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Post by boxcarwilly on Jun 18, 2017 9:12:28 GMT -5
A good rule of thumb is before purchase, always ask what the dimensions are if not already shown on the package. Then you can judge for yourself if it will work.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jun 17, 2017 8:38:01 GMT -5
View AttachmentThis is a typical locking mechanism for holding containers together in a train, or on a truck chassis as well. That's it?!!! That's all that holds the containers? I wish I had never asked. Now I'm even more nervous about being near these things. Doesn't seem like much. And these are used on ships as well? WOW!!!
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Post by boxcarwilly on Jun 15, 2017 10:57:54 GMT -5
Whenever I see an intermodal train, or a container on a semi chassis, I always wonder, how do these things stay on without falling off? I tend to get a bit paranoid whenever I'm beside one of these while on the road feeling uneasy that if the truck makes a turn, that container isn't going to fall off and crush my car and my little fat self. When I look at these things I can't help but wonder, there has to be something more then 4 very short pins or gravity or sheer weight, holding the container on the chassis. Bur I never can get close enough to examine the situation more closely, and I don't know anyone in the industry, or who drives a container chassis to ask how it's done. It's the same thing on the intermodal cars. Obviously the one on the bottom is secure because it's down in the well so it ain't likely to move, but what about the one on top? I look at these trains and it just boggles my mind how they are kept together. I can't see any visual way of holding the top container to the bottom, but again I can't get close enough for an inspection. This really is a mystery to me and admittedly, it's no big deal, but still I am curious. Something else about intermodals. I have noticed that on some of these cars, there appears to be what looks like a motor on the deck at one end. I'm not sure if that's really what it is but it's on my intermodal cars too. Does anyone know if in fact that is a motor, or is it something else and what is it used for? One final note, from time to time, I have driven to one of two intermodal yards here and just watched them being built or torn down. Those guys who use those specially build lift trucks, do an amazing job. They always seem to be spot on when loading and never seem to cause any accidents unloading. I think they are a special breed of lift truck drivers to be able to do it day in and day out without issues. The guys in the cranes at the docks are no amateurs either. My hats off to all of them.
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Post by boxcarwilly on May 2, 2017 10:23:52 GMT -5
1. I don't give out names of friends and acquaintances to people I don't know. 2. I'm trying to get as much info as possible but since I don't live there and can only reach my friend by email, this takes time. 3. Who his sources are is no one's concern but his and I will not invade his privacy or theirs by asking. 4. I would think that MTL would not pull the plug until they complete any pre-orders, if in fact they do that. 5. If in fact this is a rumor started by some disgruntled employees at MTL, then it's business as usual. I'm only passing on what I've heard. 6. Why don't you investigate it yourself Dave? Contact MTL and try to get answers from them. I wonder if they are planning to discontinue Z will they be up front about it or will they stonewall anyone who asks. I don't know, Do you? 7. If I do find out anything, I will certainly pass the info along to anyone who cares.
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Post by boxcarwilly on May 1, 2017 20:22:09 GMT -5
Someone missed April Fool's by a month...... Like I said BUB, it was only a rumor, and my friend knows people at MTL so something must be afoot. But this month's offering from MTL is far less substantial then in previous months so one can draw their own conclusions. You have to remember one very important thing, the attitude of current management is not one of enthusiasm and hasn't been for quite some time. That's a fact. So again, draw your own conclusion. As for couplers, it matters little if they are Kadee or anybody else's, the fact remains, they are too weak to hold trains of more then 15 cars together on grades of 3% or less. That's been my experience. Yes it's only a rumor, but if it's coming from MTL people, then perhaps there is some truth behind it. I guess we will know soon enough.
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Post by boxcarwilly on May 1, 2017 11:14:53 GMT -5
Moderators note: At the request of MTL this thread is now locked. For the benefit of transparency, it is still available to read.
MTL has stated for the record that they have no intention of exiting the Z scale market, and we at AZL welcome this statement as we firmly believe that competition is good for our scale and our business.
The original message is as follows:
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I heard a nasty rumor from a friend of mine in Oregon that MTL is winding down it's production of Z scale engines and cars. As I understand it, they have decided to shelve Z scale and concentrate entirely on N scale production. While I find this most unfortunate, it's not at all surprising if true. The new ownership of MTL has not been interested in doing much of anything to boost MTL's market share in Z scale and with the current staff loath to bring forth any new products, they are shooting themselves in the foot. It seems that the manufacturers of Z scale are growing less and less all the time and not just in cars and engines, but in accessories and detail parts as well. How many more are going to throw in the towel?
