Athearn TankTrain

[peteski]

Heat shrink tubing?

Heat-shrink tubing is usually fairly stiff. But you can find insulated wire that is very flexible. Strip and keep the insulation (discard the wire) and you have a piece of very flexible tubing.

[ChrisKLAS]

Athearn replied to an inquiry from a buddy of mine stating that they're aware of the stiff hose problem and are working to get more pliable replacement hoses from the factory. Their suggestion, for now, is to "run the cars without the hoses" - because the hoses weren't an integral part of the TankTrain or anything... 

[Chris333]

Gummy worms and little magnets 

[ljudice]

Looks like more duct tape than hose!!! 

[peteski]

Does anybody know the approximate 1:1 diameter of that hose?  What I'm thinking of is replacing it with a tightly-wound chemically-blackened spring (like they simulated steam lines in the IM's Cab-forward locos. Not only those would be super-flexible, they would look like those hoses.

[MK]

Outer jacket insulation of silicone wire is quite flexible.  We use it all the time for battery leads in the radio control world.

[CONRAIL FAN]

These were definitely were worth the wait. Time to retire the old set. I think 20 or 22 gauge wire housing would work for the hoses.

[sp org div]

Thats the car that got patched in the next Athrearn torn and tattered release...
What year /location was that image taken?
Jeff

[Chris333]

It was taken in 2007 at GATX's plant in Masury, OH (or Sharon, PA). They were parked right here next to some baby blue airslide sets.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.208812,-80.529139,239m/data=!3m1!1e3
The state line is a few 100 feet to the east. Looks like everything is gone now.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qTGlDsWYHNP3WLCC3
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZpxYbANnL70I8Mvh2

Here is another lone wolf at Lordstown OH part of LTEX.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UUq3ldj2D4gYcxLp2

[bobdobbs]

A few quick hints and tips...

I received a 12 car set of the GATX/late cars and a 3 car set of the GATX early cars yesterday and had a chance to get them on the layout.  The cars meet all of my expectations in terms of looks.  It is tedious to couple and connect the oil hoses between cars, but the visual is worth it.  When I ran these on my layout, mind you the curves I tested these on are 17" radius at a minimum, I was having persistent derailing issues.  On tighter (15" radius) I was having the same trouble.  I will cut to the chase and make 3 suggestions:

1) 40% of the cars had tight gauge according to a NMRA standard wheel gauge.  Check all of your wheelsets for proper gauge.  Mind you my layout is all Atlas code 55, which is intolerant of tight gauge.

2)At least 50% of the trucks are screwed in too tight, there is very little "wiggle room" for the trucks to absorb changes in your track geometry and combined with the pressure exerted by the oil hoses, it was causing derailments.  Loosen the screw in the too tight trucks about a 1/3 of a turn, or enough to get a little play in the truck.

3)check the McHenry couplers, I actually had one that was not staying coupled (a la Atlas Crapumates)  I replaced it with a spare McHenry.

I find the hoses are not causing any derailment issues on my pike.  but I have radii well above the 11" minimum Athearn suggests.  I do wish the hoses were a bit more flexible, but they work fine.

FWIW

[unittrain]

Just opened my cars and I have to say these Tankcars are absolutely excellent!! Just was wondering if these tankcars could represent other general service cars? If so I wonder if Athearn might change out fittings and railings to release other types of cars? The car is so well done with even ride height it would be nice to see more tankcars done like these in N.

[tehachapifan]

I think I just realized for the first time that the top of the T in the older loco markings represents the connecting hose. Always thought it was just that type of font that was common back then.

[peteski]

I think I just realized for the first time that the top of the T in the older loco markings represents the connecting hose. Always thought it was just that type of font that was common back then.

Loco markings?  I suspect you mean the "Tank Train" logo on the tank cars.  It is more of a logo than a font or typeface. With all the stylized letters (not just the hose-like "T")  I don't think it was based on any typeface/font.  Or if it was, it is very heavily modified.  I agree that it represents the hose connection all the tank cars into a single huge oil tank.

[tehachapifan]

Yes, I meant logo (I guess loco is what I'm used to typing ). I thought it was just supposed to look like that futuristic(?) type of lettering that you used to see in the late 70's into the 80's. I suppose maybe it's both.

[peteski]

Yes, I meant logo (I guess loco is what I'm used to typing ). I thought it was just supposed to look like that futuristic(?) type of lettering that you used to see in the late 70's into the 80's. I suppose maybe it's both.

TankTrain logo is I believe a logotype or wordmark.