Body Mount Couplers for Atlas Tank Cars

[BCR 570]

I have recently acquired two Atlas tank cars and wish to convert them to Micro-Trains body mount couplers and trucks without couplers.  One is the 17,360 gallon tank car and the other is the 11,000 gallon car.  This photograph was taken just out of the box with their original trucks and truck-mounted couplers:




The first step was to replace the trucks.  I have sat these cars on a pair of BLMA 70-Ton trucks and a pair of Micro-Trains roller bearing trucks, and the underside of the frame matches the Micro-Trains coupler gauge for mounting height; however the ride height seems higher than with the original Atlas trucks.  It is significantly more so on the 17,360 gal car.  If I lower the bolster hubs, the frame height will then be too low for mounting couplers at the correct height.

Another challenge is that there is not very much material on the frame iin which to secure a coupler mounting screw and I am wondering if they will be okay when subjected to the typical drawbar forces within a train of moderate length.

Has anyone equipped either of these cars with new trucks and body mount couplers?  I would be interested in feedback towards the best solution.


Thank you,

Tim

[MetroRedLine]

Trainworx makes frame addition detail parts that allow body-mounting for covered hoppers and tank cars: http://www.train-worx.com/details.coupler.htm

But I don't think any of them are compatible with MTL cars though.

[bbussey]

A while back I designed a FXD coupler pocket for the 11k-gallon tank that also allowed for it to be lowered to the proper ride height but I never tested it thoroughly. I'll check to see if I still have samples floating around.

[cjm413]

Brass tubing and Accumates might work:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21980.0

[milw156]

I was under the impression that tank cars should have 100 ton trucks. That might be part of the ride height issue, although I am no expert, just thought I saw that somewhere.

[GaryHinshaw]

I have converted one 17K tanker to BLMA/100T trucks to lower the ride height.  (I think I also filed the bolsters down.)  For couplers, I used the Lee English couplers with the custom pockets that Ed and I etched.  This worked very well, and I plan to do more this way, but it's not a practical option for most folks.

I don't have any photos handy, but I'd be happy to show you in person some time. 

-Gary

[bbussey]

I was under the impression that tank cars should have 100 ton trucks. That might be part of the ride height issue, although I am no expert, just thought I saw that somewhere.

Depends on the capacity.

[nkalanaga]

If the car has weight data, which most US tank cars should, one can determine the truck size by adding the "LT WT" and LD LMT" numbers.  Anything over 177,000 lbs would have at least 100 T trucks.  Some cars today have 125 T, but as far as I know those aren't available in N scale, and I couldn't tell them from 100 T by sight anyway.

If your car rides at the same height with both MT and BLMA trucks, are you sure the body bolster is sitting on the truck bolster?  I've had a few where the center sill interferes with the truck, and no matter what I did to the body bolster, the height didn't change.

[BCR 570]

I am still wrestling with these two cars.   Here are the various trucks:



From L to R:  Atlas trucks which came with tank cars, Micro-Trains roller bearing trucks, BLMA 70 ton trucks


Here is the Atlas 17,360 gal car sitting on original trucks:




and on Micro-Trains trucks (which look small and ride height looks high):




and on BLMA 70 ton trucks (ride height still looks high but not as bad):




Here is the 11,000 gal car on original trucks:




and on the Micro-Trains trucks:



not too bad.

So I think I will put the 17,360 on BLMA trucks and the 11000 on MTL trucks.  The frame is at hte right height for body mounting Micro-Trains couplers, but there is not a lot of material to screw into . . . . .


Further thoughts welcomed.  The goal here is to achieve a respectable ride height and have body mount MTL couplers.

Tim

[Missaberoad]

That 17,360 gallon car should ride on 100ton trucks either BLMA 100ton trucks or the original Atlas trucks with 36" fvm wheels should help the appearance.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/hcpx1229ava.jpg

Can't find a picture of the Liquid Air car, but other cars in the CGTX 55xxx series rode on friction bearing trucks.
considering tho both those photos are well before your era, not enough to make a conclusion.

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cgtx55220&o=cgtx
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cgtx55211&o=cgtx

[Catt]

Trainworx has videos on Utube showing how to install their coupler set ups,there are some tank car conversions.

[BCR 570]

That 17,360 gallon car should ride on 100ton trucks either BLMA 100ton trucks or the original Atlas trucks with 36" fvm wheels should help the appearance.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/hcpx1229ava.jpg

Can't find a picture of the Liquid Air car, but other cars in the CGTX 55xxx series rode on friction bearing trucks.
considering tho both those photos are well before your era, not enough to make a conclusion.

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cgtx55220&o=cgtx
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cgtx55211&o=cgtx

Thank you very much for your post - most helpful.  I would like to use BLMA 100-ton trucks on the 17,360 car but my local hobby shop does not have any.  I will have to check with some online suppliers.

Tim

[BCR 570]

Update:  Gary has a pair of 100-ton trucks to spare so I am in business.  Now to tackle the coupler mounting . . .

Tim

[cjm413]

Trainworx has videos on Utube showing how to install their coupler set ups,there are some tank car conversions.

The conversions for the Atlas tank cars involve chopping the Trainworx part down into something that looks like an elongated coupler box with shims on it.

For the cost of the Trainworx parts and the amount of modifications, it seems more practical to use the Wutter Vehicles and Details coupler boxes:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/HFYQCT9W9/extended-cushion-draft-gear-box-n-1-160-10x?optionId=58482406&li=marketplace

[BCR 570]

These two cars continue to frustrate me.  Tonight I successfully installed #1027 couplers, only to discover that they foul the axles and the cars will not sit and roll correctly.  I tried #1023 and #1015 but they stick out from the car way to much.  I tried #905 and they look better, still sticking out a bit but I can live with it and they don't foul the axles.  i think that Full Throttle couplers are in my future at some point, but this will do for now.

Thanks to those who chimed in.

Tim