Atlas vs Micro Trains 3 Bays

[nkalanaga]

With the revised peaked weight covers, it would be easy to keep the loads straight.  Just file a notch in the bottom of the pins, and keep filing until the load sits at the height you want. 

Once you've cut-and-fit the first one, you can measure it, and the rest will be simple.

[Lemosteam]

True, yet the MTL twin hopper brake hardware has been available as an accessory part for decades.

@bbussey , this was a commissioned design request from @High Hood that I am sharing here.

[Mark5]

Trainworx item #622.  Available in black, red and gray.  Fits the Atlas 90-ton hopper and PS-2 3-bay covered hopper models.

There also are items #620 and #621.  Collectively, all three fit a number of vintage N scale hopper, covered hopper and tank car models.

http://www.train-worx.com/page53.html

Not really currently available, but yeah this was discussed here:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=20824.30

Mark

[High Hood]

Ordered my first kit today. I take it the offset bolster hole trucks mentioned in the thread @Mark5 has about 100 ton trucks should work with the kit. I have a pair of the 1139 trucks, but they don't have the offset hole or Micro Trains engraved on it? Do the newer production 1139's have the offset?

[Lemosteam]

@High Hood , If you just put 36" wheels in the OEM trucks everything is perfect unless the wheelbase is off.  I am not familiar enough with the prototype to know that.

If all you are trying to do is keep the 36" wheels away from the slope sheet, see my post above.  the ride height was near perfect.

Also, thank you for your order.

[Mark5]

Ordered my first kit today. I take it the offset bolster hole trucks mentioned in the thread @Mark5 has about 100 ton trucks should work with the kit. I have a pair of the 1139 trucks, but they don't have the offset hole or Micro Trains engraved on it? Do the newer production 1139's have the offset?

The first ones I got were centered, but the retail ones I got are offset:



Also here:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=20824.45

Mark

[Mark5]

@High Hood , If you just put 36" wheels in the OEM trucks everything is perfect unless the wheelbase is off.  I am not familiar enough with the prototype to know that.

The Atlas OEM trucks are a 70 ton design, with 36" wheels they are still wrong.

Mark

[ai5629]

Even with offset bolster trucks, the truck centers on the Atlas car do not line up with the outer most side stake, which is where they need to be.  I recall @Mark5 demonstrated this in another thread regarding Atlas and MTL hopper cars.  While I really like the set here, it does not address a fundamental flaw in the Atlas car.  The offset bolster trucks used with the  MTL hopper cars allow the truck centers to line up with the outer most side stake.  However, the ride height is too high.  What the MTL hopper needs in an offset and recessed bolster truck to make the cars sit at the correct height and be centered with the last side stake.  MTL said several years ago, that this type of truck was in the works, but it has not materialized.  Every show I see an MTL representative, I bring this up and am told "we're working on it."  It was my understanding that MTL was going to offer this type of truck to address ride height issues with their current line up.  So far, crickets.  It is frustrating that this prototype (Bethlehem, N&W and PRR all built them) is not available in a completely correct version in N scale.  They were rostered by many railroads such as PRR, N&W, UP, C&O, ATSF, B&O, P&LE and their successor roads.  We have multiple varieties of Bethgons, but not this car.  Pardon the slight rant.  Thank you.

Jeff

[Lemosteam]

@ai5629 while I cannot do much about the truck center, I have demonstrated in earlier posts that with the OEM trucks and 36" wheels the top flange is within 1" (0.006") of accurate per the shared drawings.

[cjm413]

Even with offset bolster trucks, the truck centers on the Atlas car do not line up with the outer most side stake, which is where they need to be.  I recall @Mark5 demonstrated this in another thread regarding Atlas and MTL hopper cars.  While I really like the set here, it does not address a fundamental flaw in the Atlas car.  The offset bolster trucks used with the  MTL hopper cars allow the truck centers to line up with the outer most side stake.  However, the ride height is too high.  What the MTL hopper needs in an offset and recessed bolster truck to make the cars sit at the correct height and be centered with the last side stake.  MTL said several years ago, that this type of truck was in the works, but it has not materialized.  Every show I see an MTL representative, I bring this up and am told "we're working on it."  It was my understanding that MTL was going to offer this type of truck to address ride height issues with their current line up.  So far, crickets.  It is frustrating that this prototype (Bethlehem, N&W and PRR all built them) is not available in a completely correct version in N scale.  They were rostered by many railroads such as PRR, N&W, UP, C&O, ATSF, B&O, P&LE and their successor roads.  We have multiple varieties of Bethgons, but not this car.  Pardon the slight rant.  Thank you.

Jeff

MTL hopper needs an offset and recessed bolster 100T truck.   Offhand, I don't recall which trucks were going to be offered with the lower bolster arm, or whether they were going to have offset or centered kingpin holes, etc.

[Ike the BN Freak]

MTL hopper needs an offset and recessed bolster 100T truck.   Offhand, I don't recall which trucks were going to be offered with the lower bolster arm, or whether they were going to have offset or centered kingpin holes, etc.

Isn't the Trainworx 100T truck with the lowered bolster and offset hole?

Also, does anyone know if the Bowser truck is?

[ai5629]

Isn't the Trainworx 100T truck with the lowered bolster and offset hole?

Also, does anyone know if the Bowser truck is?

The Trainworx 100 ton truck has an offset bolster, but it is not recessed.  There is no improvement to the ride height when you use them.  I mentioned the recessed bolster thing to Pat a few years ago, and he said to use BLMA.  I mentioned the bolster is centered, and he said he did not know that.  That was the end of the conversation.  So I am still holding out hopes for MTL to produce a offset recessed bolster 100 ton truck.  Thank you.

Jeff

[ai5629]

First photo is of a stock MTL car.

Second photo is an MTL car with BLMA 100 ton truck.  It lowers the car so much, that I had to put a washer between the truck and underframe.  This was also needed to prevent the wheels from rubbing the slope sheets due to the trucks being pushed towards the center of the car because of the centered bolster hole.  It rides at around 12’ 4”.  Prototype rides at 12’3”.

Third photo is the MTL car with Trainworx truck.  Truck is positioned correctly, but rides too high.  It rides as around 12’8”.

Thanks.

Jeff

Pardon sideways photos.  Stupid iphone.

[Mark5]

Honestly, the loads on these car blow! I only kept them until I can get around to making some decent loads for 'em.

Mark

[Lemosteam]

Add some black sand from Hobby Lobby with Elmer's glue and that will change your mind.  Seriously.  One bottel will do every load, steam engine, and coal pile you have and your children and your children's children, LOL.