Prototype for old Atlas whale tank car?

[prbharris]

The one and only prototype still exists and lives in St. Louis at the Museum of Transport: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3455978 ......If you want to improve it as a model for yourself, like Ryan said, wheels, trucks and couplers are #1, and super-easy. Next is the thick roofwalk, not as easy. You'll have to figure out which detail kit(s) to use.....I'll probably get decals printed for a repaint.

An interesting project. When I was at the St Louis Museum [to identify the very early CNS&M flat car - which will be out from N Scale Kits later this year - and not known by the conservators there as this fantastic exhibit, but now acknowledged in their inventory] I measured up the Whale Car as a possible kit of the ends and walks etc. using the Atlas tank - or a resin tank of our own.

If there is sufficient interest in this unusual car we could put this up as a www.nscalekits.com line. However, as this thread indicates thes was merely a 'proof of concept' car and was never used in revenue service. However - it would an excellent conversation piece running on a layout.

I would be interested to hear views.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[cjm413]

An interesting project. When I was at the St Louis Museum [to identify the very early CNS&M flat car - which will be out from N Scale Kits later this year - and not known by the conservators there as this fantastic exhibit, but now acknowledged in their inventory] I measured up the Whale Car as a possible kit of the ends and walks etc. using the Atlas tank - or a resin tank of our own.

If there is sufficient interest in this unusual car we could put this up as a www.nscalekits.com line. However, as this thread indicates thes was merely a 'proof of concept' car and was never used in revenue service. However - it would an excellent conversation piece running on a layout.

I would be interested to hear views.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

From the perspective of having an "excellent conversation piece running on a layout", the easiest option would be offer a replacement pair of span bolsters that are designed to:
1) fit the existing Atlas body; and
2) accept readily available coupler boxes and trucks (e.g. MTL)

[cjm413]

From the perspective of having an "excellent conversation piece running on a layout", the easiest option would be offer a replacement pair of span bolsters that are designed to:

1) fit the existing Atlas body;
2) accept readily available trucks without coupler boxes (e.g. MTL roller bearing); and
3) accept either a MTL 1015 or True Scale coupler box.

With these parts, the "challenge" of turning a stock Atlas model with broken and/or missing bolster spans and/or trucks into an operational model only requires someone to paint the new bolster spans the appropriate color, and if desired, adding the appropriate end rails and ladders to the end platforms

[learmoia]

An interesting project. When I was at the St Louis Museum [to identify the very early CNS&M flat car - which will be out from N Scale Kits later this year - and not known by the conservators there as this fantastic exhibit, but now acknowledged in their inventory] I measured up the Whale Car as a possible kit of the ends and walks etc. using the Atlas tank - or a resin tank of our own.

If there is sufficient interest in this unusual car we could put this up as a www.nscalekits.com line. However, as this thread indicates thes was merely a 'proof of concept' car and was never used in revenue service. However - it would an excellent conversation piece running on a layout.

I would be interested to hear views.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

While the GATX car was proof of concept, the UTLX version was a revenue car (can't do a link from the phone, but check Galviston, TX Railroad museum). Or take a look at the modern jumbo 4 truck or 3 axle tank.

~Ian

[C855B]

While the GATX car was proof of concept, the UTLX version was a revenue car (can't do a link from the phone, but check Galviston, TX Railroad museum). Or take a look at the modern jumbo 4 truck or 3 axle tank.

It's been gone for several years, apparently. I found this in a quick search from another forum, a post dated 2010: "...During Ike's flood, the whale belly tank car floated up off its trucks, floated onto the adjacent parking lot, and came to rest in the parking lot when the flood receded. We couldn't get any assistance that was cost effective and the car was cut up for scrap. ..."

This is the only picture of the prototype I could find online: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/40004357852548788/filePointer/40004357862121143/fodoid/40004357862121134/imageType/MEDIUM/inlineImage/true/image.jpg

Overland did an HO model of it.

