Cylindrical Canadian grain hoppers are definately at the top with the other assorted grain hoppers second. My collection is about 70% of these types of cars and I can't seem to not buy at least three of almost everything Intermountain puts out. "Hello, my name is Ron and I've been a hopperholic for about twenty five years now. Glad I found this meeting to discuss our addictions".
Possibly the same for me. I usually wouldn't list them first, but they're the main thing missing in US railroading from my perspective. (Canada's short on two things: Mallets and pre-widenose GE diesels.)
Tough one. Taken purely from the perspective of "model railroad rolling stock that I own" I'd have to say my favorite is generally unit coal cars and specifically the Atlas UFIX Coalveyors. They are outstanding models, a great value, and prototypically they make it possible to model the line and era that I really want to model. Without them it just really wouldn't be credible in my opinion. The fact that they got produced, by Atlas, at a reasonable price, and at such high quality is a small miracle. While the Coalveyors are my favorite, I feel I must list a few close runners-up: -Kato Coalporters -Atlas Corn Syrup cars -DI Maxi-III's -Trainworx Quad Hoppers -IM Trinity 5161's -IM 4750's -IM 4650's
My weaknesses are Intermodal (Maxi-III and IV's and Twinstack's) and Autoracks (any style...). I have way to many of both... Brian
Ok, ok, I admit it. I really like Atlas Beer Can shorties and 70 ton ore cars the most, followed closely by grain cars.
This is a tough question... I sort of like them all... but... there are some which I do have a weakness for. I've got consists for different eras... from old-time to modern... but prefer transition to pre Amtrak. Pre 1970's tank cars... particularly the more colorful ones from major oil refiners. Billboard reefers... wood or steel... again with those colorful graphics. Passenger cars... western roads primerily... prior to the Amtrak era (pre 1970). Any Rio Grande rolling stock (pre-1970). Although I've had to make a few exceptions to the pre- 1970's rule, due to the Tunnel Motors... F45/FP45 and a few other post 1970's engines.
Freight car red boxcars. Boring? No. Different heights, different doors, different construction. Steel sides, double-sheathed wood, single-sheathed wood. But mainly - the catchy slogans and logos from back when we had a couple hundred class 1 railroads competing. --Mike
Mine would be the AT&SF rebuilt steel reefers with the Map and Slogan schemes of the late 40's followed closely by the Caswell Gondolas and Stock cars. Big fan of express boxcars as well.
I would have to go with the six car SBB RABe EC Gothardo a beautiful piece of engineering and style. http://home.deds.nl/~jjv/archief%20foto%20van%20de%20maand/nov%202002/FvdM%20nov%202002.htm also known as the grey mouse due to the red cover fitted over the coupler Shaun
Covered hoppers, especially the Intermountain offerings (got the Frisco 6-pack!) Next would be the IM, MT, and some Athearn/MDC boxcars After that, the kaolin tankers from Atlas. Everything else is back in the pack (but not too far back). Since I model a secondary main in the 1970s, I have no intermodal cars, stack cars, or autoracks.
