8,000 gal. corn syrup car in APRIL 2009 issue

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This has to be the April Fools joke for 2009. It’s on page 86.

2

And why do you say that? Model Die Casting came out with a similar car many moons ago, and this looks like an updated version. Besides, the Koester Trains of Thought article was the April Fools joke.

See http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=61128

3

nope its for real, these cars are limited but they are real.

4

Because it isn’t listed by Athearn and because it’s supposed to be a new car not an antique

5

Yes, it is listed: http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=NACC+Tank+RTR&CatID=THRF

And what is this “antique” stuff? I resemble that remark!!!

6

Well I stand corrected. I couldn’t find it when I did a search of the athearn website. Right size car for my layout but too pricey.

7

Wait, what [%-)] April fools…I need to reread when I get home.

8

I have one of their beer can cars. Cost me 25 bucks but it has good detail

9

I saw a corn syrup tank car of this size and similar design on a mixed freight on UP’s Sedalia sub locally just yesterday. Can’t remember the reporting marks now, but it caught my eye because you don’t see them every day. I have one on my modern BNSF layout too.

Ron

10

Not all of the prototypes carried corn syrup. Obviously the Union Carbide (RAIX) cars would not. I have also seen a photograph of a GATX car carrying paint.

Also, not all of the prototypes for the cars Athearn makes models of were built by North American Car Company. The RAIX and GATX cars in the series Athearn makes models of were built by General American Transportation (or possibly Trinity Industries, I do not remember when GATX sold the car building business). Also, The RAIX and GATX cars have capacities in the vicinity of 10,400 gallons.

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=46202

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=40385

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=32534

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=32535

11

The picture of the UTLX car looks like the 10,000 gallons funnel flow kits that Walthers had some years back. I always wondered why Walthers did not release these at RTR when they got into the RTR business. They released the 16,000 and 23,000 gallon kits at RTR, but never the 10,000 gallon.

Rod

12

This car is completely different than the old MDC car.

Athearn has released some MDC boxcar kits with no prototypes in the Blue Box line, I wish they would do the same with the MDC tankcars.