Best deal on large quantity of hopper cars

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I love rock trains and want to do an N scale consist of maybe 15-20 hopper cars. Who has the best deal buying multiple packs of undecorated hoppers in N Scale? Only thing I really don’t want is rapido couplers.
and do microscale or any other decal vendors have a large enough sheet to do this many cars?

thanks
mike

2

Frankly, the cheapest way to get N scale cars is to go to swapmeets. Used non-MT hoppers (triples or 100-tonners, usually) go for as little as $2 apiece. Adding MT wheelsets and couplers is worth it at these prices. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and find a seller who’s not into the MT collectable craze too.

MSRP for an undec MT twin hopper is about $12 these days, with most online sellers only offering the decorated cars, and for no less that $12 apiece. If you HAVE to have MT cars, I’d look for a LHC who’s willing to give you a 10%-20% discount for a large special order of MT undecs, and go with them.

3

any tips on ho hopper cars and decals because im looking for some to do my pennsy layout

4

Again, check swapmeets. Pennsy twin hoppers are made by Bowser, but they’ll cost you $14 each, and aren’t common at most swaps. If you’re happy with “close enough” for a GLa hopper, look for Accurail USRA twins or Athearn ribbed twins at swaps, which can be found for $5 apiece. Strip, 'em, repaint them (Polly Scale “Special Oxide Red” comes closest to Pennsy freight car red), and decal 'em. Champ decals are generally cheaper than Microscale, but Champ’s inventory is shrinking fast.

5

I’d also check on E Bay. I’m in HO so haven’t followed N but there have been several people unload large quantities of cars. In HO I remember one item was 200 UP hopper cars. The cash outlay at once is high but as I remember in that case they went for about $2.00 - $3.00 per car.

6

So here’s how the story ends…
Yesterday I found out that one of the guys in our club was selling all his N scale stuff. So I called him and he had 20 twin tub coal gondolas he’d sell me for $4 each. Had rapido couplers, but I figure I’ll just change over to magnetic couplers on the first car. So I guess if you wait long enough or search hard enough you can find what you need!

m

7

Seek and ye shall find. =)

That makes me feel happy.

Lee