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 25, 2017 11:07:12 GMT -5
Not to put too fine a point on this but there were 2 z scale modellers there this year, he was set up less then 15 feet away from me, and during and after the show, we had a chance to chat and he feels the same way I do. Z scale just isn't taken seriously here. We who model in Z, bare the brunt of jokes, and insults, and comments like, " Z scale may catch on when it grows up." and "Too small to really be noticed." Frankly I'm sick of it. The sad thing is, most of derogatory comments come from HO, and N scale modellers, especially the big clubs with upwards of 20 members. They seem to forget that HO and N started out the same way and eventually caught on to be as big as they are now. Well, I'm resigned to the fact that I will never live long enough to see Z scale be as big here and it is in the States. At least I can take comfort in knowing that the empire I'm building in Z scale, will be something I'll be proud of, if and when I finish it. What makes it even harder is manufacturers at the show, like MTL and Intermountain had no Z scale at all. Even the retailers from B.C. and Ontario who usually stock Z scale merchandise, had none this year. No wonder we are not taken seriously. If anyone wanted to get into it, they can't buy any Z scale anywhere on the Prairies, so they would have to go to B.C. or Ontario, or get it from vendors in the States. It's really a tragic thing when you think about it.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 24, 2017 18:19:00 GMT -5
Outside of still not being taken seriously, and listening to derogatory comments from modellers in other scales, and it being very exhausting, NO.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 24, 2017 12:58:00 GMT -5
Well it's over for another year and Supertrain 2017 was quite busy despite the ugly weather. Actually the rumor has the numbers about 2500 more then last year for attendance. That would really be good. It seemed like there were more people there this year. Oh well, this is it for me. Next year I'll just be another face in the crowd.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 21, 2017 11:01:29 GMT -5
FINAALY!!!!! Now I'm a happy railroader.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 15, 2017 10:11:11 GMT -5
I agree that competition is good for business. It would be nice to have another manufacturer to make the engines that MTL no longer makes, and AZL can't make. Same for rolling stock. MTL doesn't make new stuff anymore just repaints and AZL only makes certain pieces. It would be nice to see some cranes, utility cars and MOW units as well as snowplows and other pieces.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 14, 2017 10:20:40 GMT -5
Well Supertrain 2017 is just a week away and I'm all ready to go. I'm just taking one module with me this year so I will have a very small display. It's getting increasingly difficult to find people to help move and set up so this is my last year taking part. It's too stressful when people including family members say they will help only to have them come back later and say they can't for some stupid reason. I can't afford to hire helpers and trust them to be careful when moving my stuff. I suffered some minor damage last year because some jerk wasn't careful enough to watch what he was doing. Fortunately it was repairable. After the show, and my layout goes back together, I'm just going to concentrate on completing my empire and only show it during the CMRS layout tour every February. As for Supertrain, it's been fun but a hell of a lot of work especially when you have to do everything yourself. And the sad thing is z scale isn't taken seriously so we are left out of any competition for best in scale, best in show, best fun display and all others because the judging staff and my fellow modellers still consider z scale to be nothing more then a toy or passing fad. Oh well, that's life I guess. Next year I'll be just another paying spectator. At least I'll get to see what everyone else is doing. www.supertrain.ca
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Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 2, 2017 9:32:59 GMT -5
This month's release of product from AZL is another disappointment for me. I wait and wait and wait for something to be produced in a specific model only to have it pulled from production to run something else. Then when production resumes and what I am waiting for I'm told is going to be released in the first quarter of this year, I am thankful and excited. Then the let down. The first quarter has ended and still it is not released. Disappointed yet again. It is things like this that make me wonder why I ever got into Z scale in the first place. Certainly I can find everything I want for my layout in HO or N and for less money. Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate. The thought of abandoning my z scale empire, and starting over in another scale, causes me great concern, especially after all the money I've sunk into it so far. Money that would have gone a long way to secure my golden years. It's probably too late to start over anyway as I don't have a lot of years left. I wouldn't live long enough to get to the same place in another scale as I am now in Z. It's very frustrating when you are told, it's coming this quarter but it doesn't. I guess you can't take anyone at their word. anymore.
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ES44
Apr 1, 2017 8:44:17 GMT -5
Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 1, 2017 8:44:17 GMT -5
I was not aware that these were even being produced. Why are they being sold privately and not on the open market through dealers? If this is a pre-order deal, then I want 4 Canadian Pacific.
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Post by boxcarwilly on Mar 23, 2017 11:22:33 GMT -5
Just as an aside to all of this, my Budd's are the only pieces in my inventory who can't navigate this S bend. I have no trouble with any of my other engines or cars, long and short. Very strange that the Budd's give me this much grief. Everywhere else on my layout and they run just peachy together, provided I have them in the right order and facing the right direction.
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