I really like the heavy duty look of the Walthers NSC cars and prices I see on Ebay are pretty good but there is one problem! I model the 1995-98 era and I don’t know if these cars even existed back then. Does anyone know when the prototype cars went into production?[%-)]
Yes, NSC well cars were around back then(I looked at when all those cars were built)
I believe the NSC 53’ well cars came into use in the early 2000’s. I’m thinking around 2000 or 2001, I know for sure it wasn’t until late 2002 that I saw them for the first time (the prototype that is). I’m only guessing about when they hit the rails mind you, but I know for sure that RailModel Journal ran a prototype article in the Feb. 2002 issue. You probably could pull off having these cars on your layout, just keep them relatively clean to simulate a very “new kid on the block” appearance.
Edited to add this
Just for fun, here is the NSC website (http://www.steelcar.com/). You can see more details about the well cars and other freight equipment they have. Hope you have broadband though, I’d hate for you to see this website with dial-up.
According to a chart on page 48 of Kalmbach’s “The Model Railroader’s Guide to Intermodal Equipment & Operations” by Jeff Wilson:
All-purpose stand alone (3-unit)----375 in 1998, none in 1995
All-purpose stand alone----116 in 1998, none in 1995
Ed
PS: I sure hope Kalmbach updates this excellent book soon. There’s been a lot happening in the field, both in model form and in real life.
I hope I’ll be able to pick up a few sets soon! The only well cars I have right now are a Con-Cor 5 unit articulated. I imagine that the Walthers cars track quite well given that their cast metal. The Con-Cor cars I have are alright as long as their single stacked but when I double stack them they rock badly![sigh]