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As I was looking at my Atlas Reefer Collectors Guide I noticed that these cars were introduced in the spring of 2000.  

I could not help but remember when these cars were introduced back then: the "gotta have it"  and the excitement of these great cars.

It was a great time for us and also for Atlas.  I'm still glad to have the cars that I do and I'm sure that many of us still fill the same way.

It was a great time for Atlas and Jim Weaver,RIP.

 

Norm Rish

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I couldn't agree more Norm. Man we are getting old!  They are still at the top as far as I'm concerned. I have a copy or two of every beer reefer they made and anything to do with Wisconsin railroads (had to draw the line somewhere). I sure wish they or someone would do a Canadian Club reefer to add to my collection. That would be swwwweet.

 

Milwrd

Last edited by milwrd

Interesting to note that Atlas did a die-cast 55 ton hopper.  This is a custom paint/dry transfer .  I have (4) of the all diecast 55 ton hoppers.  Later issues of the 55 ton hoppers had plastic sides, but maintained the die-cast frame and bottom. 

 

Later issue.

The Pennsylvania outside braced was one of my first pieces of rolling stock.  Note the grab-irons, and coupler cut lever.

Norm posted:

As I was looking at my Atlas Reefer Collectors Guide I noticed that these cars were introduced in the spring of 2000.  

I could not help but remember when these cars were introduced back then: the "gotta have it"  and the excitement of these great cars.

It was a great time for us and also for Atlas.  I'm still glad to have the cars that I do and I'm sure that many of us still fill the same way.

...

Norm, great topic!!!  And I too remember the many years of "reefer madness" back in the early- to mid-2000's.  For many of us, those 40' reefers represented the modern-day equivalent of Lionel's postwar 6464 boxcars.  And they probably would have maintained that "status" if Atlas-O didn't produce so gosh darn many of them. 

Looking back on the postwar 6464's, it's generally considered that there were 30 or so of them... which by any stretch of the imagination is a relatively MANAGEABLE number to "collect".  Unfortunately, one would literally need a massive wall-space to display ALL of the Atlas-O reefers that were produced... including both the 40' and 36' variety.

In the end, the sheer number of them -- and a recognition of the fact that snagging ALL of them (including some of the more obscure "special runs" to complete one's roster) would be pretty much unattainable -- all ultimately contributed to "the cure" of my initially bad case of "reefer madness".    I still appreciate them and what Atlas-O brought to the market some 16 years ago now.  However, I'm happy with my modest roster of 40' reefers (perhaps a couple dozen of them), and I've since sold off all my 36-footers.  Sometimes too much a good thing isn't always the best recipe for success. 

I think Atlas-O would have been much better off producing 50-75 of them, and then call it quits.  Although that's more than Lionel's 30 or so 6464 boxcars, that number would still have been more manageable for "collectors" to attain in this day where basement empires are quite common.  I've personally lost track of the current tally that was actually produced, but it's much more than I would ever be tempted to collect.  And that became a strong reason why I was able to kick the "reefer madness" habit that many of us were afflicted with during the early 2000's decade.

David

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer
Bob posted:

"I think Atlas-O would have been much better off producing 50-75 of them, and then call it quits."

Sounds like a great business model, if you're interested in your business calling it quits!  This has got to be one of the goofiest posts in a while, and that's saying a lot...

Glad you found my comment entertaining, Bob.  

If you found my post so goofy, then why not call Lionel on Monday morning and ask them why they haven't re-issued Vision Line Tankers w/Freightsounds?     

Our hobby is filled with products that were over-produced side by side with items that clearly were under-produced and now have significant pent up demand... Like the Vision Line Tankers and die-cast ES44 diesels.  Lionel could probably sell all they could produce.  So why don't they?  

None of us here really knows what's driving the decision-making at our favorite importers at any given point in time.

David

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer

Since I elected to collect Atlas reefers from just a few states (companies with those addresses), ignoring the rest, and therefore acquiring a manageable number, I am disappointed more are not forthcoming.  Posters on here have said that historically only a few of the many that once rolled  have been produced.  Having spent some time in libraries, historical societies,  and elsewhere trying to find old reefer photos, and finding only one that Atlas produced, I can say it is not easy to find undiscovered cars.  Some of them may  be rather Plane-jane, with just lettering and no interesting logos or pictured products.  However, build it and I will come  (no fantasy cars desired).  I would like to see an updated list, but one marked with the caveats of which are models of real cars that existed.

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