Intermodal trains (new to freight)

[simsuper80]

I've always been an n scale passenger modeler, but if I had to get a freight consist, it would probably be an intermodal train, and it's kinda growing on me.

I'm guessing the kato freight locomotives, and the well car sets are the best running models out there. But I'm curious what would be a semi realistic consist. I notice these trains tend to have a mix of articulated and single cars.

I'm also curious what the best pulling deisels are. I've seen scaletrains engines and their great details (like the standing grabs on the front of the nose), but how do they run👀

I suppose if one is willing, you could manually install free standing handrails on a kato model.

[Missaberoad]

What railroad are you interested in? And what location and era?
That would help determine what you are looking for if you want a realistic consist.

[simsuper80]

What railroad are you interested in? And what location and era?
That would help determine what you are looking for if you want a realistic consist.

I'd say bnsf and the Midwest to the west coast

[ednadolski]

I suppose if one is willing, you could manually install free standing handrails on a kato model.

I would tend to agree.   No need to constrain it to Kato tho.

Ed

[pmpexpress]

I'd say bnsf and the Midwest to the west coast

Diesel Locomotives

Built between 1993 - 2004 (BNSF has replaced the majority if not all of these units with GeVos) GE DASH 9-44CW (Kato or ScaleTrains)

Built between 2005 and 2009 GE ET44AC (Kato)

Built Between 2015 - 2020 GE ET44C4 Tier 4 GEVo (ScaleTrains)

Contemporary Intermodal Single Cars

Atlas 40' Rebuilt Well Car

Atlas 53' Rebuilt Well Car

Jacksonville Terminal Company 53' National Steel Car (NSC) Double Stack Well Cars

Although in the 1990s to early 2000s one would see plenty of combinations of singles and articulated sets, presently, the BNSF tends to stick with articulated car sets.

From what I have encountered, unless there is some sort of an available car shortage, as a rule of thumb, combinations of MAXI I five-car articulated sets mixed together with MAXI IV three car articulated sets tends to be rare event.

If you really want to create a unique BNSF consist, you might want to consider modeling a Boeing airframe transport/merchandise train consisting of autoracks, intermodal cars, and other types of rolling-stock.

From my blog article Atypical Train Car Loads: Shipping Boeing Airplane Components by Rail.

"Previously moved exclusively in special consists, Boeing fuselage shipments on the BNSF presently travel in general merchandise trains.

Owing to the their size, weight, and high value, followed by autorack, intermodal, and other types of rolling-stock, airliner airframes must travel at or near (i.e., in some of the trains that include Skybox cars loaded with aircraft components) the head end of a train, directly behind the locomotives.

With transit time frames of around twelve days, the BNSF transports Boeing shipments in high priority "Z" symbol train consists."

[simsuper80]

Diesel Locomotives

Built between 1993 - 2004 (BNSF has replaced the majority if not all of these units with GeVos) GE DASH 9-44CW (Kato or ScaleTrains)

Built between 2005 and 2009 GE ET44AC (Kato)

Built Between 2015 - 2020 GE ET44C4 Tier 4 GEVo (ScaleTrains)

Contemporary Intermodal Single Cars

Atlas 40' Rebuilt Well Car

Atlas 53' Rebuilt Well Car

Jacksonville Terminal Company 53' National Steel Car (NSC) Double Stack Well Cars

Although in the 1990s to early 2000s one would see plenty of combinations of singles and articulated sets, presently, the BNSF tends to stick with articulated car sets.

From what I have encountered, unless there is some sort of an available car shortage, as a rule of thumb, combinations of MAXI I five-car articulated sets mixed together with MAXI IV three car articulated sets tends to be rare event.

If you really want to create a unique BNSF consist, you might want to consider modeling a Boeing airframe transport/merchandise train consisting of autoracks, intermodal cars, and other types of rolling-stock.

From my blog article Atypical Train Car Loads: Shipping Boeing Airplane Components by Rail.

"Previously moved exclusively in special consists, Boeing fuselage shipments on the BNSF presently travel in general merchandise trains.

Owing to the their size, weight, and high value, followed by autorack, intermodal, and other types of rolling-stock, airliner airframes must travel at or near (i.e., in some of the trains that include Skybox cars loaded with aircraft components) the head end of a train, directly behind the locomotives.

