I've recently come across some cars that are marked as Aksarben Special run. I'm sure they are a bit dated, appearently from about 20 years ago. Anyone ever hear of these?
Hello, I have never seen of heard of these cars but "Aksarben" is Nebraska backwards. (I learned that on Antiques Road Show). Apparently, there was a passenger train named the Aksarben Zephyr, which ran on the CB&Q. Mark
Yes, at one time Ak-Sar-Ben was the major supplier of parts for N scale locomotives, stocking parts from Rivarossi, Roco, and MiniTrix. It also did some special run paint jobs, particularly for the New Orleans and Knoxville World's Fairs. It is still in business, but no longer involved in any way with trains, it now does special run truck and trailer models. It's been close to 20 years since it quit the N scale train business.
Sounds like these have more of a collector value, not quite what I'm into but good to know. Even though I'm not new to N scale I do really value the info you guys that have been in for the long haul provide. Thanx
They did lots of stuff including circus sets 3-4 cars. I need to find one more set to have the complete fleet for Debra. They will be run as soon as I get the trucks changed (2053 if I'm lucky and the hearrt holds out).
They did a lot of custom painting. Some special runs of two and three car sets in special boxes were painted by them. Also they did some locos. Their cars a worth some money to collectors if mint and in original boxes. They have not been in the model train business for a number of years.
Some of the cars Ak-Sar-Ben did are today very collectable, as you can see if you look at the Armstrong Reference Guide (which happens to be featured on BLW's website right now). This keeps track of practically all MT or MT related cars ever made, plus other stuff, and in particular, auction results over the years. Some of the Ak-Sar-Bens have gotten prices of over $100. Perhaps the most famous of their production is the Quaker Oats series, repainted from MT 39000 or 42000s. There are about seven different numbers of this car, perhaps the rarest being #181. They're quite attractive, painted in a deep red, with a white door that has the Ouaker Oats man on it traced in blue. They usually sell for $50 to $100 each these days.
Didn't Ak-sar-ben move and turn into Rio Grande Hobbys? (Ak-Sar-Ben was a famous horse racing track in Omaha, also BTW )
No, Dave Sears ran Rio Grande Hobbies first in Albuquerque, NM, and then in Huntsville, AL. He is an engineer or scientist of some kind. He sold Rio grande Hobbies to run Signal Research. Ak-Sar-Ben has been located in Nashville, TN for a couple of decades by now.
I've often wondered why people operating out of Tennessee would have aksarben (ie, Nebraska backwards) as their name---I always figured they were originally from Nebraska or something like that.
Al Miller in Jacksboro TN was aksarben. He sold his stock and some machinery to a couple in the Baltimore Area years ago. I believe as part of a settlement
Well then, this explains why those items sold at such outragous prices. Somedays I'm glad I'm not a collector!
