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Author Topic: Aerovan Trailer Question?  (Read 1612 times)

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Kisatchie

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Aerovan Trailer Question?
« on: December 10, 2012, 04:42:40 PM »
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A few months or so ago, I asked if (Classic Metal Works') Aerovan trailers would be seen on 89' flatcars in 1971. The answer I got (assuming my reading comprehension hasn't gone away completely) was that it was highly unlikely.

I now have another question... Were all Aerovans gone by 1971, or would they be seen in service at least somewhere?


Hmm... I'm betting that
question has no answer...

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C855B

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2012, 05:19:14 PM »
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Answer is "probably yes", but that would be according to Rule #1, there is a prototype for everything. IOW, if so, with your 1971 timeframe it would likely be some small operator who picked-up one or two as they were being sold for scrap by a larger company, but maybe in marginal operating condition if he put some of his own time into it and wasn't paying somebody else to fix something otherwise not worth the labor cost.

Trailers have a surprisingly short life, as they are lightweight for their size yet have high loading demands and rough operation cycles. Frame fatigue is especially a problem. Railcars they ain't.
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Kisatchie

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2012, 05:31:42 PM »
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Thanks for the info. I think I'll get a few. They're on sale at M.B. Klein for $5.99 (two tractors and 2 trailers).


Hmm... maybe termites
are on sale there too...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

daniel_leavitt2000

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2012, 05:36:55 PM »
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I'll add that while trailers today can last a decade or two, There was a HUGE sea change in construction methods and capacity between the early 50's when the Aerovan was produced and the 1970's in which you model. Trailers went from 32 to 40 feet, height increased by over a foot (I think the first 13' trailers were in production by then) and with the "boxing out" of the nose, trailers near doubled in capacity.

Tear weight decreased substantially too. Steel was replaced with lighter metals. Thick metal sides were replaced with fiberglass/plywood or thinner metals with exterior posts. The cost savings was dramatic, and trailer design was one of the reasons why shipping went away from railroads at the time.

Aerovans could be found as storage units on farms or parking lots of industrial complexes much as you can find vintage 70's trails parked today.

For trailers in use during 1971, here are my reccomendations:
CinC 28' pup trailer
Athearn Z Van Trailer
Athearn X post
Atlas 40' trailer
S&R Models (formerly Wheel Works) exterior post trailer kit
All Trainworx trailers

If you end up getting the Aerovan trucks on sale, I reccomend getting the ones equiped with the International R190 cab which would be perfect for your era. The White Superpower would be getting scarce by that time.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2012, 05:39:06 PM by daniel_leavitt2000 »
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jagged ben

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2012, 05:42:49 PM »
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FWIW, I found a picture of what looks like an Aerovan going TOFC in 1963.
(Look behind the truck in the foreground.)

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR_Toronto/JOHN_ST_PIG_YD.htm

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Kisatchie

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2012, 05:51:07 PM »
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Quote from: daniel_leavitt2000 on December 10, 2012, 05:36:55 PM

If you end up getting the Aerovan trucks on sale, I reccomend getting the ones equiped with the International R190 cab which would be perfect for your era. The White Superpower would be getting scarce by that time.

Thanks for the reminder. I was careful to order trailers with the International R190 cabs.


Hmm... speaking of cabs,
why are Yellow cabs
orange...?

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

MichaelWinicki

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2012, 05:58:58 PM »
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From 1966 on, we lived next to a large warehouse that saw the coming and goings of many tractor trailers (representing trucking companies from all over the US), and I was mezmerized by all of them.  :D

I never saw an Aerovan.

By far the most common visitor in the early 70's was the 40' trailer.   But there were a few 45's here and there.
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nkalanaga

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2012, 01:57:16 AM »
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I have one Aerovan on my 1974 layout - painted Pullman Green and letter "Tool Trailer" for a construction company.  It is mobile, but isn't in revenue service.

The rest were scrapped for the wheels...
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N Kalanaga
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Ike the BN Freak

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2012, 02:51:20 AM »
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Quote from: daniel_leavitt2000 on December 10, 2012, 05:36:55 PM
For trailers in use during 1971, here are my reccomendations:

All Trainworx trailers

That include the 28' UPS pups?  Or they too modern for the early 70s?
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sirenwerks

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2012, 09:16:26 AM »
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You can still find them from time to time - overgrown with weeds in a 'vacant' lot.  There's a use for them, just make the weeds at an early-70s height.
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Kisatchie

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Re: Aerovan Trailer Question?
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2012, 10:05:00 AM »
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Quote from: sirenwerks on December 11, 2012, 09:16:26 AM
...There's a use for them, just make the weeds at an early-70s height.

Wha ha ha ha... thanks for the laugh.  :D


Hmm... what??? I'm not
funny any more...?

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"
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