Roka models GATC tankcars

[unittrain]

Looks like Roka has some more tankcars in the works, the GATC 16K framed tankcar.

rokamodels.com/

[Mr. Trainiac]

Seems like a weird model to make. American Limited already makes the ATSF TK-N tank car, which is also a GATC car, and also 16,000 gallons on top of that. There can't be many differences between the two car types. Maybe the Roka model has some detail variations to make it appropriate for other railroads? Roka is offering a bunch of ATSF schemes; granted, they look like new color bands that American Limited hasn't done before, but now we have two small manufacturers offering models of the same cars.

Why tread the same path and overlap with American Limited? There are a million different types of specialized tank cars out there, between insulation, cubic capacity, heater coils, inlet/outlet gates; I'm sure you can find plenty of car classes that haven't been modeled before. I like that Roka is doing a 'modern' center-sill tank car though. 60's and 70's tank cars feel under-represented in the hobby market, but I wish they chose a tank car for a different cargo. We have plenty of fuel and petroluem tanks, we need more acid and chemical tanks.

I also noticed a few errors in their time period listings.

The MRL car has FRA reflective stripes, which are post-2004, so the model can't be in the 1987-2001 era. The same issue applies to the BN fire car.
rokamodels.com/products/mrl-100011-ho-scale-rtr-montana-rail-link-locomotive-lube-oil-gatc-tank-car-1987-to-2001
rokamodels.com/products/bn-973371-ho-scale-rtr-burlington-northern-seattle-fire-gatc-tank-car-with-battery-box-pump-and-hose-pre-2001

The BNSF fire cars have the 2005 swoosh logo. Again don't know why the year 1995 is being thrown around in the product name.
rokamodels.com/products/atsf-bnsf-189238-ho-scale-rtr-fire-suppression-water-gatc-tank-car-with-batery-box-pump-and-hose-post-1995

[edwardsutorik]

Maybe they're the same model.

Maybe Roka bought the mold/rights from American Limited.

Or maybe Roka already owned the mold/rights, and leased usage to American Limited.

Buncha maybes.


Ed

[sknorcal]

It appears that Bob Stears is a principal of both Roka and American Limited Models. I am guessing that he owns the GATC tank car tooling.

[Colin 't Hart]

May 18, 2024 19:34:24 GMT -8 sknorcal said:

It appears that Bob Stears is a principal of both Roka and American Limited Models. I am guessing that he owns the GATC tank car tooling.

American Limited Models was sold to San Juan Model Company a number of years ago. Bob Stears was indeed behind the tank cars (and possibly the Trinity covered hoppers too?) I seem to recall when that sale was announced that it explicitly mentioned the detail parts going to San Juan, while not mentioning what would happen with the RTR cars. I guess we're seeing that they are going over to Roka Models.

[drolsen]

May 18, 2024 19:34:24 GMT -8 sknorcal said:

It appears that Bob Stears is a principal of both Roka and American Limited Models. I am guessing that he owns the GATC tank car tooling.

Seems odd that the Roka page would say, “HO GATC Tank Cars available for the first time ever as prototypically accurate injected-molded RTR models,” if it’s the same model. It looks like they’re producing similar (identical?) paint schemes for the different Santa Fe variations.

Dave

[wagnersteve]

5/19/24, getting close to 1 p.m., EDT

Another interesting thread. Some of the CGW and CNW cars with CGW reporting marks tank cars are not specifically marked as for various nonrevenue purposes but I suspect they may in practice have been used for them.

[marknycfan]

Maybe, maybe, maybe...

[lvrr325]

I can still get plenty of the American Limited cars. Almost every one save a few part numbers, one being the BNSF fire cars. Most of them are available on their own website, too.

From what I am finding in searches the third run of them came March 2021. Articles say San Juan Model Co. produces the American Limited branded cars. But oddly on Roka's page they say "Roka is proud to offer the third run of our 16.000 gallon welded GATC tank cars..." I do not remember there being three total runs of ALM, just two.

I tend to agree it's likely the same model, some with a higher list price.