ExactRail Announces UP GSC 42' Flat - HO... but...

[wazzou]

I thought that the 40' or 42' corrugated Gondola was a bit of a reach too. 
Has everyone forgotten that model?  What, did it have one or two prototype owners?

[bbussey]

...  a Correct series of ATSF or FGE Reefers could have done well in N....

Both Athearn and InterMountain offer prototype-specific ATSF reefers.
Both InterMountain and Micro-Trains offer prototype-specific FGE reefers.
 

[nkalanaga]

The only ExactRail products I've been looking for are their Gunderson 5200 boxcar, rerun in SP&S, and in BN.  Most of their cars are too modern for me.  I could find one and repaint it for the BN without too much trouble, but as far as I know no one makes decals for the SP&S.  I have three of the NP version and don't have any complaints about them.

[RockGp40]

I am still hoping their Evans 4780 comes to N. But I have been hoping for several years now. Glad I didn't hold my breath.

[unittrain]

I was hoping to see their 60' hy cubes in N but that is probably a pipe dream now 

[jagged ben]

They would still be my top choice to produce a BNSF 82' reefer and a TBOX 60' boxcar, both being cousins to fine products they have already done in N.  But I won't hold my breath.

Tell them to look at recent selling prices for LBF TBOXes on eBay.  Awareness of the demand might actually sway them.  Seriously.

[GaryHinshaw]

Tell them to look at recent selling prices for LBF TBOXes on eBay.  Awareness of the demand might actually sway them.  Seriously.

Done.  Here is what I just sent them.  -gfh

Dear ExactRail,

I am an avid N scaler and have been a relatively frequent ExactRail customer in the past.  Lately, I have been disappointed to see that you have shown little interest in developing new N scale products (relative to the level of your HO activity), especially since many of your offerings have been among the best available in N.  I would like to recommend a specific product that I think would be very popular, and be right in line with your current offerings: a Trinity 60' hy-cube boxcar,

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=51606

The old LBF company offered a version of this car that is long out of production, and they are commanding high prices on ebay, $55 in this example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LBF-Company-TTX-TBOX-60-Double-Plug-Door-Hi-Cube-Boxcar-N-Scale-Model-B-/321485926312?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4ada0defa8

Thank you for your attention,
Gary Hinshaw
Vancouver BC

P.S. Since I live in Canada, it is very difficult for me to purchase ExactRail products now.  In order to avoid steep shipping costs, I need a large minimum order, but without a steady flow of new products (or reruns of your sold-out items), it is hard for me to generate a large order.  If I had a way to purchase 2-3 ER cars at a time through a traditional distribution channel, I would buy more.  Sadly, your business model is not working very well for me now.

[Chris333]

They probably read that and though $55 is high? 

[Spikre]

 
  Brian,
   the selection of Non-PFE cars doesn't come close to the number
  of PFE cars offered.
   with FGE there were 40' Steel swing door and plug door Ice cars,40' Mechanicals,60' Mechanicals,later
  50' Mechanicals.
  with ATSF there were 40' Steel ice cars with Swing doors,50' Mechanicals,cars rebuilt to mechanicals,
  57' mechanicals,some of the 62' double plug door cars were mechanicals ,some just XLI,or RBLs.
    so there is room for more,not just Exotics like the 75 cars the 50' Athearn  Ice car matches.
   there were also some unique BREX 60' Mechanical cars that don't copy FGE plans.
   even more 40' PFE Icers would be welcome.
   or the odd plug and hinge door 40' ART,MDT and PFE final ice cars.
   GATC seems a bit ignored also,but many of their later mechanicals seem to be rebuilds.
  Edit--- the 62' ATSF cars were originally Express reefers,but eneded up in the Freight pool after Amtrak
            took over the long distance trains.
           Spikre
         

[wcfn100]

This

   GATC seems a bit ignored

+

40' Mechanicals

=



Two bad I can only find two roads that had them because it's one of my top cars needed.

Anyone in NE PA with a tape measure want to make some $$$?   

