Sunday Photo Fun 1/10/21

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

The youngest grandson was given his first 2 3-rail freightcars this Christmas. I like to see what a 3-year-old’s interest are, before I start building his collection. And for the Curly-Top, it’s CAT.

He was happy to receive the MENARD’s #4597 PRR flatcar (2017) with excavator, and LIONEL #16934 PRR flatcar (1995) with road grader.

I haven’t seen any side-by-side comparisons with rolling stock, but here we have 2 nice looking “traditional” sized flatcars. The Menard’s car measures 42’ L x 10’ W, where the Lionel car measures 40’ L x 8’5" W. The Menard’s car has no brake wheel, where the Lionel car has the protruding stand. Upon checking some PRR flatcar rosters, neither car is prototypically numbered, however it would be easy to add a number to the Menard’s version to make it more so. They both run well within a consist, with no wobbling. Both diecast vehicles are handsome renditions. The Mendard’s excavator has a flashing yellow light and motor sounds, activated by pushing the smokejack on top. The Lionel CAT 12G is an actual production model.

However, even though it is smartly labelled as a “PIONEER 5200” excavator, I can’t seem to find any such equipment manufacturer in excistence (there is a Pioneer Leasing in Jacksonville…). The excavator appears similar to a CAT 349F, and perhaps our resident CAT retiree can give us a ruling.

2

They’re most likely using a fictitious name like “Pioneer” to avoid any trademark copyright issues.

No matter though, that’s a nice-looking car!

3

Busy day at the museum

at one time but not since last March. [sigh]

4

Man, that’s sad.

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Fife, I don’t know of any Pioneer excavator brand but not to say there could not be. It does look like a Cat 300 series C or D unit, having the lower hood and placement of decals, but then today Excavators are much like cars, they all look alike. I am sure Flintlock is right. Menards would of had to pay Cat to have their name on that excavator and to avoid that cost used any name they wanted. I find any 50th scale Cat dicast fits very well with O scale and have made several loads with them.

Here is a 300 series picture.

See the source image

Here are some of the machines I worked on over my 36 years at Aurora Il. Cat.

988B or F

6

Thanks for weighin’ in, Kev. And that 300 looks close. Handsome collection you got displayed there.

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No problem Fife, thanks for stirring the memory banks.