NEM 380, The Standard That Could Have Been

[daniel_leavitt2000]

With all the new containers coming onto market (Arnold, HobbyTrain, Atlas, Rocky Rail), it can be incredibly frustrating trying to actually stack containers. Some use posts. Others use magnets. A few use both but none of them seem compatible with each other.

This wasn't always the case. While picking up a few Interail kits, they made mention of an intermodal modeling standard NEM-380. I found that standard available only in German:
http://www.morop.eu/de/normes/nem380_d.pdf

There was, in fact a push to standardize stacking posts for N scale containers! Though the standards date from the late 80's, it appears Walthers, Interail and Minitrix adhered to this standard.

Deluxe and Con-Cor look like the first manufacturers to jettison the standard for their own proprietary (Con-Cor), or no attachment method at all (Deluxe). In the past few years, every manufacturer came out with their own system and we are left with the mess that we have today.

But imagine if the NMRA adopted these standards. Containers, truck chassis and intermodal cars all completely interchangeable.

[Scottl]

Interesting, I wish they had adopted this.  I depend more on magnets to keep the stack together, but the pin layouts would have probably also encouraged a tendency towards prototypical dimensions too.

[chessie system fan]

How does container width compare with N scale car thickness?  I don't model intermodal so I assume that some cars have thicker sides than the prototype necessitating slightly thinner than prototypical containers to make them fit.  Is this the case?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Yes, it was built into the standard. By far the narrowest car we have is the Interail's Thrall car and that was NEM 380 compliant.

[nkalanaga]

One can still do it, with small brass rod or wire, and a few minutes with a drill.  If you do a lot of them, make a drilling jig, so the holes are exactly the same spacing on every box.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

You can add MTL containers to the NEM 380 standards. They lack posts on the bottom but the holes on the top will accept Walthers, Interail and Minitrix containers.

As far as magnet schemes, I like the Rolland containers the best. They magnetism is strong, and it accepts 20 and 40 foot containers where Kato and Rocky Rail do not. HobbyTrain will also do this, but the magnets are not nearly as strong.

Overall, I actually like the Roland containers the best. They are well detailed, available and are painted well.

[peteski]

Where do Kato containers fit? Standard or non-standard?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Non-standard unfortunately.

[prbharris]

But imagine if the NMRA adopted these standards. Containers, truck chassis and intermodal cars all completely interchangeable.

Daniel thanks for this 'find'. It is a bit frustrating manufacturing cars too. Tooling for a number of new intermodal cars, we have had to make a decision on whether to go for prototypical size, such as the previously available Interail Thrall cars, or for cars that will take all of the containers on the market.

We are going for the latter - and the new cars, most of which have never been available in N Scale before, will be launched at the NSE show Sacramento June 2015.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[jagged ben]

Daniel thanks for this 'find'. It is a bit frustrating manufacturing cars too. Tooling for a number of new intermodal cars, we have had to make a decision on whether to go for prototypical size, such as the previously available Interail Thrall cars, or for cars that will take all of the containers on the market.

We are going for the latter - and the new cars, most of which have never been available in N Scale before, will be launched at the NSE show Sacramento June 2015.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

Well, that was an intriguing post...