Athearn's Airslide

[Mark5]

After the really lousy job  Athearn did on the peaked end 3 bay ribside open hoppers I was a bit nervous about the Athearn Airslides that were announced in N&W ...

Well, I picked one up yesterday and I am both relieved and impressed. ;D

I haven't had time to go over it with a fine toothed comb, but I checked some basic stuff like the size of the  "N&W" and the N&W lettering looks pretty damn good - the herald plate is a nice touch I never thought I'd see in N scale.

This is a "stock" photo:



This baby has body mounted couplers - I still don't like how the McHenry's stick out, so when I get a chance I'm gonna see if an Accumate will fit in that coupler pocket and improve the situation.

I'll be getting at least one more road number.

Mark

[sizemore]

This baby has body mounted couplers - I still don't like how the McHenry's stick out, so when I get a chance I'm gonna see if an Accumate will fit in that coupler pocket and improve the situation.

Mark

Maybe try using MT 905's? Sounds naughty!

The S.

[Mark5]

I'm not ready to join the 905 cult yet, but I could be swayed with proper amounts of brew ...

[ednadolski]

This baby has body mounted couplers - I still don't like how the McHenry's stick out, so when I get a chance I'm gonna see if an Accumate will fit in that coupler pocket and improve the situation.

Mark

Maybe try using MT 905's? Sounds naughty!

The S.

You might want to be a bit careful about the shank length, esp if/when coupled to a car or loco with a lot of overhang.   Also, note that the 905s have the same 'pogo' tendency as the regular MTs.

Ed

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Those ARE nice.

So what service did these shorty airslides see? I'm thinking about future layout industries, and while I have two of the older Atlas ones, I can be convinced to strategically acquire cars that make sense.

[Mark5]

Here's a proto photo:

http://home.mindspring.com/~paducah/nw03.htm

Seems the early ones had "flat" ends like on the Atlas car.

71699 HC-12:
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=20432
(Note the ends)

N&W filled the earlier number series with the later cars ::

N&W 71600-71649 (1965) Late Body Style, HC-12A.
N&W 71650-71699 (1961-1964) Early Body Style, HC-12, HC-12A.
(this info from the mindspring link above)

Mark

[wm3798]

The WM's were used to haul flour to the bulk reload at Arlington (Cold Spring Lane near Wabash Ave).

My late friend and favorite WM guy Dick Costello was one of the guys responsible for switching the Baltimore baking industry to bulk shipments, rather than handling bagged flour out of boxcars at Hillen. 

Lee

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think these were used mostly for food. Flour, sugar, corn starch, etc. Wonderbread used to opperate a small fleet of the two bay versions before purchasing the PD5100's

[wazzou]

They were/are often seen at breweries also.  Sugar or Barley?

[wcfn100]

I'll add another entry for flour.


The Athearn cars are nice.  The only problem I've seen is that there can be a build up of paint on the bolster which doesn't allow the car to sit square.

I really wish they would release an undecorated kit however.


Jason

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ooh, a brewery? Now I'm interested (I think one will be showing up on the layout).

[rswinnerton]

Domino Sugar in Baltimore had their own fleet. A couple survive at the b&o museum.

[Bob Bufkin]

Ued to see these cars in my hometown at Valley Bride Bakery.  Served by the Reading Lurgan line.  According to a guy I used to know they hauled both flour and sugar for bread and other bakery products.  Don't remember who's cars they were but do remember seeing Pillsbury cars there.

[H Lee]

      - the herald plate is a nice touch I never thought I'd see in N scale.

Atlas did herald plates on their CB&Q and D&RGW airslides years ago - and I'm 90% sure that InterMountain has done some on their covered hoppers, but they are too modern for me so I don't own any to check.

[RockGp40]

      - the herald plate is a nice touch I never thought I'd see in N scale.

Atlas did herald plates on their CB&Q and D&RGW airslides years ago - and I'm 90% sure that InterMountain has done some on their covered hoppers, but they are too modern for me so I don't own any to check.

I know some of the ribbed IM PS covered hoppers have the side mounted plates. Although not a herald, I know some MILW cars have "America's Resourceful Railroad" on them.