What year did Atlas first print car numbers on the ends of n-scale freight cars? Thank you for your time. Wes634
Good question! I've wondered this also. Checking what's on the layout right now, I spot only one Atlas USA car, and it has end numbers. That's considered an old car. I'd like to know when the real RRs adopted end numbers. Have they always stenciled the ends? Or just interchange traffic?
I don't know the year but this might be a clue. I have about 50 Atlas 3-bay hoppers with different road numbers; all have road numbers on the car ends. The oldest ones are not only pre-"Trainman" but came with Rapido couplers.
I have an Atlas Colorado & Southern single-bay covered hopper that is stamped "Atlas 1992" on the bottom and has end-printed car numbers and reporting marks. That may help narrow down the time a bit.
Atlas Car #379 Central of Georgia 3 Bay covered hopper has no end markings. Stamped underneath is Atlas USA, there is no year. I would surmise this car is before 1992 because it was one of the first cars I purchased and was new/old stock at Roys Train World when I bought it. Perhaps Paul from Atlas would like to chime in about this?????
All, Is this just current ATLAS CARS 1990- 2019 ? Second would all ATLAS CARS -a1g freight cars included here? Tom
George could answer the A1G question. Paul Graf might know some or all of the Atlas USA-and-forward part. Hopefully they'll stop by.
