Anybody have these yet? Was wondering what kind of trucks they have (proprietary or someone else's)? BLI's website doesn't have much info. Thanks, -Mark
These are listed at full retail at $140 for a six pack. The Etailers are selling them for around $110-$113 or so. To me personally that is more than I am willing to pay for a hopper so I will not be ordering any. Maybe they will show up on the auction site for less. But to answer your question, one Etailer lists the following under features: "Couplers: (2) Operating Micro-Trains #1015 or Compatible" Whatever that means.
I guess that probably means the couplers are shell-mounts. But I'm more interested in the trucks. Thanks, -Mark
Yeah, it seems everyone has to have their own trucks. But that is entirely unnecessary and wasteful. How many trucks do I have that were removed and replaced with MT's? Answer, all of them. How much money does that represent? A lot. Hey here's an idea! Sell the car less trucks and couplers. That would lower the cost of the car since the truck, wheelsets and coupler do not have to be manufactured or purchased off of another supplier. Also, it would lower the cost to assemble the car. The purchaser can then add whatever truck and coupler they so desire. Why pay twice for something?
Got mine today. Here is a photo of one of the trucks: Not like anything I've seen, but I'm not familiar with all the new manufacturer's trucks. They roll well, but the gauge is a little tight on the wheels, and I couldn't get them to move easily. The couplers are body mounted and look like Micro-Trains or a very good copy.
Very Nice. H2a Prototypical for N&W and PRR (leased from N&W). Good stand in for Wabash, which were N&W H2 hoppers bought by Wabash.
A couple more pics: I think the end lettering is a little big, but still one of the better renderings of N&W lettering:
Just picked up a set. It looks like a 70T Bettendorf truck - friction bearings and three springs. Adrian
Same here. If it was $90 or less I would grab a 6 set of PRR. The street price is still too inflated.