Vintage 3 dome tank car

[6axlepwr]

Christmas 1972 is when I first got n-scale trains. I bought my brother a three dome tank car. I am trying to find it again to add to my collection of memories.

It was either Union 76, Mobile or Gulf. He tends to think it was mobile, but all the mobile cars I can find are dark red. The car was all dark blue and had three domes. That is all I can remember as well as the car was bought in 1972. I do also remember it was bought at the Hobby Barn in Antioch, IL. Although that does not help anyone.

Anyone have an idea of the car I am referring to?

Brian

[6axlepwr]

Well just as I finished posting this, I checked ebay one more time with a different search and found it. It is a Gulf car. Promptly bought it. Seller is in Germany.

Brian

[Point353]

Would this be the car in question?



https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=93316

If so, there's (another) one, from a seller in MD, currently listed on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-rivarossi-N-Tank-Car-Gulf-Tanker-2296-with-its-box/193036503496

[Albert in N]

Other late 1960s, early 1970s N scale triple domes.  Yugoslavian made Mehano/Rivarossi on each end with Hong Kong made Bachmann in center.  Yugoslavian cars were imported and sold by Model Power and MRC and possibly others, even Atlas.

[peteski]

I have couple of these myself. One is silver decorated for "Baby Ruth".  IIRC, it was made in Yugoslavia and sold under Model Power or Life-like brand.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Given the quantity of these three dome cars in the modern world... were they actually that common in reality? Or were they made because "weird sells" and then copied ad infinitum?

[nickelplate759]

and are any of them decent representations of a prototype?  If so, which ones?

[thomasjmdavis]

Given the quantity of these three dome cars in the modern world... were they actually that common in reality? Or were they made because "weird sells" and then copied ad infinitum?

I think I would go with "not as common as in 1970s vintage N scale", but based on real cars.  Some had special applications and could have as many as 6 domes.  Most common were 2 or 3.  I think the most common use was simply for smaller shipments- allowed a fuel dealer to order 2000 gallons each 3 different grades of fuel or other commodities.
Here's some info from a company whose 3 dome tank car is made in the wrong scale....
https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/general-american-6000-gal-3-comp-tank-car/

[SP-Wolf]

Another commodity carried in multiple compartment tank cars was wine. With 3, 4 and 6 compartments (domes).

Wolf

[Missaberoad]

and are any of them decent representations of a prototype?  If so, which ones?

For the most part they are all much too large... Most 3 domes were around 6k to 10k gallons, see the size of the Micro-trains Acf tank...

I believe the early N scale ones would all be 12k gallons +

[Albert in N]

Micro-Trains Line car (green PC) is correct scale size but Bachmann car (red and white Panhandle Refining) seems too large, but looks good since I am not a rivet counter.   All of the early N scale triple dome tank cars seemed oversize compared to prototype.

[thomasjmdavis]

MT needs to do another run. Preferably GATX or something similarly generic. I could use 1 or 2.  Now to find someone else to take the other 1998 units so that it's worth MT's while to make the cars....

[Albert in N]

You mean like these?  Careful, since triple dome N gauge  tank cars can be addictive, as I well know!

[bbussey]

The Gulf car is an Atlas/Rivarossi model. All of the Rivarossi-tooled models circa 1970 were based on real prototypes. Probably not Gulf prototypes, but the model itself is accurate albeit rare. Just as the AHM models of that era are prototypical tooling-wise but oddballs.

[6axlepwr]

Would this be the car in question?



https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=93316

If so, there's (another) one, from a seller in MD, currently listed on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-rivarossi-N-Tank-Car-Gulf-Tanker-2296-with-its-box/193036503496

Yep, that is the car and mine arrive in the mail last week.

My best guess is that this paint scheme is a total foob. Never existed. But then again when you are 7 or 8 years old. Prototype is meaningless.

Now the next car I am looking for is a vintage early 1970's Con Cor CB&Q gondola. I have not found a picture of it yet. I am sure eventually one might show up on ebay or at a train show. This is the car my brother got me for Christmas 1971. It disappeared over the years and I would like to find a replacement for it.

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Brian