Can someone explain the differences between the BLMA and the DI spine cars? I know the DI cars have been promised for quite a long time. Are the dates realistic? I leave that to DI to answer. I have some of the N Scale Kits/Alan Curtis spines. They are excellent and always get comments when running at shows. This is an exciting time to model Intermodal in N Scale.
The DI is a three unit car, TTX class NAF30A (whatever that means..) The BLMA is a five unit Trinity RAF53C. Dave Ferrari, in one of his latest posts, referred us to the "Products Pending With Status" page off the home page; this shows the spine cars as "in production" with a 2Q2010 ship date. Usually, once a product gets to that point it's pretty much in stone - except for Atlas and their code 55 curved switches and rerailers. I've got a bunch also and would build some more, but the decaling! It took longer to decal than to build! Actually if I weathered them I wouldn't have to decal them - watching at Rochelle a couple weeks ago you couldn't read the nunbers they were so dirty. I suspect they never wash them - no real reason to. Also it seemed the three unit and five unit cars were about equal. No argument here!
Your right, they never, ever, ever, wash them...the only way they get clean is a downpour, and even then, not much help....
One other difference between the BLMA and DI spines is that the DI 3-unit sets ("TTRX Triple-57's") have hitches at both ends of each unit, so they can carry either a single 53' trailer (or shorter) or a pair of 28' pup trailers back to back, like this: http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=48037 It will be great to have this variety available! (And hopefully by 2Q10...) -Gary P.S. The BLMA model is essentially the same as the N Scale Kits 53' spine set, but NSK also has the 48' set available, so there will be 3 major varieties. Note also that many of the 48' sets have been rebuilt by TTX into 53' sets in the 556xxx series: http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=21517
Even though they were built in '97, can the BLMA model be a stand in for earlier '90's versions? What kind of 53' spine cars did TTX have in '93/'94? Are there any differences other than number class?
I didn't think there were any 53' spines in the early 90's, but I'm probably wrong. Didn't the 53' container just come into being popular around 92/93? Mike
Ok, lets clarify a few things shall we? BLMA has announced a 5 unit, 53' length spine car, TTX class "RAF53C" built by Trinity Rail in 12/1997. They are an all-purpose spine and can take a container or trailer up to 53' in length. There are 240 cars in this class, TTAX 555000 - 555239. BLMA model Details (or follow the link from the BLMA New Models Blog: http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/w...tail.red.htm&t=main.red.htm&itemid=SpineCar-1 Trinity began constructing 53' Spines in 1993 with the RAF53 and RAF53A classes, that continued into 1994 (TTAX 553000 - 554159). 500 RAF53B cars were built 94-95 (TTAX 554160 - 556159), followed up by the 240 RAF53C cars of late 1997 (TTAX 555000 - 555239). There were 1500 cars built by Trinity after that, but I can't confirm the class at the moment (TTAX 555500 - 556999). I don't know the differences between the classes, if any, but will be looking into it further - I'd like some for the Espee prior to 9/11/96. DeLuxe Innovations has two spines in development. The comparable car is the Johnston America 5 unit, 53' spine, TTX class "JAF53" which is also can also take trailers and containers up to 53' in length. This is the spine that has been in development in conjunction with GHQ for some time and Dave has stated he is completely at GHQ's mercy for any progress. I believe we all share Dave's frustration with this. Maybe Dave can chip in with any plans he has for roadnumbers etc so that we can establish a timeline for this model. The JAF53 / JAF53A classes (I'm not sure on the difference between them) began production in 1993, with over 1,000 cars built into 1994 (TTAX 653000 - 654404). Ok, now lets not confuse either of these two spines with the other car DI has in development, the TTRX 3 unit, 57' spine in the NAF30A class. NSC built 500 of these cars from 11/04 to 05/05 in the TTRX 552000 - 552499 range. NSC also built 1150 other cars in the 370000 - 371149 series. Deluxe's website has them doing both single trailer hitch and two-trailer hitch versions and are due 2nd quarter, 2010. So, there you have it. Three different spines in production, the first two are expected to be available in about 6 months time. Hopefully GHQ can show us N-Scalers some more love and get there version moving too! I'm sure all models will be something special based on the past history of DeLuxe and BLMA, and I can't wait get a heap of each. Hopefully we'll be able to backdate them easily for some early 90's intermodal action and hopefully a manufacturer steps up and releases a RTR 5 unit 48' spine.
