How do you determine what containers/trailers are in your intermodal trains? Do you pretty much leave the containers in place all the time (and do you glue them into the wells)? Or do you switch them out periodically? When you get new containers, do you put them into trains? Or, buy more well cars to put them in? How many containers do you have? Are you always looking for more to buy, or more interesting ones? Do you run any 53-footers? Any other tips, stories, etc. you'd like to share?
Mark Here are some useful links to explore ===== http://www.modelintermodal.com ===== http://groups.yahoo.com/group/modelintermodal ===== http://www.ttx.com ===== http://gelwood.railfan.net/ttx/ttx.html ===== http://jbrail.railfan.net/FreightCars/Intermodal/ ===== http://envirotaz.railfan.net/info/intermodal/intermodal.html ===== http://members.tripod.com/~intermodal_fan/sea_containers1.htm Note: this is a popular site hosted by a limited band width server. It is not always available -- try later if need be ===== http://csc.smsu.edu/~bender/nscale-intermodal/ Tip On this page the underlined words in the text are live links ===== eNjoy
Thanks Don, but what I'm interested in is what modelers are doing, not necessarily what is prototypical. For example...are they gluing their containers into their cars, or not? Gluing them in is 'permanent,' but the modeler doesn't have to 'build' his trains frequently. Conversely, perhaps certain containers would not suit their purpose (be it proto or not), and not gluing them into place allows them to replace containers as they see fit. Or, if a run of, say, JB Hunt containers came out, would you buy 20 or more of them, to simulate a prototypical train? Or not bother because of money? Also, any tips and tricks modelers have in regard to N-scale intermodal railroading. This applies to trailers as well as containers. Mark [ 02. September 2002, 22:22: Message edited by: ATSF160 ]
Hi Mark, When I had my layout sometime ago, I had two intermodal trains running. One would be Eastbound and one Westbound. These would be a mix of spine, 89' TOFC, and well cars. You could find everthing from 28' Pup trailers up to 53' trailers on the TOFC and Spines and anything from 20' to 53' containers. I lost track of my trailers and containers after I hit 100, but I'm always buying if I like 'em. Most of my trailers are MTL 40', 45', and 48' that I paint and decal myself. I've started doing my own containers as well when I find undecorated ones. I would regularly switch out the trailers for variety. The containers would be switched as well, but I had a trick for those. I glued all containers together in sets of two. I.e. had a 53' glued on top of a 48' container. This helped save time and more importantly kept the containers from falling off during their journey. They are more prone to this if they are mismatched manufacturers. I also added weight in the bottom container for stability. I also had a set of single containers to run bottom only. When the trailers and containers were not on the trains, they were located throughout the layout. The biggest tip I can give is make sure everything is well weighted. Especially the Deluxe Twin Stacks. Brian [ 02. September 2002, 23:30: Message edited by: Brian K ]
Hi Mark, As a general rule of thumb, the roadnames of containers/trailers which I model are ones which I've seen on the Espee. This involves doing a bit of research, which wasn't the easiest thing to do from Australia, but its something I enjoy. That may mean I've seen a May Trucking 53' trailer in a book, a Redon 45' trailer in a video or a logoless SP container on the web/intermodal list- it's all fair game. One day I hope to have enough containers and trailers to become more route specific-such as a Sealand doublestack train across the Sunset Route or a long string of pig vans across Tehachapi, but thats a few years away. It depends on what you're trying to achieve. I don't have access to a home layout at the moment, which limited me to the odd run at a show. As such, I have just run ISO standard containers in trains, to simulate a bridge route, or a more domestic focused train with 48/53' containers and a heap of TOFC traffic. That said, there's nothing quite like just putting it all out on the track and just running llllooooooooonnnnngggg trains As such, none of my containers are permanently connected together nor are they glued into the wells. This leaves the possiblity of running empties open. For the containers that I plan on running in a unit train (working on Sealand and K-Line ones at the moment), I've stuck some of the standard 40's together and just rearrange them. I just usually use blu-tac to temporarily hold the containers together. I think Deluxe sells a similar product 'container