Are the Trainworx trailers the best trailers ever? NOW WITH PICS!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I have been working on a new article for N-Scale featuring verious modern intermodal and semi trailers. I asked Trainworks if I could obtain a sample of their tooling for photographs and they sent me an entire case of trailers. Drop frame trailers, beaded trailers, refer trailers, both UPS trailers and a flexi-van.

I have not photographed them yet, but I can tell you this. These are without a doubt the best trailers ever produced in N scale. The tooling is so fine that the undec trailers have a mirror polish to them. The rivet detail is very fine. It makes the Atlas and MTL trailers look like they were hit with a barage of snowballs.

And the paint. Remember when we were talking about Fox Valley and BLMA matching not only the color, but also the sheen levels of the prototype? Trainworx has done that too. The paint is so thin that the scale rivets show through, but opaque enough to require you to pick the model up just to verify its not made of metal. ACI labels are in full color and on register, even over the beads. Hinges and latch hardware are painted in nice contrasting color. In a word: fantastic.

Undec trailrs include two different types of wheels: a cast 5 spoke wheel in the classic "starfish" style and what looks like a Budd 5 hole version. Undecs also include curbside doors, extended and contracted landing gear, refer equipment and fuel tank.

The only issue I have with them is that the dualie wheels are spaced a bit too far apart. There is usially a 2-3" gap between dual wheels where these models are closer to 6 inches. This is most noticable looking at the small wheels of the drop frame trailers, but is not visible from any normal viewing angle.

Oh, each 28' parcel trailer has a dolly. The dollys actually attached to the trailer in front of it using a slot and pin. Very nice!

I am envious of you 1970's modelers. Along with the Athearn Z Vans and X posts, you now have the very best trailers out there.

[asarge]

Now we just need for the 89' flat cars to get here from somebody, anybody. Once that happens sales of trailers will ge much better.

[Bsklarski]

Thats why I model B&M in Holyoke in the 1970s and early 80s. They had a nice little compact TOFC car operation. If you click the link below, you will see a picture of the pig flat yard, which is small, only 4 compact close track, maybe you could fit 5 or 6 flats in there on each track

Brian

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?200411261639302489.jpg:bysearch:holyoke:SEARCHTYPE=ADVANCED&PAGE=3&SEARCHSTRING=holyoke&BOOL=ANY&RAILROAD=Boston+%26+Maine&POSTER=ANY&PHMS=&PHDS=&PHYS=&PHME=&PHDE=&PHYE=&POMS=&PODS=&

[ljudice]

Looking forward to a CR Mail Train here....

[sirenwerks]

I am envious of you 1970's modelers. Along with the Athearn Z Vans and X posts, you now have the very best trailers out there.

So are you saying the Trainworx trailers are 70s prototypes, or just noting their popularity in that decade? I was under the impression that at least some to the Trainworx trailers dated back into the 60s.

It would be nice, considering how the intermodal tech was developing fast and furious in the 60s and early 70s and a year made a difference in what was popular and what wasn't, exactly what each model's prototype is and the year it was released. Or, if they're general type models, what they best resembled and when the specific tech was birthed and when it started to make headway into use.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

They were around in the 60's but the height of popularity was in the early to mid 1970's. I think they date back to the mid 60's but don't have an exact year.

[Mark5]

For the drop bottoms, specifically the N&W ones, 1969:

NWZ 208712 is part of the 208700-20719 series of 40' trailers built 1969 by Great Dane... these were 15" drop-deck trailers with vertical inside posts...

(Thanks Robbman!)

When do we get pix?

Mark

[sirenwerks]

For the drop bottoms, specifically the N&W ones, 1969:

(Thanks Robbman!)

When do we get pix?

Mark

I have a sneaking suspicion the Family Lines trailers post-1970, but what about the Southern and Frisco (both in the same release as the N&W hamburger)? Maybe Trainworx could be talked into supplying that information from its research and putting it on its website for consumer reference? Does Pat lurk here?

[amato1969]

I can't wait until these start arriving at my LHS. They are going to look great on my LV Apollo 1 and 2 trains.

  Frank

[Ian MacMillan]

Without photos...this thread is useless!

[Denver Road Doug]

I'm guessing these aren't production pix...maybe the UPS anyway?
http://train-worx.com/40parcel.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-n&w.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-southern.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-Xtra.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-l&n.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-frisco.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-up.htm
http://train-worx.com/trailers-pacificfruit.htm

Any word when these hit the shelves?  It says Delivery October 2011 for the UPS trailers, but then the link above says "Trainworx Production 11/11".  So is that...a scheduled production window, the actual production start date, the date they hit the water, hit land, hit the warehouse, hit the shipping dock?

[RioGrandeRod]

Received mine today. They are the best.
However, since this thread is "useless", please disregard my previous statements.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Photos will come when I stop working doubles. I have worked 16 hours every day since Tuesday.

They will come, give me a little time.

[Robbman]

The manufacturer should just have high-res photos from all angles on their site... digital cameras and html aren't something you need to be retro with.

[Ian MacMillan]

Photos will come when I stop working doubles. I have worked 16 hours every day since Tuesday.

They will come, give me a little time.

Let me know when you get to 80hrs week radio!