Intermountain 70 Ton 53' 6" Flatcars: Photos Online

[ai5629]

Intermountain has posted photos of their 70 Ton 53' 6" Flatcars on their website.  The cars look really good.  However, they have roller bearing trucks in these "Pre Production Photos".  I am looking at a couple NH, Erie and PC.  Thank you.

Jeff

http://www.intermountain-railway.com/n/nflatcars.htm

[bbussey]

Excellent!  Been waiting a long time for these.  Multiple NH cars are on the acquisition list for both general and TOFC use.

[MichaelWinicki]

Very nice!

My flat-car fleet is pretty weak... I'll have to pick up some NYC.

[bbussey]

Photos of the pre-production bulkhead flatcars are posted also, in the following section.  Printing on the inside bulkhead faces for the NYC and EL cars.

[central.vermont]

Are these supposed to have wooden decks on them? It's apparent that the HO model does. If so it doesn't seem to have very good detail. These may need to have someone do a laser etch replacement.

Jon

[unittrain]

These are sweet just what we have needed for quite awhile I see a lot of flat cars being added to my currently thin flat car fleet. The road names are perfect too a mixture of classic railroads.

[Chris333]

I've been waiting to buy a bunch. I sure hope they have correct trucks...

[ai5629]

A lack of wood decks is not a deal breaker for me.  The 60' cars have painted wood decks, so these appear to follow that prescident.  Perhaps this is done for additional weight to help with tracking.  The roller bearing trucks in the photos look like the recessed bolster type used by BLMA.  Therefore, a pair of BLMA 70 ton friction bearing trucks will fix this if they are released with RB trucks.  I am disappointed that Erie Lackawanna is not the the first or second releases (not counting the bulkhead cars).  I may buy some extra Erie cars, remove the lettering and add Highball Graphics EL decals.  The EL gondola set could be used for most of the lettering needed.  Thanks.

Jeff

[bbussey]

Agreed regarding the decks.  I think they will look fine.  If not, we always can replace them.  And I'm guessing the cars will come with the correct trucks.  And again, if not, we can replace them.  These pre-production models look great.  Looking forward to seeing them next month at the NSE convention.

[wcfn100]

I got a couple for variety, but this flat design doesn't really hit me where I need it.  I'm a bit concerned about the floor design as it looks like the 'metal' piece across the bolster is part of the center 'wood' deck and the ends of the deck are separate from that and may be part of the body. I wonder if the center deck piece is metal.

I'm hoping the trucks are just what IM had on hand.  I know they were looking at doing their own trucks.  Perhaps the solid bearing versions (is they are doing those) aren't finished yet.


Jason

[bbussey]

The trucks look like the BLMA clones.  It also appears that the deck between the bolsters inclusive is one part.  The deck end corners beyond the bolsters are separate pieces and not part of the body.  Those sections are abandoned for the bulkhead variation of the model so that the bulkhead assemblies sit flush with the main deck.

[Sokramiketes]

The trucks look like the BLMA clones. 

Is clone the right word if they come out of the same tooling, just with different ejector pins?

[wcfn100]

The trucks look like the BLMA clones.  It also appears that the deck between the bolsters inclusive is one part.  The deck end corners beyond the bolsters are separate pieces and not part of the body.  Those sections are abandoned for the bulkhead variation of the model so that the bulkhead assemblies sit flush with the main deck.

Yeah, okay, I forgot about the bulkhead flats as they are a little too much fantasy to fit into the roster.  And it would sense I guess about the trucks if IM is already using coupler clones.  I thought I was told they were doing they're own trucks but I guess getting your own knockoffs from the factory would be about the same thing.  Regardless, I hope they get the right trucks on the production models.

 That draft angle on the underside of the boards still has me thinking it's metal.  Maybe you can find out when you when you see them.


Jason

[bbussey]

Is clone the right word if they come out of the same tooling, just with different ejector pins?

Good point.  Technically, I guess it is a general-use truck made available by the contractor to all of its manufacturer-clients.

[bbussey]

Yeah, okay, I forgot about the bulkhead flats as they are a little too much fantasy to fit into the roster.  And it would sense I guess about the trucks if IM is already using coupler clones.  I thought I was told they were doing they're own trucks but I guess getting your own knockoffs from the factory would be about the same thing.  Regardless, I hope they get the right trucks on the production models.

 That draft angle on the underside of the boards still has me thinking it's metal.  Maybe you can find out when you when you see them.

I will find out.  The all-metal theory is a logical one if they needed to get more weight in the model without compromising on the underside detail or the ride height.  We will know in 30 days. 

Are you sure the bulkhead flats are out of your era?  The EL scheme is late, but the B&O, NYC and NH are mid 1950s.  The service date on the NH car is 1960, but the cars existed the entire 1950s in that scheme so I'll be backdating mine.  The B&O service date is late also, but the same thing applies.