Athearn Autoloader

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello all

Today in an LHS I saw one of these cars, A 50 foot autoloader.

Is there a prototype for this car or is it a dream car?

It looks like a TYCO copy to me.

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH74413

2

This is not a “dream car”, there is a prototype. There have been several articles and photos over the years in both MR and RMC about these cars. They were built by the Evans Co, who also built the rack system commonly used inside 50’ automobile box cars to allow them to carry six autos.

They were built in the early fifties, and were the first “open” auto carriers. They were quickly replaced with the longer ones we are all familar with as that was the same time longer flat cars were developed for piggy back service.

I have some photos and info, but it is not “digital” and I would have to “look up” its location, but they did exist.

The only failing of the Athearn model was that when originally offerd it came with four over sized cars, not six like these racks could handle. I have a moderate fleet of them and have made minor mods to allow them to carry six Life Like Scene Master autos. I model that period and plan to have an auto plant on the layout.

What is a dream is some of the paint schemes Athearn has offered.

Sheldon

3

Hey, I remember those things from my childhood. Used to see them around Williamsburg a lot when I lived there and later when I was in El Paso. They were doing a quick fade as they were being raplaced by longer units an dthose were eventually replaced by the covered auto racks we see today.

4

Here is a link to a site with a few photos and info:

http://www.trainweb.org/seaboard/nycautorack.htm

There is more out there, but info and photos are rare.

Sheldon

5

One other historical note - TYCO copied Lionel and Athearn, who both had models of these in their respective scales first - long before the Mantua Metal Works ever used the trade name “TYCO” for their RTR line.

Sheldon

6

I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on one for little or nothing even if it has no trucks.

7

Athearn is currently making a RTR version, but the kits are still out there, usually not very expensive at all. I picked a half dozen or so for about $4 each not to long ago.

Sheldon

8

A couple years back,there was an article in Trains Illustrated by J.David Engles(I think)about how he traveled with his dad on a business trip from Michigan to Oklahoma in 1960.

There was a photo of a a Frisco freight carrying flat cars with double deck auto trailers on them.

I also saw them in an issue of RMC on a SP California theme layouts.

Anybody got some info about them??

Thanks, John T.Patterson-aka-The Aztec Eagle.

"Portland Maine Is Just The Same as Sunny Tennessee.

Portland Maine Is Just The Same as Sunny Tennessee.

Any Old Place I Hang My Hat Is Home Sweet To Me."

-Johnny Cash:“Brakemman’s Blues”.From the"Blue Train"LP.Written by The Singing Brakeman,Jimmie Rodgers.

9

I have the Tyco one and the six autos that came with it,three Camero’s and three AMC’s.

10

This is mine:

These are the original 4 cars that came in it - a brightly-colored selection to be sure. Love those fins.

Thanks for letting me know these really were almost prototypical. Now I can run them.