Thrall Gondola from Atlas???

[POVC]

Anybody else catch Cory's snerk over on the Atlas forum?

In the thread on the 8-40CW (http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=49458) he shows photo of what looks like a modern Thrall 52'6" gondola on TrueTrack.

Looks like we may be getting another new model soon from Atlas.

Tim

[ljudice]

Yep - looks like a "Master Series" model at that...

This is something to be happy for - there are not a whole lot of modern gons "actually available" these days...

Lou

http://www.mountainrails.com

[pfs]

Excellent ride height!

And from a company that will do undec.

Excitement.

[John]

[pedro]

Looks really nice. Is it a perspective trick, or do those couplers look closer to the end of the car? I hope they are. That continues to be a black eye on Atlas cars.

Can anyone define "modern" in this particular case? I'm working with a `94-`95 cutoff, I hope I can use them.

[asarge]

Either way, Lou just got a GIGANTIC early Christmas present!! Dash 8 Wide Cabs and a peek at the Thrall Gon. I'm happy for you modern guys!

[cv_acr]

Looks really nice. Is it a perspective trick, or do those couplers look closer to the end of the car? I hope they are. That continues to be a black eye on Atlas cars.

Can anyone define "modern" in this particular case? I'm working with a `94-`95 cutoff, I hope I can use them.

Here's the pages for the HO version:

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOFreight/hothrallgon.htm
http://www.atlasrr.com/HOFreight/hothrallgon1.htm

"The Thrall Car 2743 cubic foot gondola was introduced in 1995. This new 52' 6" interior length design was in response to the newly allowed increase in Gross Rail Loading (GRL) to 286,000 lbs (up from 263,000 lbs). This allowed an increase of the inside height from the previously standard 5'0" to a new standard of 5'6", giving it a 2,743 cubic foot capacity. Thrall produced over 6,700 of these from 1995 to 1999. The design resumed production under Trinityrail in 2005."

[Chris333]

The latest run USRA steel re-builds I bought had short shank couplers on them.

[Ntrainz1]

HO page says " Made in the USA. Assembled in China". I wonder if Atlas would sell these as kits and avoid the round trip to China. Save some money too, I would prefer kits.

Bob.

[ljudice]

Yeah, the only problem now is paying for this stuff!!! 

On the subject of gondolas, though, we are still moanfully short of decent models. I am pretty convinced - and some of you have confirmed - that the MTL 50' gons are in fact compromise models - 52' 6" gons made to fit on 50' underframes. I am not so sure about the earlier drop end gons - but I am pretty sure about the newer fixed end 14 and 15 panel cars.

Am I correct in saying that Atlas has an "O" scale 52' 6" gon from a 1960-2000's prototype? It would be nice to see a couple of the older gons, as well as someone to keep doing the old LBF 65' cars which were actually pretty nice (the corrugated car is an MP/SP prototype I think).

Lou

[asarge]

i actually like the LBF 50 whatever footers better ad the loads are nice. I would also like to see a 52' Gon based on the ACF car so I can load up on C&O's.

Someone was going to do a Pennsy Gon G31? I think. But now I don't think we'll see it anytimes soon. Another possibility over the horizon and after the current economic nonsense washes thru is a PS5 52' Gon.

[ljudice]

Eastern Seaboard is doing that 65' PRR/PC/CR mill gon...

The 52' PS - is that like the MTL car??

Gons would seem to be easy things to sell and make as flat kits...  Remember the NSN 65' car. Very easy to put dings in.

By the way, does Atlas sell the Evans underframe as a separate part? Because with some milling on the sides, it fits the MDC/Athearn car and lowers it A LOT...

[H Lee]

The latest run USRA steel re-builds I bought had short shank couplers on them.

The ones with Andrews trucks are shorter - the ones with Bettendorf's are still the same longnecks - MoPac's for example.