Does anyone know where (besides eBay) I could find the old Walthers 48’ spine cars?
Has anyone tried to make the longer 53’ or 57’ cars? How did you do it?
Might we see these get re-released in the near future?
Thanks!
Andy B.
What 48’ spine cars? The articulated version or the stand alone ones? You didn’t specify scale either, so I’ll show you the HO scale ones.
This is the front runner: http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=&manu=932&item=&keywords=front+runner&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
As far as the articulated spine car goes, they don’t make it anymore. They may release it again in the future, but I’m not sure myself. Who knows, maybe they will come out with the ones that can carry the 53’ trailers and we won’t need to modify them.
If you’re into N scale, then you might want to look at deluxe innovations (http://www.deluxeinnovations.com/), since I think they carry the most intermodal stuff.
I assume you are talking about the five car articulated sets. I have found them at model railroad train shows along with the Athearn sets. Since that’s the most logical answer, I’m thinking you don’t have a lot of shows near where you live.
Sorry about that! The Walthers HO 48’ articulated cars. And we have 2 shows a year, both around Christmas. I picked up a Conrail set a couple years back atmy LHS after it had been sitting around a while.
Are there any hobby shops that still have them in stock that anyone knows of? And thanks for all the help.
A word (or two) about the Front Runners.
They don’t like: turnouts, curves, crossings, rail joints, bumps in track, other couplers, days ending in Y…
Maybe it’s the stiff suspension.
Tilden
Andy940CW,
Please drop me an email when you have the time. I may have what you are looking for. I started modelling traction and I have a lot of intermodal equipment that I no longer need from my previous layout.
Thanks,
Tractionman
A word (or two) about the Front Runners.
They don’t like: turnouts, curves, crossings, rail joints, bumps in track, other couplers, days ending in Y…
Maybe it’s the stiff suspension.
Tilden
I think the reason is that, for all practical purposes, the car itself is one long railroad freight truck about 40’ between the wheels. The wheels don’t swivel so there is no way they can negotiate a curve less than 24" (and that’s tight) or a turnout less than a #6.
Ah yes, the Front Runners. I got one a couple years back. After it derailed on one switch every single time, so I took it off. Then I needed a pair of couplers, so it lost those. Then a Kadee 12 pack of 28" wheelsets only came with 10, so off they came. Now it is a hulk that may get made into a load one of these days.
Does anyone have any experience with the Detail West Spine Car detail set?