A local Z collector brought a selection of intermodal items for me to take a look at, and to see if any were useable on my spine car. He even loaned me an A-B-A set of F units (Microtrains) for me to pose with my spine car!
Testing containers on a spine car. They are sitting a bit too far forward as I slipped them over the raised hitches. (Containers have no floors).
I think the last photo shows the best combination, but I would modify the underframe of the trailer with the hitch a little more forward, and the wheels a little more back to make a more pleasing fit. -Robert
It occurs to me that this car set may be just a couple months before it's time, just like MTL Well Cars, waiting for a GP to pull them. I remember seeing cars like this in the 80's and 90's being pulled by UP GP50's through Idaho a lot. I was told by local NMRA guys that they used the GP's over SD's because of the higher speeds they could run with them. They mentioned that other railroads like BN would use the SD's because of the more mountianous route their track takes. Either way, GP or SD, we have a suitable locomotive coming when AZL releases their SD70/5 locomotives this year, or with the MTL GP35. -Robert
Robert, I agree. I like the last photo combination best. Modifying the trailer chassis is a must. It should not be too difficult to do so. Pushing the hitch more forward and the wheels back would really allow the trailer to sit better on the spine car. SD70 or GP35 will look great in front of the cars! At least until then, there are the SD45s, SD40-2s and C44s to fill the bill. I think the NTS is going to have a lot of very interesting trains running the rails.... Rob
I noticed that on some of the trailers hitch pins were thicker than those on N scale ones! So did not fit into the hitch. Not difficult to change, also the location of the wheels, but as they are not mine, I dare not experiment
Allen, thanks for posting the pictures. It is good to see the products that are available. What Co. made that signature 600 tractor trailor? It looked pretty good. Edit. I re-read and you didn't know the the make. If you find out out in the future please share. thanks.
I been stealing container from my Gunderon cars to make trailers for the spine cars, but I dont like the looks of Gunderson car with a single stack. Finally I got some replacement container from sgt Tim. Now my doble stacks looks so much better better. I really recommend his containers. Come to think of it , I need to order some more.
Yes, you got to order quick from Tim. He had been out of work for quite some time, and just started a new job a couple weeks ago, so I suspect he will quickly become backlogged with orders. The same thing happened to me when I started making kits. i could not find a job for 10 months, and was starting to sell laser kits, then all of a sudden I got a job, was thrown on 50-60 hour weeks, and the orders started to pile up. I have my wife help me when I fall behind these days, but the day job does seem to slow me down quite a bit. Those Pacer Stacktrain containers that Tim sells, are real nice. I see them every day. I live on the corner of Fremont Blvd, and just 2 miles down the blvd. is the NUMMI/GM plant, and a small UP yard behind it. The trucks are always hauling in Pacer containers. In fact I think that's the only containers I ever see there, but usually about 20 to 50 trailers worth at a time. They drive too slow, and I get stuck behind them on the way home from work every day. At the end of my street, about 14 houses down id the old WP tracks, now UP. There all I see is autorack cars. I go to sleep at night by the low rumble of autoracks switching the GM plant, and double headed GP's idling by. You can feel it as much as you can hear it, then Boom!, i'm out like a light. Home sweet home.