Prairie Shadows NEW gondola and bulkhead flats

[Puddington]

If there's one awesome thing about working at Rapido (and there are many) it's that I get to play with some new n scale products .... (Puddy likes new n scale products)

Jeff Arnold and Prairie Shadows have developed, in conjunction with Rapido Trains Inc. two new freight cars that will soon hit the market; a 52'-6" Canadian gondola based on CP and CN prototypes and a Canadian 70 ton bulkhead flatcar, both models that feature:
• Fully detailed sides and interior
• Full underbody detail
• Die-cast frame for optimum weight
• Body mounted Micro-Trains couplers
• Correct ride height
• Accurate paint and lettering

Well guess what I found in the mail yesterday...? Here's a sneak peek at these new cars...













For more information on various paint scheme and road numbers go to either our website http://rapidotrains.com/ps.html or Prairie Shadows website http://www.prairieshadows.com/ and to order these models please contact Prairie Shadows at http://www.prairieshadows.com/

[Denver Road Doug]

Nice!  I have a couple of flats on order.

[bbussey]

I was waiting for the TH&B scheme on the gon, but that CP car looks pretty nice.  I'll have to take a look at the CN scheme, which is more appropriate for southern New England.  I might buy a CN car instead of a TH&B.

What is the scheduled release date for these?

[garethashenden]

What are the eras for these cars? I really like the way ESM give build/service dates for their cars. Wish everyone else would too. Especially at this price...

[bbussey]

I was just going to ask that.  The other deciding factor for me would be the service dates on the cars.  The CP appears to be 10/43.  What are the dates on the CN (pre-noodle) and TH&B cars?

FYI — these models have a 14" radius minimum!  That's going to tick off a lot of people if that pertinent information is not specified in the advertising and on the package.

[Puddington]

I have asked Jeff from Prairie Shadows to drop in here and field your questions regarding technical details, dates, release dates etc.... I just get to play with them... (oh, it's tough to be Puddy !!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That bulkhead flat is really nice looking.

[Scottl]

Any cabeese on your desk yet?   

[cv_acr]

What are the eras for these cars? I really like the way ESM give build/service dates for their cars. Wish everyone else would too. Especially at this price...

Artwork numbers match following series:

CN 143000-143499 blt. 1949 Eastern Car Co.
The small block lettering is the original paint; the noodle is of course 1961+ repaints.

CP 339000-339499 blt. 1943 National Steel Car
Other similar series built into the early 1950s. The red CP Rail is of course 1969+ repaints.

THB 2300-2399 blt. 1953 National Steel Car



The bulkhead flatcars are early-mid 1970s cars.

CN 603025-603324 blt. 1975 Hawker-Siddeley
CNIS 603400-603424 blt. 1975 Hawker-Siddeley BUT: ex-CN 603400-603424 (1980), ex-NAFX 53185-53237 (1979)
DWC 605200-605599 blt. 1973 Hawker-Siddeley
BCIT 16150-17449 blt. 1973 Hawker-Siddeley (most later renumbered BCOL same #s)

[Puddington]

Any cabeese on your desk yet?   

Cabeese.... cabeese.....?     

[Scottl]

Now you are teasing...  Notice how restrained I have been about commenting on your apparent favourite choice of railroad? 

[Big Train]

cv_car:

Did the ACR have these also? If they did, we need to lobby Prairie Shadows to produce for us. And we know how under-represented the ACR is in N scale.

http://algomacentral.railfan.net/images/AlgoCenRy/AC_837_Steelton_8-9-1996.jpg

[JSL]

As Jeff's right hand man - here in Peg City. I have beta tested many of these cars on my layout in preproduction form. I have been told the first 500 vans are on there way. I have given Jeff permission to post here with my account. He is not able to see railwire at his daytime job on his work computer.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Are these to be available direct only or are shops like MBK, Wig-Wag, etc going to carry these?

[cv_acr]

cv_car:

Did the ACR have these also? If they did, we need to lobby Prairie Shadows to produce for us. And we know how under-represented the ACR is in N scale.

http://algomacentral.railfan.net/images/AlgoCenRy/AC_837_Steelton_8-9-1996.jpg

Pretty close. There are some very minor detail differences - the ACR cars are 1958-61 built cars with the later stamped metal ribs, and actually have 6" taller sides - but those differences probably aren't too noticeable to most people. At least with the right rib count and fishbelly side profile it's a lot closer than anything else will ever be.

Rapido is offering them in AC for their own release of this same type of gon in HO scale, I'm planning on a bunch of them.