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Post by ciccino on Apr 28, 2018 11:57:48 GMT -5
Hello, knowledgeable members of the forum! Does anyone know whether tank cars like this (by Marklin) are used by North American railroads too? I get GATX is a US company. I would like to put a UP E8A in the lead of some of them (as you know, I am obsessed - for some unknown reason - with E8 in freight service  )  |
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Post by dazed on Apr 29, 2018 13:36:16 GMT -5
They are not used by North American railroads.
For an E8, you would probably want some of the MTL tank cars...although, they might be a little *too* old depending on the scenario you're trying to create.
Guess it depends on how you are trying to explain the E8 in freight service....is it a post-passenger-era short/regional line that is using it? If so you might be able to use the AZL funnel tanks although it would need to be one of the simplified black schemes sans reflectors. And it still would be a stretch. The corn syrup cars didn't come around until the 80's. Obviously an E8 could exist in the 80's too, just less and less likely to be in general freight service. With rare exception, the E's and F's were no longer being used by then. (BN's racetrack commuters being one glaring exception)
I seem to recall the Norfolk Southern using some cowl units to haul some Intermodal trains as a promotional deal at some point. KCS and BN also did I think. I wanna say that KCS used some in captive coal service late into the 80's too. So there is precedence for what you're trying....go for it!
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Post by ciccino on Apr 29, 2018 14:30:07 GMT -5
Thank you for your thorough reply, Doug!
Since here in Europe UP E8AB by Marklin/AZL seem to abund, I was just thinking to combine them with some other Marklin freight cars :-)
(unfortunately, Marklin-branded E8 features a Marklin coupler...)
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Post by dazed on Apr 29, 2018 23:04:28 GMT -5
Oh, I see...Marklin couplers is the deal. Well, honestly even though I burst your bubble, I would probably just go ahead with these GATX cars. They look nice, and if you like 'em then I'd say go for it. Otherwise you'll end up like me and drive yourself crazy with this stuff. ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2018 0:32:07 GMT -5
US locos and cars NEVER had buffers ...  |
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Post by ciccino on Apr 30, 2018 6:57:41 GMT -5
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Post by markm on Apr 30, 2018 7:27:37 GMT -5
If the goal is to run a Märklin E8/9 with U.S. cars, may I suggest a couple of other options. Buy or build a transition car: Märklin on one end and knuckle coupler on the other. One of the MTL dummy F7B would work well. This is how I run my Märklin Zephyr set with MTL F7s.
Another possibility is to replace the Märklin coupler or truck. MTL makes a conversion coupler, although IMO not a pretty process. Although I don't see where AZL has replacement trucks available for the E units, every unit comes with a spare truck. You ay be able to affect a trade.
Mark
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Post by ciccino on Apr 30, 2018 8:58:06 GMT -5
Hi, Mark!
I guess a transition car is the best option. In fact I just found one online, although not UP’s :-)
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Post by markm on Apr 30, 2018 12:39:18 GMT -5
I'd suggest finding an AZL or MTL freight car or two you really like, buy a set of the appropriate trucks: www.zscalemonster.com/mt/truck/truck-m.htmand make your own transition car. It's really easy, under a minute's work. Mark |
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Post by ciccino on Apr 30, 2018 13:00:58 GMT -5
That’s really great! I was unaware of this opportunity. I mean: that one can simply switch a truck/coupler :-)
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Post by domi on May 2, 2018 3:55:07 GMT -5
I would say on the opposite.  Automatic AAR coupler (Jeanney) used in north America is about 5 times stronger as european link and buffer. That’s why freight trains in NA are averaging 10 000 tonnes total weight (sometimes 30 or 35 000 tonnes on iron ore trains), as here in Europe a 2 000-tonnes train is considered as heavy. Furthermore crews dedicated to coupling/uncoupling don’t risk to be crushed between buffers... I’m still totally amazed european railroads stick to this outdated technology nearly 2 centuries old. Were Jeanney or Willison couplers being used in Europe, maybe freight railroading would have a far different face than it has. Dom |
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Automatic AAR coupler (Jeanney) used in north America is about 5 times stronger as european link and buffer. That’s why freight trains in NA are averaging 10 000 tonnes total weight (sometimes 30 or 35 000 tonnes on iron ore trains), as here in Europe a 2 000-tonnes train is considered as heavy. Furthermore crews dedicated to coupling/uncoupling don’t risk to be crushed between buffers... I’m still totally amazed european railroads stick to this outdated technology nearly 2 centuries old. Were Jeanney or Willison couplers being used in Europe, maybe freight railroading would have a far different face than it has.