Alan Curtis has released his long awaited BN/Trinity 68ft Boxcar. In the mid '90's Burlington Northern contracted with Trinity Industries to produce a new boxcar made with modern materials. What resulted was a double skinned car body made from fiberglass composite with a urethane foam insulating core. This kit represents the two cars which were built for assessment. The body is cast resin and the underframe cast pewter. For more information you can visit Alan's site Alan Curtis Models
Alan, That's neat! How many years did it take to finally build the kit? I recall a while ago you wanting to build that kit, but it just now made it to production.... I may be ordering some stuff soon again now... How many cars were built?
From what I read and understand there were only two cars built. Much like the Glasshopper and ATSF's insulated potato centerflows, it was not as successful as hoped
That is correct George. I was lucky enough to photograph one of them on Tehachapi in 1998 and just knew it had to be modeled! Really good looking cars, a pity they did not make it to full production.
Yep, Jerry, it was started quite a while ago, then put aside. But on sorting through stuff after our house move, I came acroos the part-built masters and decided to finish it
And here, I thought you had another intermodal kit coming.... I know how cool it is to see someting that is one of a very few built.. Here's one, 'Deuce wreck rebuild, one-of-one with SD45 long hood:
While we are on the subject of asking for stuff from Alan.... how about an JA Autoflood III coal hopper? Thought I would at least ask. Neat box car. I may end up ordering on, after I order all the other intermodal kits I will need. Thanks for listening.
Chris, that actually might be a great suggestion for Alan. I wonder if you're wanting to model the UECX hoppers in the area. Noone makes a modern hopper, only coal gons. Trainworx and Red Caboose have the older steel quad hopper and Ortner 5-bay cars, so maybe a modern JA hopper would be a hit. ~Tim
Alan, If you click on the Autoflood III link on the web page Doug mentions, it will bring up a picture of the hopper. It's lettered for my company (AmerenUE) based here in St. Louis, so of course I would want that lettering. But I could always share additional pictures of the hoppers with you and even take pictures if you need them (I'm a mechanical engineer who visits the power plants frequently).
Hey Chris, my cousin is a pipefitter at the Rush Island plant. We both grew up in the area. Another friend is an operator at Rush. When I'm down south I try to run by the plant to see what power may be bringing in the latest UCEX unit train. Alan, as for J-A, you may find a few more modeling ideas with the slab steel car, versacoil steel car, and the hybrid centerbeam car. I can imagine a few of those possibly being future AC kits, especially since your current flat car kit may be a logical basis for the 89' hybrid centerbeam (FleXibeam). ~Tim
That Flexibeam would be a neat kit! Tim: I watch the power that comes in too when I visit. Basically its SD70MACs, AC4400s, and some occasional Dash 9s and last weekend I saw an ATSF Dash 8.
Sensational! I've eagerly awaiting the release of these cars from Alan, so it looks like I'll have to put an order in. And to think I thought my credit card was going to escape the 2 months before my trip to the USA without harm...
