Is there a list or catalog of Ak-sar-Ben special runs?

[learmoia]

I've never seen one, or reference to one.  Even the N scale product guide from the late 1990s references the company, then says "No product detail available". Then goes on to list everything from Aztec, BevBel, JnJ, and so on..

Trovestar by its nature is starting to build one, but doesn't list mfg dates like it does with most locomotives.

Very mysterious.. ~Ian

[Lemosteam]

Did you know that the Ak-Sar-Ben was created from the word Nebraska in reverse?  Not sure why, maybe the proprietor was a Cornhusker alum?

I only know of the shark A and i think B unit shells and the Erie-built shells, no times or dates, but @Alwyn Cutmore may have some more helpful info.

[brokemoto]

Some of us used to refer to them as "Hacksaw Ben".

[C855B]

Did you know that the Ak-Sar-Ben was created from the word Nebraska in reverse? ...

(Many groups, companies and institutions from the region use the "Ak-Sar-Ben" moniker. Origin was a civic group in the late 1800s - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Ak-Sar-Ben .)

[wm3798]

For decades I had a high nose GP30 shell designed to ride on the Atlas Roco frame... I obtained it shortly before the release of the A-K GP30, which rendered it useless.
I had my two A-R drives shipped off to JnJ to get Kato motors installed, and ran them for years under B&O shells I had painted.  I ran the heck out of those guys, then finally sold them off.

Man, I haven't heard "AkSarBen" and JnJ used in the same breath since about 1992!

Lee

[nickelplate759]

Ak-Sar-Ben used to be a great source of N scale parts.  That might have been how they got started.  I got the impression that this part of business was basically a scrapyard - buy junkers and strip them for parts - but I'm not certain.   I wish there was something like that today.

[brokemoto]

Ak-Sar-Ben used to be a great source of N scale parts.  That might have been how they got started.  I got the impression that this part of business was basically a scrapyard - buy junkers and strip them for parts - but I'm not certain.   I wish there was something like that today.

Perhaps this is why people referred to them as "Hacksaw Ben"?

You are correct about the parts.  Bob's Train Repair used to be another source of parts, but, alack-and-well-a-day, they are gone, as well.  The lack of a parts source might explain why some of the junk that I sell on FeePay fetches such good prices.  I even label it as JUNK and people still bid it up far over what I ever expect to get for it.

[learmoia]

Did you know that the Ak-Sar-Ben was created from the word Nebraska in reverse?  Not sure why, maybe the proprietor was a Cornhusker alum?

I only know of the shark A and i think B unit shells and the Erie-built shells, no times or dates, but @Alwyn Cutmore may have some more helpful info.

Living in Iowa and visiting Nebraska.. seems like Nebraska embraces Aksarben like Iowa embraces Hawkeye.. (Granted there is also there is also Cornhiskers and Cyclones..) 

When I was reading through spookshows site, it seemed like the decorated Erie/Shark shells were "Al's Custom Trains"? Or Con-Cor direct on the Eries?

I wasn't aware they dealt with parts.. Seems like Aksarben, just did special runs through mfgs, similar to PWRS today. 

 JnJ got into custom shells and detail parts (as did Raintree)

It just amazes me there seems to be zero documentation on what they made.

~Ian

[Mark5]

I probably have a few newsletters filed away somewhere, but by no means a list!

[central.vermont]

The only thing I have is an April 2002 Paddington & Wehr Reference & Price Guide for
Micro Trains special run rolling stock. It lists the following 10 cars;



Ref#     MT#                      Description                                      Reporting       Issue                           Value
            Style                                                                               #                   Price            Current                   High           

                                                                             

82-07   20000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Sky Blue           1982         $10.00     $32  May-01         $46   Jul-89
82-08   42000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair White               1982         $10.00     $32  Oct-01          $47   Aug-90
82-09   55000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Black                 1982         $12.00     $36  Nov-01         $50   Apr-90
82-10   55000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Light Brown       1982        $14.00     $77  Aug-90         $77   Aug-90
82-11   65000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Silver                 1982        $12.00     $38  Nov-01         $73   Aug-90
82-12   65000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Dark Yellow        1982       $14.00     $55  Nov-98          $77   Aug-90
82-13   65000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Sky Blue             1982       $12.00     $32  Sep-01          $50   Apr-90
82-14   65000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Light Blue          1982       $14.00      $51  May-99         $86   Oct-93
82-15   50000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Yellow                1982       $13.00      $29  Oct-01          $47   Aug-90
82-16   50000   Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair Silver                 1982       $14.00      $77  Aug-90          $77  Aug-90

82-17   Various  Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair 6 Car Set          1982       $51.00      $105  Jun-01         $160  Jun-92
                          20000 Sky Blue-42000 White-55000 Black-65000 Silver-65000 Sky Blue-50000 Yellow

82-18  Various  Aksarben  1982 World's  Fair 4 Car Set           1982       $60.00      $186.00  Dec-01    $362  May-91
                          55000 Light Brown-65000 Dark Yellow-65000 Light Blue-50000 Silver