Atheran's new PFE mechanical reefers - grumbling

[nkalanaga]

This isn't a complaint, as I don't expect it to change anything, or change anyone's mind.  And, yes, it could be in Product Discussion, but since it's specifically N scale, and there probably won't be much discussion, I put it here.

I received my set of the latest Athearn PFE mechanical reefers, the old MDC/Roundhouse tooling.  Very nicely done paint and lettering.  They even have the ACI label and lub data, so I don't have to change anything.  The tooling itself is the same, which isn't at all bad.  I wish they'd rerun their WFEX/GN cars.

The only real change from the MDC days is that they now have body-mounted couplers, which is where my grumbling comes in.  The couplers themselves are fine, right height, and work well with themselves and other brands. I'm not fond of McHenrys, but won't complain about them, as that's strictly a personal opinion. 

But a quick glance at photos shows that these cars, and most similar cars, should have extended draft gear.  It wouldn't have cost any more money, or effort, to add extended coupler boxes, rather than the standard position, since they are cast into the floor.  Either way the tooling had to be changed.

If the boxes were just screwed to the old casting, changing them would be easy.  I'd use Wuttermelon's 3D printed draft gear, and be done in a few minutes.  But these are going to be a pain to change!

OK, enough grumbling.  If you need some early 70s (NEW 6-70) PFE reefers, get them before they're sold out.

Incidentally, the package has this notice on the back:

"This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
See Compliance at horizonhobby.com"

No, I didn't check the compliance.  If 'this device" interferes with anything in my house, I will be very surprised.

[fcnrwy23]

I agree with your point that a little "extra" effort on the part of manufacturers, would make a Good car, Great!
(and probably increase sales...)
I do run about a half dozen of the original MDC units on the layout.

I personally am not a fan of "body-mounted" couplers. The radius on some of the FCN's curves don't like them.
Though I have made the effort of reworking the surface and fascia areas, to make the radius more friendly. (smallest is now around 10.35 to 10.55 inches)

FCC part 15?
"These are unlicensed electronics"
In your description you made no reference to any electronics. Do these come with sound??

Jerry G.

[C855B]

...
Incidentally, the package has this notice on the back:

"This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
See Compliance at horizonhobby.com"

No, I didn't check the compliance.  If 'this device" interferes with anything in my house, I will be very surprised.

Boilerplate. Horizon may be putting the notice on everything given their core business is R/C. Or, possibly, they are planning future versions of the reefers will have sound modules, a la BLI's nonsense, and have printed vast quantities of the packaging/labeling to cover their butts.

FWIW, I have built quite a fleet of Athearn/MDC and Intermountain PFE reefers to model the "Salad Bowl Express" that would have run in my modeling era and location. The Intermountain tooling is much superior, and if I ever get the two-dozen I pre-ordered 4-1/2 years ago, my plans are to liquidate the Athearns.

Good point about the extended draft gear, though. I should do something in 3D printing to better model it.

[garethashenden]

Do these come with sound??

Yes. They do come with sound. You can get them without sound or with sound. https://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH24713

[C855B]

Thanks. That clarifies it. With sound electronics they have to post the notice on the packaging.

[bbussey]

I didn't realize they added sound to the ex-MDC tooling.  They introduced  the sound option for their newer FGE-prototype tooling introduced in 2014, and those models do have extended draft gear.  I guess they have the sound option for all three of their mechanical reefer models now.

[nkalanaga]

Yes, if they have a sound version, it makes sense that they have the electronics notice.  Like the others, I didn't realize they had a sound version.

I saw a lot of mechanical reefers in Pasco in the 60s and 70s, and never noticed any of them making noise.  Apparently they aren't that loud, and not obvious at normal (safe) viewing distances.  The ones I saw were in  the yard, so probably at least a hundred feet away.