glue' (a yellow putty like substance) and there's also another temporary glue called 'Moveable Models' or something that I've read about. Most of the factory decorated items I leave stacked together and just vary their position within the train, whilst models I've detailed or painted/decalled I like being able to swap and rearrange. With only a small proportion of the different styles available, I don't think I'll ever stop buying new containers, trailers, well cars or flatcars. I don't buy usually buy containers to fill up well cars or vice-versa, fortunately I've so far been able to buy items which I know I can run and would accurately represent the prototype. It's a never ending journey As such, MT's undec 45/48' trailers, Deluxe/Walthers undec 48' trailers and the microscale catalogue are my best friends. Atlas' Pines 45' trailer is pretty decent too. Yep, I run 53'er's. Got a few ConCor 53'ers in APL a few years ago. Not enough, but some. Also got a few Fine-N-Scale resin containers which I'm decalling up for Conrail Mercury. Which is one of the exciting things about Athearn's entry into N Scale. I'm really looking forward to the prospect of their Stoughton 53' exterior post container in N. Not to mention a R-T-R Maxi III. As Brian mentioned, weighting your bottom position containers is usually essential. I don't bother in my NSN Maxi III's or the Walthers Thrall cars (once their upgraded to MT's!), but in Deluxe, MDC, ConCor wells it well improve things no end. I would bother with a pack of say 20 containers to simulate a prototypical train, but only if the model itself was prototypical. But, thats just me I would also have to think about them being individually numbered. Modelling intermodal is really no different than how you would model anything else- you have the final say Do what you want! I do Hope this helps.
That's exactly the type of info I was looking for guys. Thanks! I will probably glue containers together in pairs, with the bottom weighted. Seems like a good, and easy, way to get the best of both worlds. I have quite a few deLuxe twinstack cars, and some Alan Curtis spine car sets, so I need lots of containers to make trains, plus some for placement in my intermodal yard. I buy them as fast as they are released!
Mark, One other thing you may want to consider is a product from DeLuxe that is a kind of container goo. It will hold your containers together and in place like glue but it is not permanent like glue. I have used this stuff and like it very much.
One thought concerning 53' trailers..... Maybe i'm in the minority, but i have quite a few DI roadrailers, most run very well, a few are a challenge beyond my modeling skills. These bad boys are slated to be JBHunt 53' trailers for my AC triple 53 flats. I figure two sets (6 trailers) should turn some heads at a N-trak display... But lt me add this ONE caveat.... the prices of first run roadrailers are outrageous!!! One A/B set is listed each month for sale on Yahoo groups N_Scale. FIVE HUNDRED BIG ONES!!! Amazing, the same listing has been there all summer long.... I guess no takers!!!! As for me, I purchased a set of 20 on ebay for about $300. Those 20 work fine. The seller was more than thrilled to send along the 15 other "bad boys" that are now the focus of my JBHunt idea. It's great when life gives you lemons and you get lemonade..... FWIW Ed Dillard
I know I'm reviving a 6 year-old thread, but for those that are modeling intermodal, has anything changed for you? Since 2002 I've joined the container industry, so my focus has really changed. For instance, I've kicked off spines and conventional flats on my "K" Line unit train. Other than that however not much has changed. Unit intermodal trains these days are rare, so it seems that you can't go too wrong mixing and matching. But has anyone gone further and built a train prototypically? For instance, have you removed xyz container from the train because from your research xyz line doesn't have a ramp where you model?
I try to use containers that I see going by my house.....unfortunately a lot of them aren't available in N scale. I seem to usually buy some new well cars, and then go scrounging for containers......I don't think I've ever had enough containers. I have a lot of containers I purchased undecorated off e-bay (10 for $10) and then painted and decaled myself. If your containers have solid bottoms, museum putty (sold under a lot of brands and names) works pretty well for hooking containers together and for hooking them into the cars. When done right, I can pick the entire car up by the top container, but a bit harder pull will separate everything. It's probably the same stuff as the Deluxe Innovations stuff, but much cheaper at your local W or K mart.
