Athearn 28-ft Trailers are Arriving at Hobby Shops

[cfritschle]

The Athearn 28-ft trailers are at ModelTrainStuff (MB Klein) as of yesterday, but they are beginning to run low for some paint schemes.

https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/trains/intermodal/#/filter:custom_scale:N

The trailers were announced in April 2017, but of course they were delayed with the unexpected closing of the AffaTech factory in China last summer.

Hopefully, the Ford C tractors that were announced in October 2017, and the Ford C rescue trucks that were announced in December 2017 will also be released this year.  The Athearn website has the Ford C tractors due in late July, but it doesn't state the year.   

[OldEastRR]

What era are these 28 footers? If they're run separately.

[jagged ben]

28ft trailers on trains are basically 1990s and later, although UPS started at least as far back as '87 (but that's the Trainworx model).  Within that, these Athearn trailers span the decades but skew late.  Roughly:

Roadway:  The large letter scheme could be 1990s.  I think the 'Roadway Express' scheme is newer.
Yellow Freight:  that company was around forever, but I believe this scheme Athearn has done this time is towards the very end, late 2000s.  Yellow had a lot of similar but different schemes over the years, so it could stand in for 90s if you're not too picky.
YRC: is 2012 and later.  YRC is the result of a 2009 Roadway-Yellow Freight merger, but didn't start branding as YRC until a couple years after.
XPO Logistics: 2012 or later, really 2015 they came on the scene.
Estes:  last 10 years or so, that logo was around at least in 2012

Not so sure about the others.

I think these are all re-runs, btw.

[jagged ben]

BTW this Yellow scheme is more appropriate (I think?) for like 2000-2009.

[GaryHinshaw]

Good info Carter and jb, thanks.  Let me count they ways in which I've been heading to the poorhouse over the last few months: The N Scale Kits well cars, the Atlas well cars, the Briggs coil cars, the steady stream of JTC containers, and now these pups.    I still need to save up for the rerun of Atlas/BLMA spine cars as well... 

So perhaps this is not the time to call for Athearn to release their HO TTRX spine set in N, or to request that Atlas (paging @Atlas Paul) consider producing their HO Trinity Thrall well cars in N, given how briskly their 53' AP wells have sold.   

corrected per jc's post below. my bad -gfh

[James Costello]

So perhaps this is not the time to call for Athearn to release their HO TTRX spine set in N, or to request that Atlas (paging @Atlas Paul) consider producing their HO Trinity well cars in N, given how briskly their 53' AP wells have sold.   

@GaryHinshaw  I'm secretly hoping @Atlas Paul makes the 53' Thrall well car announcement next weekend at NSE Chicago 

[Ike the BN Freak]

I'm hoping for 48' AP Husky Stacks, being I don't want to mess with the Con-Cor car

[cfritschle]

I will add to Jagged Ben's info a bit.  The owner operator trailers with conspicuity stripes would generally work from the 1980s to about 2001.  Microscale makes several decal sets for this style of trailer.  The owner operator trailers with the conspicuity stripes work from the 1990s to the present.  Conspicuity stripes became mandatory for all new trailers 80 inches wide or wider and a gross vehicle weight (GVWR) rating of 10,000 pounds or more manufactured after December 1, 1993.  Any trailers that met those specs that were manufactured prior to December 1, 1993 had to have the conspicuity stripes added by June 1, 2001.

The specific prototypes for the Athearn trailers have been a bit elusive.  The smooth FRP (fiberglass reinforced plywood or plastic) side trailer are close to a prototype Viking used, but can easily be used as a generic trailer.  The exterior post trailer is not all that close to any specific prototype that I have been able to find, but it is still very usable as a generic exterior post trailer. 

Also, the paint schemes on the exterior post trailers are generally older (no conspicuity stripes) than the FRP side trailers.

Edit:  It looks like the newer trailer sides may now be using fiberglass reinforced plastic.  https://www.fiber-tech.net/frp-panels

[bman]

Filling in the gaps.

Mclean shut down in 1986.
Spartan shut down in the late 1990's 1997 if memory serves me right. Not sure which logo is older.
Never heard of Ringsby.  Out of Denver, CO and shut down in 1984 if the info on Hank's truck forums is reliable. I remember trying to find
info on Ringsby when these were announced back then.

So many LTL companies have fallen by the wayside since the Motor Carrier Act of 1980.

[pmpexpress]

The large "E" and the white rectangular logo with red Estes lettering on the rear doors appears to be circa 2007.

Currently, Estes Express Lines body side and tractor cab and trailer rear door logos look like this: