I have a complete mishmash of brands on my layout. The largest amount being Athearn, but I also have cars from their Genesis Line, as well as Atlas, Accurail, Roundhouse, Life-Like, Model Power, Bachmann, even old Tyco and Lionels. I’m not as particular on details like grab irons, etc., but I do try to find ones that fit my layout’s era (1970s), and on ones like the Tycos and older Life-Likes, I tend to replace their trucks with ones made by Atlas, and body mount Kadee or McHenry couplers.
ENGINES that pull.
CARS that roll,
COUPLERS that work dependably
You didn’t ask:
TURNOUTS that don’t derail the above
TRACK that looks reaistic
What do you look for in rolling stock?
Freight![:D][:D][:D]
Sorry Chip! I couldn’t resist.[:D]
Not being a rivet counter, I guess I can forgo some of the fine detail of the high $$ models. I tend to purchase rolling stock in the <$10 range, for the most part. Athearn, Roundhouse and Accurail are most of what I have. Recently, though, I haven’t purchased any Athearn, mostly because my older stuff doesn’t really measure up to my newer Accurail or Roundhouse stuff. Since I haven’t purchased any recently, I don’t know how Athearn’s newer stuff works. I tend to like relatively realistic appearance, but don’t object to molded on handrails and the like. My main objectives are that my models not appear to be toylike and that they work well for me. I am in the process of converting everything I intend to run to metal wheels and Kaydee couplers (or compatibles) at this time. So far this is all I plan to do with my existing rolling stock, at least until I become more finicky when it comes to detail!
-Joe
Since I’ve been model railroadng for over 35 years, I have about all the rolling stock my layout and shelf space can hold. A lot of my older stuff is Tyco, AHM, Lionel (trainset quality), but they have all long since had Kadee body mounted couplers, LL p2K or Kadee metal wheelsets, wire stirrups installed. I now look for unusual or special-duty cars. I have very few problems with any of my rolling stock.
Durability! Virtually all my cars are of the Athearn ‘blue box’ variety, and I never have to worry about parts breaking off when I handle them. Brands like Intermountain, Life-Like Proto 2000, McKean, Front Range, Gould, etc. look more realistic but are much too fragile for me.
I’ve got a few of the Bachmann silver series stuff, Ore cars, box cars, tank cars they come ready to roll, metal wheels, knuckle couplers they perform very well.
I’m looking at getting 24 x 40’ quad hoppers from Discount trains online $7 each plus freight to New Zealand about $180US.
If I bought them at my LHS $27NZ each x 24 makes 648NZ $461US!!![:O]
When I got back into the hobby, it was “Hey, that looks cool!”
Now it’s, “Hmm, maybe.”
I look for freight cars that represent my era which is Now!
I do have a few older era cars with walkways but these won’t see much time on my layout.
Everything I have that came with plastic axles are being replaced with metal ones.
Detailing isn’t important for me right now. It’s nice to look at but I don’t think it will hold up too well with my daughter.
Kadees are the norm for couplers. The cheap plastic ones that come with the car I leave on until they fail. I know I should probably replace them before putting it on the track but I hate to waste stuff.
Besides, I’m currently stock piling KD’s so I can sit down one night while everyone is a sleep & replace them all at one time.
Railroad names arn’t too important to me. I’m trying to have a bunch of different roadnames I’d find & or have seen in Ontario & the US Northeast.
Manufacturers are important, but I’m not spending a small fortune on one car.
I normally stick with Athearn, Accurail ( I especially love the covered hoppers ), Roundhouse & Walthers.
Most of these are simplictic kits or RTR.
I have a couple of Intermountain Kits my dad gave me, these still sit in the boxes as I don’t have the time to invest in building them.
Same with a 5 car spine kit that I bought off a freind
i think that sums it up.
I hope I haven’t bored anyone with this [:D]
Gordon