[nkalanaga]

Adding proper extended draft gear to these wouldn't be hard, just annoying.  Probably the easiest way would be to cut the end off the floor, everything outside the body bolsters, and replace it with a piece of sheet plastic.  Then screw a Wuttermelon draft gear to it, and it's done.

If one has a milling machine, removing the existing box wouldn't be hard.  Doing it, accurately, by hand would be a chore.

[C855B]

... I saw a lot of mechanical reefers in Pasco in the 60s and 70s, and never noticed any of them making noise.  Apparently they aren't that loud, and not obvious at normal (safe) viewing distances.  The ones I saw were in  the yard, so probably at least a hundred feet away.

A buddy and I frequently railfanned near citrus packing houses in the early '70s. The mech reefers were a bit on the noisy side, powered by a small diesel engine. But not too noisy, unless you were around several. In concert they could setup quite a drone. They were also noticeable trackside in slow trains.

[nkalanaga]

Maybe the difference was that, by the time they reached Pasco Yard, the insides were cold.  With good insulation, the reefer units wouldn't run much.

At a packing shed, they'd be cooling a warm interior, so would have to be running.

[wazzou]

I spent a lot of time as a young’n around the Roseville Yard (CA) on the SP, a major PFE hub.
Those reefer units made a fair amount of racket.
If you’ve ever been to a truck stop in the 70-80’s or even 90’s that had refrigerated trailers with Thermo-King front or bottom mounted units, you know the sound.

[nkalanaga]

Oh yes, I've heard the sound.  Truck reefers here in northeast Kentucky, especially in the summer, seem to run almost continuously.

Of course, so do the trucks, which just adds to the din.  The local truck stops, also the cheapest places to buy gas, smell very much like the roundhouse in Pasco used to.  Not surprising - they burn the same stuff!

For PFE experts:  I have found one item on the Athearn models that I question.  All three cars, 457500, 458321, and 459384, are stenciled NEW 6-70, and R-70-22.  I also have an Intermountain car, #457901, stenciled NEW 6-69, and R-70-20. 

Were the 4579xx cars bought before the 4575xx, or is at least one of these wrong?  No, I'm NOT going to change the lettering, as I have to use a magnifying glass just to read it!

[thomasjmdavis]

For PFE experts:  I have found one item on the Athearn models that I question.  All three cars, 457500, 458321, and 459384, are stenciled NEW 6-70, and R-70-22.  I also have an Intermountain car, #457901, stenciled NEW 6-69, and R-70-20. 

Were the 4579xx cars bought before the 4575xx, or is at least one of these wrong?  No, I'm NOT going to change the lettering, as I have to use a magnifying glass just to read it!

If Railgoat is correct, the only one that would be a R-70-22 is 459384.  Numbers below 459300 are R-70-20 (although some of these were built in 1970, most were built in 1969) or R-70-21.  I don't know what details would distinguish one from the other, beyond the lettering ID'ing the class. Just to confuse things, there were also R-70-21 cars built in 1969 in between batches of R-70-20s. The Railgoat blog ID's the IM car as the model for all 3 classes.

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/reefer/r070-20.htm

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/reefer/r070-21.htm

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/reefer/r070-22.htm

[nkalanaga]

Tom:  Thank you.  To me, they all look the same, so I'll leave the lettering alone.  Apparently they're all identical cars, so it won't be noticeable.

[peteski]

This isn't a complaint, as I don't expect it to change anything, or change anyone's mind.  And, yes, it could be in Product Discussion, but since it's specifically N scale, and there probably won't be much discussion, I put it here.

This thread has been dormant for some time - the discussion seems to have ended. Since you explained your reasons for posting this where you did, I'll offer my take on this.

If you look at the majority of the posts in that section, they are N scale (the entire Railwire is quite N-centric).  Plus, posts in the Product Discussion can (and should) be labeled using one of the scale icons.  Product Discussion section is far from dead - there is lots of participation. Actually, it is the 2nd most popular section of the forum. I know I like to check  there to see what the discussions are all about - I suspect others do the same.