Atlas TOFCs

[bbussey]

Got my Atlas TOFC cars this morning.  Outstanding model.  The model comes with the grabs, brake line and uncoupler levers installed.  All the other detail parts are in a heat-sealed baggie and consist of the end flaps, raised and lowered hitches, and container pedestals.  The decks are painted off-white on all the cars, and the deck hardware is painted according to the prototype.  (UPDATE - The decks appear to be white at first glance, but you can see on the stencil-white ERES that the deck is painted an eggshell color.)

I have all three Trailer-Train and one each of the other three.  Here are some quickie cell phone pics.







The body is diecast. the end grabs are wire.  The stirrups, side grabs and top grabs are plastic.  The brake line and eyelets are metal.  The trucks are new 70-ton roller-bearing with the metal PS-1 wheels.  These cars will look very nice in a consist with the BLMA and Trainworx models.

Service dates:  TT 12/73; FEC 12/77; P&W 10/78; ERES 5/76.

These cars should be hitting the stores by the end of this week.  Home run.

I now have a bunch of MTL cars that need upgrading or retirement.

[Philip H]

Between BLMA and Atlas, I'm beginning to think I gave up TOFC/COF trains too soon.

Nice to see - thanks for the update.

[mcjaco]

Wow.  Those look really nice.  I may have to pick a few up now for my CFNR pipe train. 

[bbussey]

Only one downside, and it's not related to the model:  As with the BLMA packaging, the PVC nest is not designed to store the car after all the detail parts are added, unless you always install a collapsed hitch at the B end.

[Kisatchie]

I'm going to model 1971, and these cars are the 1973 version (according to Atlas). I can't use them.


Hmm... I could use some
bananas about now...

[w neal]

Compared to Atlas' recent coil cars, how do they roll?

[bbussey]

I'm going to model 1971, and these cars are the 1973 version (according to Atlas). I can't use them.

Based on the service dates, you couldn't use them even if the model was an older prototype.

Compared to Atlas' recent coil cars, how do they roll?

Don't know, haven't tried to run them yet and I don't have any coil cars to compare.  They appear to be comparable to the PS-1.

[bbussey]

Also got the latest PS-1s, including eight New Havens.  A huge portion of my remaining MTL boxcar fleet is about to be retired.

[davefoxx]

Oh boy!  Those look nice.  I can't wait to add a few to my slowly growing TOFC fleet.  Of course, they look ridiculous on my HCD layout, but I don't care.  Here comes the Orange Blossom Special!

DFF

[unittrain]

Cant wait to get these.

[bbussey]

More quickie pics.

The Atlas flat with the BLMA flat:



The Atlas flat with the Trainworx flat:



The Atlas flat with the MTL flat:



Surprisingly, the height of the MTL flat is very close to where it should be.  With weathering and detailing, it still fits in relatively well.  Maybe about .010" could be shaved off the height, but it could be an optical illusion.

[jagged ben]

They look as good as advertised.    I think maybe I should have ordered more.

[ljudice]

Thanks Bryan for the comparison, this is exactly what I was wondering...

[basementcalling]

How well will they stay coupled with BM couplers? Any thoughts on minimum radius curves for this new generation of equipment with body mounted couplers?

[Mark5]

I'm going to model 1971, and these cars are the 1973 version (according to Atlas). I can't use them.


Hmm... I could use some
bananas about now...

Yup, the Atlas version first appeared in 1973:

http://www.atlasrr.com/NFreight/n89flatcar.html#.UcpfmTQQZvk

IIRC, this is true of the MTL version as well.

Mark