly blue box quality cars, running on Atlas code 100 track, but equipped everything with Sergent couplers because he wanted the extra realism. I still can't figure that out. That is hilarious!
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Feb 6, 2016 8:17:56 GMT -8
What is really puzzling is the clamoring for a "Genesis Quality" SD40-2 to pull old Athearn Blue Box and Roundhouse Boxcars. There is a contingent that believes the locomotives and the first few cars are the only thing that matters, so whatever follows that is essentially filler. At least that's how I understand it. I must admit it doesn't make much sense to me. The way I and most of my friends practice the hobby the train is just another, albeit moving, part of the scenery that helps us in conducting operations of trains as close as possible to how the prototype rail roads conduct business. Trains are moved along the layout with set consists of cars that are transferred from customers on the layout, taken to yards where trains are made up and broken down and moved along the railroad. Over the course of the 'day' 15-25 20 to 30 car or more trains move along the railroad to and from staging, yards, customers or transfer points with other railroads. Trains operate by timetable and train orders on 2 of the layouts I operate on the other is fully signalled with CTC mail lines and 'dark' branch lines. We don't get to fixated on the fact that the 10,000 gallon tank car of petroleum product going to the Texaco bulk plant at South Fork is a $5 athearn blue box 'looks like' car or a $40 Walthers or Intermountain car with all the brake rods on the bottom. None of the cars really have oil in them, none of the box cars coming from Joe's Screw works has a single box of screws in it. After all the biggest layouts are a total compromise in distance, scale sized buildings and functioning switch mechanism to name but a couple of compromises. Nice looking and sounding motive power is a plus, if it can pull a train it makes little difference if the handrails are a scale 4" or not nor how tall the third door back from the fireman's side of the body. We do want a locomotive that looks like a real locomotive, WE don't want them to break. We like cars that roll well, uncouple or stay coupled as needed and don't fall apart if they get handled a bit. We enjoy our hobby that way. Makes terrific sense to us the way we operate. And it makes sense to me that you like things like you do. BTW All three layouts I operate are well known, long standing examples that have populated the model magazines for some time. 2 of them are currently in the Feb RMC. Bruce Chubb's Sunset Valley Oregon System and Jack Ozanich's Atlantic Great Eastern. The third, Andy Keeney's Nashville Road is also a timetable and train order operation. Tony K has a segment and photo from Andy's railroad in his latest construction book.
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Post by fr8kar on Feb 6, 2016 8:52:10 GMT -8
There is a contingent that believes the locomotives and the first few cars are the only thing that matters, so whatever follows that is essentially filler. At least that's how I understand it. I must admit it doesn't make much sense to me. The way I and most of my friends practice the hobby the train is just another, albeit moving, part of the scenery that helps us in conducting operations of trains as close as possible to how the prototype rail roads conduct business. Trains are moved along the layout with set consists of cars that are transferred from customers on the layout, taken to yards where trains are made up and broken down and moved along the railroad. Over the course of the 'day' 15-25 20 to 30 car or more trains move along the railroad to and from staging, yards, customers or transfer points with other railroads. Trains operate by timetable and train orders on 2 of the layouts I operate on the other is fully signalled with CTC mail lines and 'dark' branch lines. We don't get to fixated on the fact that the 10,000 gallon tank car of petroleum product going to the Texaco bulk plant at South Fork is a $5 athearn blue box 'looks like' car or a $40 Walthers or Intermountain car with all the brake rods on the bottom. None of the cars really have oil in them, none of the box cars coming from Joe's Screw works has a single box of screws in it. After all the biggest layouts are a total compromise in distance, scale sized buildings and functioning switch mechanism to name but a couple of compromises. Nice looking and sounding motive power is a plus, if it can pull a train it makes little difference if the handrails are a scale 4" or not nor how tall the third door back from the fireman's side of the body. We do want a locomotive that looks like a real locomotive, WE don't want them to break. We like cars that roll well, uncouple or stay coupled as needed and don't fall apart if they get handled a bit. We enjoy our hobby that way. Makes terrific sense to us the way we operate. And it makes sense to me that you like things like you do. BTW All three layouts I operate are well known, long standing examples that have populated the model magazines for some time. 2 of them are currently in the Feb RMC. Bruce Chubb's Sunset Valley Oregon System and Jack Ozanich's Atlantic Great Eastern. The third, Andy Keeney's Nashville Road is also a timetable and train order operation. Tony K has a segment and photo from Andy's railroad in his latest construction book. I get what you're saying. If operating is the primary function of the layout, the rolling stock and locomotives should operate well and be durable first and foremost. And if you want a little more detail on top of that, cool. Or a whole lot more detail. That's cool, too. What I don't get is the different levels of detail, especially within a train, and especially assigned places within the train. That implies the train is a static entity. Maybe that's ok for unit trains, which are boring to operate, unless you're modeling the loading/unloading operation or setting out a bad order, but for anything else why do it more than once? I guess I get enough of that nonsense at work. I was on a local for awhile and we served the same customers and often hauled the same cars in more or less captive service. We'd block out the cars the same way so it was kind of repetitive, but it was never the same. The train list was always different. So I understand the reason behind modeling a regular assigned job, but running the exact same train to nowhere, what's the point? For my money, I want the train that operates reliably, but I want detailed equipment and I don't mind the risk that fragile details pose. I want any car to be able to be the focus of a photo or an operation process, like a pickup, setout or bad order. Same with the locomotives. It means I have a smaller fleet than most, but that's ok. I also like to mix and mingle equipment with my friends.
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