I would be good for a kit that uses a donor Atlas car versus my planned kitbashing. It is an interesting car and even though it only demo'ed in real life, I'd run it for grins, anyway. It would be right at home with my fleet of UP double diesels as studies in unrestrained RR excess. 

[cjm413]

While the GATX car was proof of concept, the UTLX version was a revenue car (can't do a link from the phone, but check Galviston, TX Railroad museum). Or take a look at the modern jumbo 4 truck or 3 axle tank.

~Ian

Here's the link to the above-referenced UTLX tank:

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/bynumber/utlx083699.htm

Given the stock bolster span and trucks on the Atlas model are not a good representation of the prototype, another option that may provide a better ROI is to make a new model of a different 4 truck tank (whether the UTLX car or one of the other modern 4 truck tanks) with a bolster span that could potentially be used as a "functional stand-in" for the Atlas model...

[JanesCustomTrain]

Wait. The other photo on that page shows a blast furnace in the background. That was Sharon Steel.

I would be interested to hear views.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

Now that I have your attention (Chris mentioned a steel mill, so it's not totally OT  ) how about ladle car, torpedo car and ingot car kits ?

Jane

[atsf3751]

Not really relevant but a friend of mine built one for his G Scale layout, impressive big car.

[nkalanaga]

I'll bet a G scale one is impressive.

But, just from curiosity, what is "G scale" in this context?  Is it 1:32, or close to it, running on "G gauge" track?  Or 1:22.5, or close to it, running on whatever would be standard gauge for the scale?  The car would be big in any case, but the size could vary a lot.

[atsf3751]

I'll bet a G scale one is impressive.

But, just from curiosity, what is "G scale" in this context?  Is it 1:32, or close to it, running on "G gauge" track?  Or 1:22.5, or close to it, running on whatever would be standard gauge for the scale?  The car would be big in any case, but the size could vary a lot.

The car is 1:32.

[prbharris]

Now that I have your attention (Chris mentioned a steel mill, so it's not totally OT  ) how about ladle car, torpedo car and ingot car kits ?

Jane

There is someone else doing steel mill cars - I had a booth next to KenRay Models at the last year's NSE Convention in Pittsburgh. Their kits and rtr cars are great [we also discussed some joint projects, of which more news later] https://kenraymodels.com/t/n-scale-steel-mill-kits-and-accessories but we will not be competing directly. Do have a look at their kits and cars for steel mill work. If these do not meet requirements please PM so that Ken and I can take things further!

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[prbharris]

From the perspective of having an "excellent conversation piece running on a layout", .... offer a replacement pair of span bolsters that are designed to:
1) fit the existing Atlas body;
2) accept readily available trucks without coupler boxes (e.g. MTL roller bearing); and
3) accept either a MTL 1015 or True Scale coupler box.

That is what I was considering. We have not got an old Atlas car to work on, so I will look out for one to measure up and develop the above. If anyone can help, with car or dimensions and detailed pictures etc. of the Atlas car, please PM me.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[cjm413]

That is what I was considering. We have not got an old Atlas car to work on, so I will look out for one to measure up and develop the above. If anyone can help, with car or dimensions and detailed pictures etc. of the Atlas car, please PM me.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

Some pics on the A1G site, but they don't show much detail:

http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/

[nkalanaga]

Marty:  Thank you.  That's what I thought was most likely, but there have been models built to the larger scale.

[prbharris]

We have not got an old Atlas car to work on, so I will look out for one to measure up and develop the above.

It does look from the pictures that I have seen of the Atlas car, though, that it is a lot smaller than either the UTLX or GATX car. For example the Atlas tank does not have [unlike me ] a saggy pot belly that extends down below the bolster line, between the trucks. Until I can get hold of one of the Atlas bodies, it is difficult to see what the possibilities are, but it does look as if the body is significantly smaller than the 'jumbo' or 'whale cars.

I would love to hear differently!

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com