ATHEARN "READY-TO-ROLL"
LOCOMOTIVES
|
ITEM # |
PICTURE |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
SHOP |
| 95407 |
 |
EMD SD45 - D&RGW #
5317
All New Tooling |
$99.98 |
|
| 95408 |
|
EMD SD45 - D&RGW #
5319
All New Tooling |
$99.98 |
|
| 95123 |
 |
EMD SD45T-2 SP # 8306
with 116" Nose |
$99.98 |
|
| 95124 |
|
EMD SD45T-2 SP # 8351
with 116" Nose |
$99.98 |
|
| 95126 |
 |
EMD SD45T-2 SSW # 8375
with 116" Nose |
$99.98 |
|
95127 |
|
EMD SD45T-2 SSW # 8323
with 116" Nose |
$99.98 |
|
95128 |
|
EMD SD45T-2 SSW # 8373
with 116" Nose |
$99.98 |
|
HO R-T-R GUNDERSON "MAXI I" CONTAINER
WELL CARS
Overview
Since the early days of intermodal transport the
railroads and freight car builders have been looking for more efficient methods
of transporting trailers and containers. One of the greatest innovations in
intermodal transportation came in the late 1970s with the development of the
double stack container car by ACF Industries and Southern Pacific Railroad. From
that point onward the container was king and the railroads and car builders
searched for more efficient methods of transporting containers. In a
revolutionary step from the early stack car designs, Gunderson introduced their
Maxi-Stack 5-unit articulated well car in 1988. Evolved from their previous
5-unit Twin-Stack design, the Maxi-Stack (also called Maxi-Stack I or Maxi-I)
boasted a lower tare weight (accomplished in part by the elimination of the
bulkheads of the Twin-Stack), greater capacity, and greater versatility in
regard to container lengths and widths that could be carried.
Initial production of these cars lasted from May of 1988 through May of 1990
with approximately 270 cars built for Southern Pacific, Chicago Heights Terminal
& Transfer, Trailer Train, Maersk, and the Rail-Bridge Corporation. Despite
their design advances these cars were quickly overshadowed by newer and even
larger designs, and it appeared that the final chapter on the Maxi-Stack design
had been written. However, due to ever-increasing international container
traffic, moving in mostly 20’ and 40’ containers, the railroads took another
look at the Maxi-Stack. While the newer car designs with 48’, 53’, or 56’ wells
were more than adequate to handle this traffic the additional car length was
unnecessary for hauling these shorter containers with the corresponding excess
in train length and increased fuel consumption. As a result BNSF Railway placed
orders for new Maxi-Stack cars in 2000. While outwardly identical to the first
generation of Maxi-Stacks, these new cars featured minor cosmetic differences
compared to their earlier siblings. As
of 2007, the Maxi-Stack is still in production, with new cars built to date for
BNSF Railway, TTX, Northwest Container, and Arkansas & Oklahoma Railway. As long
as there are 20’ and 40’ containers to be hauled, the Maxi-Stack appears to have
a bright future on America’s rails.
fully assembled
HO
RTR 57' TRINITY ALL PURPOSE SPINE CARS
Intermodal transportation requires specialized rail equipment
which is, on occasion, too specialized. To allow more flexibility in loading
containers and trailers at terminals all-purpose spine cars were developed.
These cars can be configured to allow loading of trailers of varying lengths,
from 28' pups to 53' high capacity units. With the trailer hitches collapsed
containers can also be loaded. 40', 45' 48' and 53' containers call all be
accommodated on these cars as well as 20' models provided they are mounted to a
chassis.
The prototype for our model is based on a Trinity-built car owned by the TTX
Company. These 70-ton cars (TTX class RAF30A) numbered TTRX 360817-361116 first
appeared on the rails in the late 1990's. The Athearn model is faithful to the
prototype allowing modelers to load a variety of trailers and containers.
OTHER FREIGHT CARS (HO Scale)
ATHEARN HO
SCALE VEHICLES
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