Got this today! Actually got four of 'em. These are AZL's 17,600 gal "Corn Syrup" tank cars, decorated for ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) with ADM's Leaf Logo scheme. This particular ADM logo was introduced on May 1, 2001. The four pack includes ADMX 15744, 15746, 15750, and 15759. They are very nicely done. I expected them to be just short versions of AZL's longer tank cars, but it seems they are a little different than just a chop job. The most obvious change is the top railing, which no longer has the obtrusive "loops" holding the rails, so these look much cleaner. The lettering is clean and what you'd come to expect from the latest freight car releases. The color of the logo matches up very well with prototype photos. One note about the lettering...it initially seemed maybe slightly simplified, but I checked against photos and everything looks to be in order. One thing that is missing is the top reporting marks. I don't think they are consistently on EVERY corn syrup car, and they may have been added post-delivery. Probably not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but if you're expecting them on this run they're not present. Speaking of real life, here are a few links to proto photos: (I also threw some Atlas pics in there too) ADMX 15744 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1411166 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2939549 http://download.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/ntrinity/0309/40211_TQ.jpg ADMX 15746 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2476563 http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/ntrinity/40211.jpg ADMX 15750 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1324807 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1967753 http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/ntrinity/40212.jpg ADMX 15759 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2297157 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2893714 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3485130 In summary, I think they're great little cars. They are a staple of my small little layout, which has two industries served that receive corn syrup. (Coca-Cola plant and Dr. Pepper transload)
Very strange that the top reporting marks didn't make it on the cars. If you look at the NTS photos, the ADM car at show had the top reporting marks. It's probably a factory sample, so AZL intended them to be on the cars.
That's a good point. The more I thought about it, I can't imagine this particular scheme not having the top reporting marks since the cars would have been shopped and repainted after May 2001. So either a factory screw-up or a cost cut. (sigh) I took a few more pics alongside the older 56ft (?) tank cars that AZL did. Even more differences than I thought.
Reported over on the AZL site: references show not all cars got the topside reporting marks when shopped and the next run WILL have the reporting marks. BTW nice to see a positive product review. Mark
Doug we have just released the ADM cars with the conspicuity striping. These have the topside reporting marks. Check them out here! http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/azl-october-2015-new-items-part-2.86658/ Rob
Unfortunately I'm stuck with the first release. Never thought you would release them back to back like that or I would have waited. That will teach me to be an early adopter.
