Hey Guys-
I was currious where I could buy grain/coal type cars in multi-packs for cheap. I mentioned wanting to run long strings of trains in N scale, and I don’t think buying them individually would be economical. My plan is to buy most of my rolling stock and power first, then work on giving them a place to work. So if there are websites, or dealers I could link up with, it’d be appreciated, since flea markets are out of the question at this point!
Thanks
Kyle[^]
Heyy Kyle,
Athearn makes 5 packs of coal hoppers in n scale for 35.99 sometimes 29.99.
Kato Makes an 8 pack of coal hoppers for 105.00 my lhs has them out for 60.00
Micro-Trains has a 3 pack of grain hoppers out there for about 40.00
You Mentioned You Didnt Want too buy them individually but let me tell you. this is my advice too you. i buy a new car every week. atlas makes awesome cars that have great quality and they are cheap. as you may or may not know atlas is one of the best. i bought a UP 50ft double plug door boxcar today for 6.50 today and i am very happy with it. I hope this helps!
Keith Any Questions Email Me Guilfordrailsystem3579@yahoo.com
I agree on the Atlas cars, they are cheap and fair quality. When I wanted to buy an N scale train, I looked at my LHS and online and found them to be the cheapest with knukle couplers, around $6 to $10. All the others in that price range(Bachmann, LifeLike) came with rapido(crapido) couplers. So I spent my $150 mad money on a BN Dash7-30B with a decoder, 10 assorted modern cars, and some flex track, all Atlas. Kato and Micro Trains Line and others have nicer cars with more detail and metal wheelsets, but you’ll pay $10 -$20+ per car, which is a little steep for me. I prefer function over form. Incidentally, prices are one of my model railroading pet peeves. I still am taken aback at the cost of a few ounces of plastic. Luckily, some of my local hobby shops still have a pile of Athearn ‘Blue Box’ kits.
If you want to model a modern North American unit coal train, you will want to get Bethgon Coalporters, all of the same road or owner, and at least a pair of AC4400CWs of your road of choice. Kato, Athearn, Deluxe Innovations make Bethgons. Kato may be the only maker of an N scale AC4400CW, but you might get an SD70 or SD90.
I usually shop online at discounttrainsonline.com or internettrains.com . I think they both advertise here.
Thanks guys. What about eBay?
Also. I’m going for 1980-1990. I’m from Florida (Tallahassee), and my grandfather had a farm in LaCrosse (near Gainesville). So I saw Chessie, CSX and a few Conrail engines. I liked the 4-5 Diesel lash ups that used to roar past the edge of his fields. Where could I research what flags served North Florida, and south Georgia in the mid to late 80’s? I’d like to be able to have more than one “carrier” on my line, not just the CSX/Norfolk Southern of today.
Thanks!
Kyle
Kyle,
Why not pick out the car you want and approach your LHS about a bulk order? You might be able to get a nice discount.
Bill C.
Model Power quad hoppers - $8.98
Bachmann quad hoppers - $8.00
Atlas 90-ton triple hopper - $8.50
Con-Cor quad hopper - $8.98
So you’re looking at about $9 a car, unless you can convince some place to give you a deep discount for buying the cars by the case (generally 12 cars). Likely, you won’t find better prices on Ebay (don’t forget to add the shipping!)
Hello Hyle: Check the Walthers monthly sale flyer. Last October they had 4 packs of their undec and data only ore cars on for $17. I ordered 200 of them. I couldn’t pass up that price even if the last 100 are on back order. Also don’t pass up the opertutinaty to get a single if the price is right.
Good luc and let us know how you are doing.
Check walthers.com
Kyle for research you might want to try the historical societies located on the home page here at MR. Also try this site it has motive power and freight and passenger cars, all picsthough www.rr-fallenflags.org
tom