Forgot to mention, here's the source for prototype data: http://members.surfbest.net/intermodal@surfbest.net/SPINEAP.HTM And for the TTX classes of all-purpose spines: 1st Letter = Manufacturer R = Trinity, J = Johnston America, N = NSC 2nd & 3rd Letter A = All Purpose F = Flat Car 1st Number seems to indicate units: 5 = 5 unit, 3 = 3 unit 2nd Number seems to indicate spine length 5 = 48' Spine, 3 = 53' Spine, 0 = 57' Spine. ie, RAF53C = Trinity built, 5 unit, 53' Spine.
BLMA and DI Spine Cars To the statement that DI's Pending Status is on the money/correct.I hate to inform you that the Pending Status Dates are 200 % wrong.These DI Spine Cars do have a date but the reason the statement is wrong is this.The 53' Maxi IV 3-Unit Well Cars have had more than one date attached to them.For the record they didn't came out on there stated dates.I personnally know this because like everyone else I've been waiting.Has far as the Spine Car date don't trust it at all.Also DI has it listed for a 5-unit Spine Cars to be made.
Thanks for reading the previous posts properly (#10) and for turning a positive topic into a negative, with another rant against DeLuxe. Another positive contribution Tallboy.
Dang James, that was a load of info! :thumbs_up: I am now smarter for reading it! Thanks for taking the time to post it all up Mike
Thanks James! You are the man. So, I'm still glad I grabbed a heap of the two lengths of spines from NSK (bought them when AC retired). Still hope that DI will eventually do the earlier '90's spine classes. From my viewpoint, it seems there aren't many contemporary '90's era modelers, and that there are more late '90's to modern modelers, so they get priority and get their era intermodal stuff before earlier versions. Oh well, maybe when I get the left over 50+ spine car kits built, someone will do a RTR version of the other classes.
Steve - based on research I did when building the NSK 53' set, I think the differences between the RAF53A series (NSK model, 553xxx, built 1993+) and the RAF53C series (BLMA model, 555xxx, built 1997+) are extremely minor*, so backdating the BLMA model to 1993+ would only require renumbering. Now that James has pointed out the BLMA drawing (nice set of posts James), one thing I notice that looks wrong is that all 5 units appear to have brake gear, whereas all the prototype sets I have seen only have this on the end and middle units (A,B,D). I hope this is just a drawing error. Edit - it also looks like the prototype photo in the BLMA announcement doesn't match the model: JAF53x (I think) vs. RAF53C, judging from the shape of the cross-members near the articulated joints. Could Craig be losing his edge? Cheers, Gary * The only difference I can discern between RAF53A & C are the height of the corner grabs (taller in 53C). Very minor.
"one thing I notice that looks wrong is that all 5 units appear to have brake gear, whereas all the prototype sets I have seen only have this on the end and middle units (A,B,D). I hope this is just a drawing error." I think it's a viewer error as there are no cylinders on the other two units nor the valve detail on the backside. Jason
I was referring to this drawing, where the top view clearly shows the E and D units having the same gear: But I now see that the BLMA site also has this drawing, which looks correct, and is probably what you were referring to: It would be surprising indeed if Craig botched anything like this on the actual model. Cheers, Gary
Absolutely! A real asset to our hobby. Thanks James Of course the 53' and 48' spines are still in production at N Scale Kits! And so not forget the additional etch details for the 48' car available from MLE. There are quite a number of early intermodalers and we will be bringing out additional cars over the next two years. We are working on patterns this fall and hope to bring out the cars announced late this year and Spring 2010. However for the more modern needs we are developing the 57' Trinity All Purpose Spinecars. These longer spinecars were built to accomodate the 53' trailers, as 2/28 1/57 cars. Built in 1998/9 the cars are classed RAF30a and run in the TTRX 36xxxx reporting number series. Modelers have long wanted versions of 57' spine cars and we hope to have them soon. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits N Scale Kits See us at the NMRA [British Region] Convention in Swindon October 23-25
Lot's of great information here, guys! Couple of comments: 1. Our models will have TONS of detail (even separately applied brake rigging with fine-scale piping!) 2. These will ride on our NEW 70-Ton ASF Ride-Control Trucks w/Fine-Scale Metal Wheels 3. These cars will feature Micro-Trains Body-Mounted Couplers. 3. Don't mind the drawing with brake rigging on all cars; that was an early rendition with an obvious oversight. (Nothing gets by you guys!) Stay tuned for test shots in about four weeks. We're more than a little excited!
