Atlas (former BLMA) 53' Spine Cars

[ljudice]

The trailer hitches for the BLMA spine cars were always able to accept the standard 5th wheel pin for N scale trailers. I run Deluxe and Trainworx trailers on my BLMA spine cars all the time.

It was the F89J 89' TOFC flats that had the tiny scale-size hitches that could not accept any of the commercially-available N scale trailers. I hacked a couple of mine by removing the hitch plate and replacing it with one from a bag of spare BLMA spine car hitch parts. Not prototypical of course, but they can't be seen at all with trailers mounted on them.

you're right!   I sold my f89j's except the container flat versions which i'm repurposing for mow trains....

[Rivet Miscounter]

Could someone post the length of these cars (3 and 5 units) at the center of the knuckles?   I have Googled and just can't seem to find the answer.  Thanks.

[MetroRedLine]

Could someone post the length of these cars (3 and 5 units) at the center of the knuckles?   I have Googled and just can't seem to find the answer.  Thanks.

3-unit: 13 1/2"

5-unit: 22"

[Rivet Miscounter]

3-unit: 13 1/2"
5-unit: 22"

Thank you.

[w neal]

Next question:

Anybody had any serious run time on these things in a variety of situations or conditions ( various types of layouts)? How do they behave/ track?

Ta

[GaryHinshaw]

I have run the original BLMA cars on my layout (18" curves, 2.2% grades) with no problems.  It's good to make sure that the articulated joints are properly reamed out so they track well and stay coupled.  The original BLMA hitches are crap, so I made replacements with my 3d printer.  Those have been working great for me.  Here's a link to the model if anyone is interested:

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/jTuR44I9YWp

[u18b]

I would love to see some great photos of these cars.

[GaryHinshaw]

Well, not great photos, but here's a set I preened last year with new hitches & end platforms:

[w neal]

Well done sir!

[spookshow]

Has Atlas done the former BLMA GSC 60' flats yet?

Thanks,
-Mark

[Mark5]

Has Atlas done the former BLMA GSC 60' flats yet?

Yup! http://archive.atlasrr.com/NFreight/arc-n60flatcar.htm

[spookshow]

Yup! http://archive.atlasrr.com/NFreight/arc-n60flatcar.htm

Thanks, Mark. Dunno how I missed that.

-Mark

[w neal]

Thanks Gary,

I don't own a printer. Is there an outfit that will print the hitches for me?

[ljudice]

Not as nice as Gary's hitches, another solution is to use MTL trailer hitches -  they are bland but rugged...