In my ongoing “switch” from HO to N scale, im pretty much trying find the same equipment I had in HO scale in N scale. I want to run lots of intermodal trains, being that my railroad/layout is going to be my version of the NS Pittsburgh Line, but not in any way prototypical to the line. (case in point, there wont be many locos in NS paint traversing my line, only a few. mostly CR units mixed in with all the CSX, and other western colorful foreign power that i love).
Since I’m modeling in the modern era, I need modern day equipment in N scale, and lots of this equipment is in the form of intermodal: containers and trailers. I want my layout to be about 40%-50% intermodal, which includes solid stack trains, solid intermodal trailer trains, and some with both in them. I found that KATO makes flatcar sets for the doublestacks, but im still having trouble finding flatcars designed for trailers. But most importantly, I need to find modern paint scheme containers. some of the containers im looking for are- K Line, Hyundai, Evergreen, Hanjin, JB Hunt, NCAS, EMP, NYK Logistics, Mearsk, APL, Pacer Stacktrain, HUB Group( i dont know if anyone even makes those!), Schnieder, and all the other popular shipping companies. If anyone could tell me where I can find these, thatd be a big help. As far as trailers go- XTRA, JB Hunt, Ryder, and the other popular shippers, lease undecorated 48’ trailers work fine too.
Micro Trains has a great model of an 89’ TTX flat, but they’re rare as hen’s teeth. MT prefers to paint them with Pepsi and Smokey the Bear than in prototypical schemes. Decal sets are available, but you have to compete with armchair collectors to get the cars.
Alan Curtis Models did some excellent intermodal models, but he has sold the business, and I’m not sure if they’re back in production yet. MB Klein (www.modeltrainstuff.com) is a distributor for Alan Curtis, and might have some stock.
Con-Cor makes the 89’ flats. Kato makes Great double stacks. The Old MDC TTX Cars are nice, they can be a pain to convert to Knuckle Couplers(I only have 2 half converted…) Deluxxe Innovations make Roadrailers in various companines. They also have lots of containers. I’m not too sure how the walthers cars are. and Anything Micro-trains is great.
Nothing is more detailed or reliable than Kato double stacks. And if you want trailer trains (89’ flats), your only choice is Con-Cor and you have to change the trucks to MT ones which adds cost if you have a few. If you want the early trailer trains with 20’ trailers, Atlas have a nice selection of them. Although Con-Cor makes the most varieties of the Husky stacks, I would stay away from them unless you just use them as displays in your intermodal yard. Walthers also makes nice double stackers but the old ones again need coupler conversion and I think they are maing new ones with magnetic couplers and due in August and that will give you flexibility to use a variety of different shipping company’s containers.