New Bachmann TOFC

[ljudice]

Not to rain on the parade, but we've seen others (ConCor) recycle OLD tooling and call a 49' gon a 53' gon.

I wouldn't touch those Bachmann cars with a 50' pole unless I ACTUALLY MEASURED them....   

UPDATE - counting ties I get       15/21 =  35/x      x= 49FT     (assuming the trailer is correct at 35 feet)

[Nato]

           There are differences between the old LL Berk and the coming new Bachmann, the Life Like model was a poor puller although nicely detailed, the Bachmann locomotive will feature a better drive , have DCC and Sound and should be as detailed or even better than the old Life Like Locomotives. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[bbussey]

Not to rain on the parade, but we've seen others (ConCor) recycle OLD tooling and call a 49' gon a 53' gon.

I wouldn't touch those Bachmann cars with a 50' pole unless I ACTUALLY MEASURED them....   

UPDATE - counting ties I get       15/21 =  35/x      x= 49FT     (assuming the trailer is correct at 35 feet)

It's definitely new tooling.  The end sills are present with body-mounted couplers, and it sits at a scale ride height.  The release of the model is imminent, so we'll know soon enough what the true length of the model is.

And, is trailer length measured internally as freight cars are, or externally?  Because the reverse of your formula is:  15/21 = x/52, where x = 37 ... plausible if 35 is the inside length.

[wcfn100]

Not to rain on the parade, but we've seen others (ConCor) recycle OLD tooling and call a 49' gon a 53' gon.

I wouldn't touch those Bachmann cars with a 50' pole unless I ACTUALLY MEASURED them....   

UPDATE - counting ties I get       15/21 =  35/x      x= 49FT     (assuming the trailer is correct at 35 feet)

Whether the length is correct or not is about the least the this cars problems.   

  and it sits at a scale ride height. 

Not a chance.  Not even close if you're talking deck height.


Jason

[DKS]

Not sure which prototype the model represents--if any of these--but it doesn't much matter; to my eye, the model has more in common with tinplate than with anything real.

[sirenwerks]

I'm sorry, but the size of the stake pockets on that "new" release is shameful for that price.  Just give me quantity packs of the trailers please.

[garethashenden]

Can anyone tell me when 35' trailers entered service and how long they lasted?

[Mark5]

35 footers came in as early as 1953 and probably some stragglers  lasted to the late 60's early 70s (will try to dig that up some time).

40' trailers came around 1958 so maybe the 35 footers didnt last past the 60s.

Here's a better shot:

http://mrr.trains.com/-/media/Images/News%20and%20Reviews/New%20Products/2014/07/NTS/BachmannNscale526flatcarwith35footpiggybacktrailer.jpg?mw=1000&mh=800

I'm interested in a few of those trailers myself - they look much nicer than the car.

Mark

[MichaelWinicki]

I grew up next to a pretty active warehouse in 1970...

They shipped and received via a host of products using a who's who of trucking companies back then...

Lyons
Boss Linco
CF
Associated
Eastern
Roadway

And 40' trailers were used by far the majority of the time... A few 27's and a smattering of 45's just starting to make their appearance. 

I only remember seeing one '35 trailer being used by any shipper.

[LV LOU]

Now that I really look at that,isn't that just their same old same old flatcar with a new deck and new trucks? 

[wcfn100]

Now that I really look at that,isn't that just their same old same old flatcar with a new deck and new trucks?

No, it's new. The old one is much better. 

Jason

[mplsjct]

According to the book by James Kincaid, trailers have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, so it makes sense by 1970, they were few and far between.

I think the market is still wide open for a decent 53 foot (assuming they were the most common) TOFC, the Athearn car was lacking, and it doesn't look like this new car will be fulfilling anyone's dreams.

[sirenwerks]

According to the book by James Kincaid, trailers have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, so it makes sense by 1970, they were few and far between.

I think the market is still wide open for a decent 53 foot (assuming they were the most common) TOFC, the Athearn car was lacking, and it doesn't look like this new car will be fulfilling anyone's dreams.

A 53' TOFC car is a can of worms.  At that point, railroads were adapting equipment to the service, making most cars RR specific.  I agree another 53' flat could be handy, but I say stick with the flat and let modelers do like the RRs and adapt the cars themselves ala kitbashing.

As for 35' trailers being around, I still see them.  You may not find them on the road or even on the flats but they're still in use, even if its local delivery or for tool storage on a construction lot.  They're kitbash fodder too.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

35' was a popular size on exterior post vans right through the 70's. Single axle trucks were used for bread and other lightweight commodities. Dual axles was popular for LTL and transportation companies: The exterior post was sturdier than fiberglass reinforced plywood, and the 35' length was easier to negotiate tight inner city streets.

Bachmann's model appears to be based on an early 60's Strick design judging from the ribbed front wall, lack of crash bar and wheeled landing gear.

[wazzou]

The length of the trailer was all about the combined tractor/trailer length restrictions on the highways.  I'm sure that info is on the web as to when 40' trailers became accepted thus numbering the days of the preceding 35' trailers.
The same could be said about Cabover trucks and their disappearance from the American highways as restrictions on lengths have been further eased.