ExactRail Coil Shield Car

[6axlepwr]

Just finished up at the St. Louis RPM meet. Not a lot of N-Scale, but that is OK. I hope to help change that. What is good about the show was that Blaine Hadfield (VP of ExactRail) was there to show off their new coal hopper. I had a chance to talk to him and asked if the new HO Coil Shield car was going to be done in N-Scale. The answer was yes. So the car in the link below WILL be done in N-Scale. No estimate when it will be ready, but a VERY positive yes that it will be done. Before I left I asked him if it was OK to post this information and was told again yes.

https://www.exactrail.com/model-railroad-blog/preview-coil-shield/

[asarge]

If it's ExactRail, I won't be owning any.

[sundowner]

That's a cool car I'll get a few of the CSX remark/repaints.

[Philip H]

If it's ExactRail, I won't be owning any.

That's unfortunate to hear.

I'll get a couple to go with my KCS set from atlas. So John, when you're ready to run a steel train, I'll have cars for interchange.

[SD452XR]

I won't be buying any. Just too modern of a car for my rr. Cool looking car though.

[rswinnerton]

I'll be buying them in 2 scales!

[ljudice]

I'd be in for 1-2, as I've never found these to be all that common (maybe they are closer to the auto/steel industry)

There are other cars I'd also like to see ER do in N...

[basementcalling]

Not sure how widespread their travels were and if they made it to the Pac NW.

Neat looking cars for sure, but in my developing backstory Conrail never happened. I suppose I could use one in CSX or NS markings, but no CR decorated item will ever ply the rails on my layout.   

[Kisatchie]

...no CR decorated item will ever ply the rails on my layout.   

Same here. I'm modeling 1971.


Hmm... does Kiz hate
Conrail or not...?

[conrail98]

Since I'm planning on a steel mill and other associated industries, these are going to be a must on my layout,

Phil

[6axlepwr]

I would like to explain how responsive ExactRail is to the modeler. I was VERY surprised to be witness to this.

I have a friend who is a huge MOPAC modeler (in HO). Apparently he knew of the quad hopper that they were going to release. He approached Blaine (VP) and continuously lobbied to have the MOPAC quad hopper done. What he did right was give Blaine a lot of information on these cars so that ExactRail saw that it was a car that could be profitable for them. At the RPM meet when the MOPAC car was announced, my friend was credited for having this car done. It was because of him that ExactRail produced this car. What my friend was, was just persistently friendly about it and provided lots of positive information to ExactRail to get this car produced. Not detailed drawing information, just factual railroad and how prolific this car was to midwestern railroading.

What I am getting at is if you have the information and want a specific car produced, ExactRail is very responsive and if you can provide them with a very good positive reason to produce the car, I am sure they will. you do not have to provide them with all the drawing detail data (although it would help a lot), but just a good case that it would be a seller for them. There are no guarantees of a car being a hot seller for anyone and that any product is a risk and the manufacturers know that.

it was also mentioned that in the future ExactRail will get into the locomotive market. N-Scale as well. I asked Blaine that.

After listening to Blaine talk about their new release and the way they want to move their company, I have become a supporter of their efforts. They do not want to follow, they do not want to take over, but they want to push the envelope a bit. I look forward to their success. It was also mentioned that they do talk to the other manufacturers in order to help compliment each other. Yes, they are in competition with each other, but they also know they need each other because not one company can support all of the hobby.

On this topic, even though my era would not allow these Coil Shield cars. They are just to cool not to have a few of them.

[lock4244]

EXR makes some nice cars, though some here are peeved with the direct model they now employ. The waffle boxcars are great cars, and I bought nice little fleet of them direct. Coil shields are pretty neat prototype, but too new for me (assuming they entered service after 1989)... I remember them well when they started appearing on the WLR.

[6axlepwr]

I can respect why some are a bit upset at their selling model. Blaine did explain it and why. To me and this is only my opinion and point of view. Most of my buying is internet so for me to buy direct from them is not different than me buying from BLW or Model Train Stuff or N-Scale Supply or direct from ESM or the like. I do not get to my local hobby store much. I would if I was closer to it. But I respect the views of others and their reasons also.

[lock4244]

One problem with the direct model is if you only want one car, then you either pay a premium for that car through the cost to ship it, or you do without. I placed two orders with them that were high enough for free shipping to Canada, but that may not always be the case. The difference with an etailer is that you can grab a EXR boxcar, a few Atlas 89' flats, a few Trainworx gons, and some Athearn Macks and spread the shipping out.

[Mark5]

One problem with the direct model is if you only want one car, then you either pay a premium for that car through the cost to ship it, or you do without. I placed two orders with them that were high enough for free shipping to Canada, but that may not always be the case. The difference with an etailer is that you can grab a EXR boxcar, a few Atlas 89' flats, a few Trainworx gons, and some Athearn Macks and spread the shipping out.

+1