Jason

[jagged ben]

They probably read that and though $55 is high? 

Until they click on the link...

[bbussey]

  Brian,
   the selection of Non-PFE cars doesn't come close to the number
  of PFE cars offered.
   with FGE there were 40' Steel swing door and plug door Ice cars,40' Mechanicals,60' Mechanicals,later
  50' Mechanicals.
  with ATSF there were 40 Steel ice cars with Swing doors,50' Mechanicals,cars rebuilt to mechanicals,
  57' mechanicals,some of the 62' double plug door cars were mechanicals ,some just XLI,or RBLs.
    so there is room for more,not just Exotics like the 75 cars the 50' Athearn  Ice car matches.
   there were also some unique BREX 60' Mechanical cars that don't copy FGE plans.
   even more 40' PFE Icers would be welcome.
   or the odd plug and hinge door 40' ART,MDT and PFE final ice cars.
   GATC seems a bit ignored also,but many of their later mechanicals seem to be rebuilds.
           Spikre
         

I never said that we couldn't use N scale models of more FGE prototypes. I certainly would welcome it. But it's a misconception that no FGE or ATSF models have been offered in N when two of each have been issued and three of the four models have been released in multiple prototypical schemes.

And, given that there have been no models of the ART of GATC prototypes, both very much needed, I'm glad that two FGE models have been done.

[conrail98]

So I guess that means they won't be doing the Coil Shield in N? Crap,

Phil

[Smike]

To answer the orginal posters question of why he recevived a Vert-A-Pac, from the ER site:

We love freight cars! In fact, we've become quite attached to many, and some of our cars have stayed with us longer than others. The longer they stay the more we seem to love them, but as the saying goes, "if you love them, let them go."

The quantities of our Vert-A-Pac are dwindling... but, they.. just... haven't ....sold... through...yet. So, we've set a goal ourselves, "Move the Vert-A-Pacs!"

To help them live their dream of operating on your layout, we want to give you a Vert-A-Pac! For all orders over $75*, you will receive a free Vert-A-Pac. That's right, this one is on us!

*Order subtotal must be $75 or greater before taxes and shipping. ExactRail will choose the paint scheme and road number. Offer is limited to the quantities at hand. One car will be given per order over $75. Scale will be determined based on the other items in your order.

[GaryHinshaw]

A postscript to my earlier response. I had sent my product suggestion to info@exactrail, but it turns out that they prefer suggestions via their Product Registration web page.  (Who knew?)  So I sent them a much longer note, recommending the NSC version of the TBOX instead of the Trinity, because of the larger number of prototypical schemes possible.  I copy it here for my own reference, since I have a few LBF models I'm planning to repaint someday.

-gfh

I am an avid N scaler and have been a relatively frequent ExactRail customer in the past.  Lately, I have been disappointed to see that you have shown little interest in developing new N scale products (relative to the level of your HO activity), especially since many of your offerings have been among the best available in N.  I would like to recommend a specific product that I think would be very popular, and be right in line with your current offerings: a National Steel Co. 60' hy-cube boxcar.  The old LBF company offered a version of this car that is long out of production, and they are commanding high prices on ebay, $55 in this example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LBF-Company-TTX-TBOX-60-Double-Plug-Door-Hi-Cube-Boxcar-N-Scale-Model-B-/321485926312?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4ada0defa8

These appear in TTX's TBOX scheme in large numbers (at least 3000 cars from NSC alone):

TBOX 665000-665499 (500 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=2893
TBOX 665500-665999 (500 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=29085
TBOX 666000-666999 (1000 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=63004
TBOX (new logo) 667000-667724 (725 cars) e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=78155
TBOX (new logo) 668025-668324 (300 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=80500

They also appear in CN and CP:

DWC 794700-795299 (600 cars) e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=61921

CP 218000-218374 (375 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=67070

A variant with different side sill detail also appears in LW, NS, SRY:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=31228
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=70687
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=20792

Thank you for your attention,
Gary Hinshaw