[teaser to some] It seems to me the availability of "enclosed" Autoracks tri-level and bi level are an endangered species with an occasional trickle here and there. I purchased what I could over last 3 years where there has not been much availability - I have located 10 Micro-Trains Tri level and 2 Red Caboose Bi level (online search), I've not seen anything else in that time...but very well could have missed some. I think it would be nice to see a runner set produced 8 Car "minimum" would be nice = mixed selection...a sprinkle of weathered - few bi level along with tri level. (I'm sure of 3 road sets that would be most popular) *I have to believe there would be a large interest in such a set as fast as the single servings get gobbled up. I liken it to the soon to be available Micro-Trains 16 car runner sets of TTX well cars.
I agree the sets would be nice,but probably half the people wouldn't want "mixed" sets even though that's the way they run. It's also a stretch for the manufacturers to set up to paint 8 different units at one time......most only do 3 or 4 railroads per issue of cars. and the cost would probably kill a lot of sales...…..an 8 car set would probably be in the 3-4 hundred (or more) dollar range. Most people can scrape up $100 to buy a couple of cars at a time, but would be hard pressed for $400 for a set of 8.
I'm in the UK and see them all the time for sale on the bay of e and at meets, not normally cheap but there are available. Even the articulated ones... I think Micro Trains have done sets of them pre weathered etc - the "STEEL" set comes to mind I too think there is a large market for them as predominantly N gauge seems to be more modern era 70s onwards so the base is there. Disclaimer: Comments made by a HO transition era modeller...
Current MTL list price for one of these is $49.95. Unofficially speaking, a set of eight would probably be in the $300-$350 range MSRP, assuming that they are all the same paint scheme.
Very true George, which is why I still run the ConCor autoracks with MT trucks. Red caboose at one time ran autoracks, perhaps IM will rerun these.....
If you think the N Scale prices are a challenge, take a look at what they run for in "Horribly Oversized"