With transit time frames of around twelve days, the BNSF transports Boeing shipments in high priority "Z" symbol train consists."

I wouldn't say I'm looking for an unusual or unique consist, more like an average semi realistic one. I looked at some 2024 videos of bnsf trains, and I definitely see some single unit container cars on all the trains. But a majority of them are articulated

[pmpexpress]

I wouldn't say I'm looking for an unusual or unique consist, more like an average semi realistic one. I looked at some 2024 videos of bnsf trains, and I definitely see some single unit container cars on all the trains. But a majority of them are articulated

Probably dependent upon where they were headed to; were the singles loaded with 20' containers, mixed 20' 40', 45', and/or 53' containers, or a pair of the same size 40' or 53' containers?

[simsuper80]

Probably dependent upon where they were headed to; were the singles loaded with 20' containers, mixed 20' 40', 45', and/or 53' containers, or a pair of the same size 40' or 53' containers?

I was watching a few of these.

/>

/>

[GaryHinshaw]

If you are interested in the modern era, you are most likely to find intermodal trains carry either domestic 53' containers in 53' wells or international 40' containers in either 40' or 53' well.   The ratio of domestic to international traffic depends on the lane; for example, Cajon Pass has mostly international traffic (LA to/from Chicago), while a lane like Tehachapi has mostly domestic traffic.  Lanes in the Pacific northwest have a mix.  International containers tend to be more varied and colourful (if that matters to you).   As noted above, the list of available well cars is fairly limited.

53' wells:
Kato - Gunderson Maxi IV 3-unit articulated set
Jacksonville Terminal - National Steel single well cars
Atlas - Gunderson single well cars

40' wells:
Kato - Gunderson Maxi-I 5-unit articulated sets
Atlas - Gunderson single well cars

There is a definite need for more articulated well car sets.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Deluxe also did the Twin Stack, but they are getting harder to find.

[simsuper80]

If you are interested in the modern era, you are most likely to find intermodal trains carry either domestic 53' containers in 53' wells or international 40' containers in either 40' or 53' well.   The ratio of domestic to international traffic depends on the lane; for example, Cajon Pass has mostly international traffic (LA to/from Chicago), while a lane like Tehachapi has mostly domestic traffic.  Lanes in the Pacific northwest have a mix.  International containers tend to be more varied and colourful (if that matters to you).   As noted above, the list of available well cars is fairly limited.

53' wells:
Kato - Gunderson Maxi IV 3-unit articulated set
Jacksonville Terminal - National Steel single well cars
Atlas - Gunderson single well cars

40' wells:
Kato - Gunderson Maxi-I 5-unit articulated sets
Atlas - Gunderson single well cars

There is a definite need for more articulated well car sets.

Hmm interesting. Is it any different along the puget sound?

[simsuper80]

There is a definite need for more articulated well car sets.

I also see that this company makes well cars as well
http://www.nscalekits.co.uk/nkits.html

[GaryHinshaw]

Hmm interesting. Is it any different along the puget sound?

I don't know about the Sound specifically.  In general it depends on whether the lane in question serves a shipping port (rail to/from ship trans-load) or an intermodal terminal (rail to/from truck trans-load).  Along the Sound you probably have a good mix of both types.  Note that you can have a mix of international and domestic containers on a single train, but they will tend to be blocked into groups of one or another type.

There are a few good webcams in western Washington that can give you a pretty good idea of what is typical.  Google Washington state rail webcams to get a good sampling of the current links.

I also see that this company makes well cars as well
http://www.nscalekits.co.uk/nkits.html

These are ok, but not great.  The etchings are pretty good, but the pewter castings are hit or miss.  Also, it's not clear if they are even still available; see for example this thread.

-gfh

[dem34]

Deluxe also did the Twin Stack, but they are getting harder to find.

Unfortunately for the general public I buy them all.

[wcfn100]

First of all, keep watching those Freight Train Production videos!

Second , I’ll piggyback on what Gary is talking about. There’s a big difference between the domestic and international trains in terms of containers. That would be the first decision I’d make. Still a lot of fake bonnets on the BNSF getting used in intermodal traffic. We also see a lot of NS on the BNSF getting used.


Jason