Speaking of Centerbeam cars, Walthers era?

[riogrande]

I have around 4 of the Walthers center beams, most of which I got back when they were first available. When did those first hit the rails in real life?

I originally bought two 3 packs, the red ones (Hampton Lumber I think) and a set of yellow TTX. As it turns out, the QAQC was pretty poor on those with gouges where the sprue's were removed so I got rid 2 TTX and 1 of the red Hampton's. Those were all opera window centerbeam flat cars. IIRC, there was an article on the Walthers cars comparing them to the prototype in Model Railroading or Rail Model Journal 10 or 12 years ago. I later added on of the versions with the vertical braces painted for UP.

Someone was asking on the MCL list and another forum what loads would fit the Atlas 73' center partition flat car, I would guess the Walthers plastic wrapped lumber loads would fit if the car is the same length. Anyone used those? Those are the two piece plastic "clam shell" style loads that are printed for various lumber companies on the sides.

[upcsx]

Yes the Walthers load will fit the Atlas centerbeam.

[buffalobill]

Rio: The 63' Thrall car was build from 1977 to the mid 1980's. The longer cars came out in, I think, 1987 or 1988. Both Thrall and Gunderson did different versions of the 73' car. Both makers had full partition cars. The Gunderson car had an egg shaped hole in the partition instead of the Thrall cars opera window. Many of the car names Walthers did were paint schemes that were actually applied to Gunderson cars leased from Greenbrier Leasing, Gunderson's parent company. But Walthers applied them to their Thrall model.
It's still a decent model, even though its getting up there in age.

Bill

[riogrande]

I think someone said 1985 for the Walthers centerbeam but that was on TrainOrders. 1987 still fits for me as my era lasts up until 1990 or so.

[buffalobill]

Rio: You could be right on the Thrall cars. The date I gave was more for the Gunderson Design, which I am more familar with. Your Hampton Lumber cars were Gunderson cars in real life. Most of the TTX cars were the Thrall design.

Bill

[riogrande]

The only thing about my TTX is that if it has the TTX speed logo, that didn't start being applied until around summer 1991 from what I understand, ao anymore I avoid rolling stock with that logo, but one of my Walthers centerbeams has that logo IIRC. Back in the 90's I did some collecting with that logo and still have some rolling stock marked like that.