Not much has changed for me as far as a layout goes. 2002 seems like such a long time ago. I think I've turned over the roster at least once since then. I did stop glueing the containers together though. I use magnets now. Brian
I don't glue mine together either, as I like to mix 'em up so I look at different trains every once in a while. I also try to stay as prototypical as I can, referring to photos that I took myself on Tehachapi or books from my era. That means lots of JB Hunt on my Santa Fe trains, none on SP, May trailers on SP, etc... We sure have alot more available now than we did back when this thread started in 02 - gotta love it
Research, research, and more research. Mr. Costello can vouch for my endless questions here and on the modelintermodal group. It is amazing the lack of photos during the time/locale I model given how recent it is, but it has been challenging. I've somewhat resigned myself to fudging a little on intermodal to the '01-03' timeframe when I do have good photo/video documentation. I'd say that right now if you gave me a window of '98-'03 BNSF stack trains between Cali and Alliance, TX I'd probably wager my containers and trailers to be about 97% accurate. But, I would be missing some pretty important containers that I know about, plus probably some I don't, which means the trains themselves are probably not so accurate....maybe 70%. And this doesn't take into account the prototypical accuracy of the containers, either. I don't glue anything. I've used the putty (Hobbytac?) and getting into magnets which I think will ultimately be my standard. I mix things around. I'm not buying well cars for the foreseeable future but I have several containers I will buy when released. I have about 85-90 containers and about that many spots for them. I will probably have 110-120 or so before its done, and maybe more if I eventually build a larger layout. I look for certain containers, mostly numbers I don't have, certain 20-footers, etc. I don't really look for "interesting", but more along the lines of "appropriate". Given the dated nature of this question, the new version of this question might be "do you still run any 48-footers? ;-) Well, I model '98-'99 timeframe so I do have a few 53's, but mostly 48's or smaller. About the only 53's I technically need are JB Hunts and I would LOVE to have some era-appropriate JBH boxes to replace the Con-Cor dogs I have...but they'll do for now. I do have two BNSF 53's that are really too new era-wise but I'll run them unweathered and try to pass them off as fresh out of the paint shop and hope nobody notices. Tips...well, I recently went through and cataloged my containers, and lemme tell ya...those numbers are SMALL. Most required magnification to read the entire number and I have great eyesight. It still bothers me to have dupes, but I can assure you that nobody is going to pick out duplicate containers on a moving n-scale train, not at 3" much less 3 feet. (photos, yeah maybe) I'm still working on renumbering, but it has taken a much lower priority. I'll just be dilligent to check the train during photo ops. I have started painting the door hardware and doing some other minor detailing on my containers and just painting the door hardware alone makes a WORLD of difference. So break out the gray/silver sharpie or paint pen and go to work!
I try to run my intermodal equipment (and its becoming more and more Only intermodal!) somewhat prototypically for what train I am running: When I run FEC intermodal, its mostly spines and flats of trailers with UPS, Crowley containers on chassis, FEC, Vermont, TIP, and other trailer leasing companies because I model Ft. Lauderdale yard which is mostly a TOFC ramp. On the occasional time I run a Hialeah bound FEC intermodal I'll throw in containers in well cars: mostly domestic EMP, CSX, and Pacer-- just like on the prototype. On the home layout I run NS and CP around eastern Pennsylvania up to Albany. I run CP intermodals (Montreal to Philadelphia and reverse) almost exclusively international containers, and I try to match the containers I see on the actual train, mostly European containers and refrigerated. On NS I run domestic container trains (JB HUNT, EMP etc.) or international, never mixing the two. I am a big convert to magnets to connect containers, and buy containers I don't necessarily see on trains but would create a bit of variety. I have also begun detailing my containers and trailers doors, refrigeration units, and do-it-myself decaling. I LOVE to see what other people are running for intermodal, the folks on trainboard run some awesome stuff!
