Got an email this morning from Trainworx with this link: http://www.train-worx.com/11-3PS85.pdf First release are the first re-paints into yellow (service date of 11-73). Also UPS related 40' trailers Mark
Nice to finally see more TOFC on the market. Anyone know if these cars are still in service today? Also, there's no way from the illustrations that I could tell what couplers will be used or if they're going to be truck- or body-mounted...I hate this whole pre-order BS.
From: TRAINWORX from The N Scale Intermodal Store "Trailer Train TTX - 85' PS TOFC Flatcar - Trainworx RESERVE BY APRIL 30th - DUE AUGUST 2011. The car will be available in a fish belly version and straight sill version. These cars will come ready to run with body mounted Micro-Trains couplers and Fox Valley metal wheel sets. First run will be the Trailer Train yellow fish belly car in 6 road numbers. Part numbers 28545-(01-06). Pre orders due April 30, 2011"
Cool- the race is on. These cars or the BLMA spine cars. First one to actually hit the market gets my $$$. Jamie
SOooooooooooo...if my math is correct. :tb-nerd: 1 flat car $28.95 2 trailers $31.90 ______ $60.85 Per (1) complete unit. :tb-wacky: Just askin...thnxs :tb-smile: .
From when to when were these cars and trailers used? I am hoping it's too early for me To my knowledge these were out of service by 2003, by which time the logo of that big brown firm who doesn't want to be mentioned changed to the current one. Did these trailers have logos in real life? From my photographs, I've noticed most trailers these days don't have logos I'd say the ratio is about 40/60 logo to no-logo.
I do not have exact numbers but quite of few of these cars are in service, but most not in intermodal. They have been moved to TTYX pairs for wind towers, they have been redecked in some cases to make ITTX chain cars, some on the BNSF I've shipped with, and a large number are in pipe service with bunks added to the cars and remarked to PTTX. The intermodal market is sure getting a lot of attention, wish someone would do the XTTX 142xxx series modern flatcar for general merchandise. Joe
But with the length of the car you have to consider it two cars correct? How many layouts could really handle 12 of these cars in a single train? joe
So let me see if my math is correct. MT TTX trailer and TransAmerica trailer: $39.65 MT SP Olympics trailer: $18.55 FVM metal wheels: $2.98 Total (1 flatcar and 2 trailers): $61.18
Tony, I have a photo taken July 19, 1986 that has both the red and yellow nose stripe versions on a TTX flatcar that appears to be an 85-footer. So, at least those two should work for you. Carter
So, from the Model Railroading "Introduction to UPS Intermodal Equipment - Part 1" by Carter Osborne (as reprinted in Intermodal Modeler's Guide Vol 2): *UPS began purchasing 40' drop frame trailers in 1964 and continued into the 70s for both over-the-road and rail use *Rail use trailers were built with an external stiffener approx 18" down from the roof *Rail trailers numbered UPSZ 84400-88299 (except 85250-85699) and UPOZ 80300-80999. *Rail trailers were built in two configurations, with and without pintle hooks. *They were all originally classed as UPSZ and had UPSZ and the number in the upper front corner of the trailer. *UPS changed the designation of the trailers with pintle hooks to UPOZ and simply replaced the "S" with an "O" on affected trailers. *Although they have since been removed, through the early nineties trailers with pintle hooks (UPOZ) wore yellow vertical stripes on the front corners and rear door frame. Trailers without pintle hooks (UPSZ) wore red stripes on the front corners and rear door frame. * At the time of writing, the 40' drop frame fleet was being removed from rail service and replaced by 45' straight frame trailers. *Trailers assessed and retired, or if structurally sound, they are repainted and renumbered (a 6 prefix) with over-the-road graphics for use in captive Trailer Delivery & Pickup trailers. *UPS converted 500 trailers in 1994 and the disposition of remaining fleet evaluated annually. (article is probably available for download on Trainlife). There has been much discussion on the Yahoo MFCL and Intermodal lists over the years, so I'll see if I can pin down some dates for the application and removal of the stripes. As far as the Trainworks 85' flat goes, the TTX reporting mark essentially didn't survive the "Twin 45" era and the 85' length wasn't suitable for rebuilding into either a Twin 45 of Triple 28 flat like their 89' brothers (which went from TTX to WTTX or TTWX for the all-purpose flats). Like anything, there is always exceptions, but my guide would be that these didn't survive the TT to TTX transition of the early 90s. If you model the TTX era, the MTL 89' flat with TTX reporting marks would be a more common "rare" bird in a sea of RTTX, TTWX, TTEX flats.... but this flat is perfect for the earlier brown and yellow TT periods. From memory 45' trailers were legalized in 82, so by the mid 80s the need to mount these Twin 45 style was getting high....
