Can someone tell me what era these cars are from? Also, what are the best places to find this type of information so I don't have to bother you guys next time? -Matt
Though I cant tell you what era the beer cans are from, I can tell you the best place for this information is right here by "Bothering us guys". ;-) -cheers
HAHA well I guess I did right then I'm embarrassed to admit how much I actually searched for the information before I asked. I came up empty handed. Just from the lurking I've done here, I'm pretty confident someone here knows! I'm just getting started with trains, and I don't model anything in particular but I was curious about them since no matter how small I have to go I figure they will work for me mechanically speaking. I'm guessing the era is somewhere in the 70's to 80's but what I'm basing that on I'm not sure. I was also wondering if those cars are from different eras? Some of the paint schemes look more modern and some look older?
Yes, I saw that during my search. I read so much stuff, so quickly at that time I really didn't get much out of it other tan what they used the cars to haul, but it does make it sound like they are still used today, especially the last reply. I wonder when they began using them and when/if I find out, that may clear up the second part of my question where I suspected some of these paint schemes were more modern than others. Thanks, Matt
Mid 1960's to present. Though I've rarely seen the prototype of these cars in the past 40 yrs... I have many of them in N scale. These are probably one of Atlas' more popular models... tiny enough to make a long train in a small area. There are some etched brass detailing kits to make these look much better too.
Thanks for the info Calzephyr. I have not seen one in person, nor have I seen the N scale version in person. I would imagine it's pretty tiny? How do they run out of the box? Are they factory weighted at all?
To be precise, I believe it was 1967. I've seen them in the Gallup, NM yard many times--perhaps they were the same cars? I use them even though they are a decade beyond my era because they are cute, and a lot of them makes a short train look longer. They are usually in stock at major etailers. When Atlas re-ran them a few years ago, I bought two of each.
Im with ya Pete. They are not in my era either, but I run them anyway too because they are "cute".. lol.. I really like those, and the Atlas 11k gal tank cars.
Cute is good when you have visitors who know nothing about railroading, which is often my case. If I have a perfectly prototypical 60-car reefer express led by ABBA diesels running at the same time as a Bachmann Connie pulling 12 mixed cars, the Connie will draw all the attention. There's just something about steam. I really enjoy it! There's just something about those siderods working that fascinates people 50 years too young to have ever witnessed a steam engine. I suspect some of them don't know what a steam engine is, except by pictures or excursion trains, or movies. So what a joy for me to introduce them to the yesterworld.
I am not sure I have ever seen a beer can tank car in real life. Most of the tank cars around here on the 1:1 roads are of the large, huge, honkin' huge, and destroyer of worlds sizes.
My 3 yr old grandson always want to see the Big Boy... then likes the little beer can tank cars to be in the consist. I prefer the Big Boy to haul a string of Atlas wood reefers though... The cute little 70 ton ore cars are another fan favorite.
Like others have said, they appeared in the late 60s. The original intent of the cars (such as the 70 ton designs from NACC) was for hauling half-loads of a commodity, such as corn syrup, for a shipper that couldn't handle a full-size carload.
Cute is far and away the major reason to have them on the layout. "Chicks dig em" One in particular regarding the consumption of honey has been very popular with my various female friends. The "Grey and Grandure" will be using them to ship "Pink Fox" and "Flying Pig" brews directly to college towns. Cheaper than bottling. Bring your keg for refills. Modern one in use: Time to get tanked! - Page 18 - TrainBoard.com 2/3rds of the way down the page.
Part of my "Zebra Unit Train" in front of a couple of 94' tank cars: I'm not qualified to say if they are weighted but I can tell you that they run nicely in in five foot long mixed manifest on Kato track. I probably own 15+ of them. Since they are Atlas they do have Accumate couplers which by extension means you should not put too much weight behind them. 15 to 20 fourty foot boxcars is about the max I'd suggest.
"In Use" is a misnomer in reference to that car. I don't think we've moved it since well before 2005 (earliest record I've got of it on the computer). We used to use it when we did weed control in house, but since it's been contracted out and done with Hi-Rail vehicles, it's not been used. In fact, I'm not quite sure why we still have it and haven't scrapped the sucker (then again, we have several cars up there in the same situation).
I think they run very well. I would assume they are weighted to some degree, because they are sort of heavy considering their size. The tank is rather a thick molded plastic over a cast metal base I think if I remember from the last time I had one apart. The plastic top part of the tank snaps down over the metal part to form the tank. But again, it's been quite awhile since I had one appart.
