Hey guys and gals,who is running intermodal traffic on their layout or club? I'm a mid '80s era modeler and the intermodal scene is heavily represented on my GTW-DT&I layout. I love it! fast trains,neat equiptment and refreshing among the typical array of boxcars,hoppers,tankers,etc. And share ideas,tips,and even tell us why you DONT model intermodal if thats the case! Maybe we'll get our own intermodal forum.
Here is a photo taken on my layout with a UP hotshot intermodal I have Walthers husky stacks for my intermodal service. I also have 2 sets of Alan Curtis spine cars which are excellent. I have ordered a set of Deluxe Innovations Roadailers which should just about complete my intermodal roaster.
Yeah,I have the Walthers 5 unit set,I know Gold Medel Models makes a detail kit for em too!I also have assorted MDC husky stacks but I gotta find a way to weight them down so I can run them empty! I also have the GHQ Mi-Jack container crane that I'll build on some rainy day. I gotta talk to Alan about purchasing a set of those spine cars also.
I have several double stack cars, both 5-unit, 3-unit drawbarred stand-alone, and single husky stacks. Also, of course, my spine cars and 89ft flatcars I love running intermodal trains, and make everthing else get out of the way to let them through Here is one climbing the 3 percent grade on my layout.
I wish I had a layout to film my stuff on!! So far I am building up an intermodel train with: 4 Deluxe twin stack sets 6 89' flat cars (including MT and AC Models) Spine car set (AC Models) stand alone well car (MDC) 2 Walthers 5 unit sets. I also have 20 road railers. I'll try and take some pictures of this stuff soon in action at our next club meet. I like LONG, fast, tall trains, and that's why I like intermodel.
Bring on the Intermodal!!!! I use Walthers Double Stacks. Not as detailed I know, but the weight makes them reliable performers. I'm switching over from single cars to 5 car units. Unfortunately a typical train length for me is one 5 car set. Once and awhile I run longer ones though. I just don't have that long a mainline. Off the subject, but two items of interest: 1) Craig, I was over at a hobby shop called Trainsource in Houston Texas last weekend. Saw BLMA parts on the shelf for the first time! 2) On the drive back I saw a Intermodal hotshot running from Beaumont to Houston. It was real long and had 8 engines (mostly dash 9s) pulling it.
I have a small collection of intermodal stuff... I like the speedy trains, the most modern equipment, huge locos, and long, double-stacked trains. I see many in my area of Minot, ND, on their way across the northern transcon. So far I have: 2 atlas Front Runners 2 MT 89' (new released) flats 1 5-car art. Walthers stack cars 9 RH Husky Stacks 11 C-C autoracks I know it doesn't count, but I have seen autoracks on intermodal hotshots on BNSF headed west. Off-topic, but is anyone going to make those funkycool articulated autoracks I see every so often? They seem quite new.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by HemiAdda2d: Off-topic, but is anyone going to make those funkycool articulated autoracks I see every so often? They seem quite new.<hr></blockquote> I think that the diaphragm between the units could be a problem in small scales, but I think Atlas or someone is doing them in O scale!
Here are some useful links for intermodal fans: Model Intermodal Website http://www.modelintermodal.com Model Intermodal email group at Yahoo! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/modelintermodal N Scale Intermodal Website (the underlined words are live links leading to other pages) http://csc.smsu.edu/~bender/nscale-intermodal/ Here is a link to a photo of the new Atlas O scale articulated autorack http://www.atlaso.com/images/6292.gif and here is a photo of the prototype. These cars are 140 ft long, almost 20 ft tall, have two levels and can carry 18 vans, light trucks or sport utility vehicles http://www.trainweb.org/nwrp/ttx/bttx880387-2.jpg eNjoy Don B [ 17 August 2001: Message edited by: dbn160 ]</p>
Thanks for the links, Don. Those are great looking cars. Are the dark areas on the sides, holes covered by fine mesh? The simple paint scheme is good, with the large "TTX". Difficult cars to model well in N scale, I fear!
The two unit Auto Max cars are out in O scale. They look pretty good, but something about them just looks fake, but I can't put my finger on it. Sure would be cool to have those in N scale!! I would buy at least 30 two unit sets if the price was right!
I can't take all the credit, but when our club takes out N-track layout to shows, one of my favorite trains is the Intermodal. I can provide 30+ cars, and other club members chip in the rest, but we usually end up with 50+ cars. I just got two new Kato SD90's that are undecorated, and will soon become MOPAC "Screaming Eagles" to pull the future intermodal trains. On my home layout, I have the operations set up for 30 to 40-car trains, so I limit the intermodal to about 6-cars at a time.
Some open loads on a spinecar . . . . and a pup trailer [ 19 August 2001: Message edited by: Alan ]</p>
Here's an overload of intermodal pictures. A couple of SD90s and a c44-9 make the trek around the layout. Took the photos in a hurry so the quality is a bit uneven. But, pictures were requested!
