2020 Boxcars from Menards!

When is the Tide car being released????

They look great! 

I am interested in the Challenger box.

Wow they really look good BUT proposition 65 prohibits shipping to California. OUCH!

UP express boxes went from Challenger to two tone grey then to yellow and grey.  Interested in last two.

@Hent05 posted:

Wow they really look good BUT proposition 65 prohibits shipping to California. OUCH!

Hent05,

All boxcars produced after 2018, including these, are available to ship to California. There are about 30-40 boxcars that have the correct labeling. 

We've been proactive since the prop 65 came into effect and most everything released within that time span can be shipped to you. 

Unfortunately, the free box truck is not labeled in accordance to California's regulations.

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

I got the B & M cars. They are sharp looking.

Re: Proposition 65.  What ever happened to the Freedom of Choice that Americans once enjoyed in the USofA from sea to shining sea?

You can't help but wonder what the Founding Fathers would think if they could see what is going on today in the USA. 

United We Stand, Divided We Fall?  Gads, what a thought......

P.S.  A message for Mark, the Menards Train Guy: Who determines which road names will be used on the rolling stock? 

Thanks Menard for the clarity. Now let me try ordering some boxcars! 

@DMASSO posted:

I got the B & M cars. They are sharp looking.

Yep, nice looking train there! Nice corsair, too--is it going on a strafing run on a rival road name? 

@Tuscan Jim posted:

Yep, nice looking train there! Nice corsair, too--is it going on a strafing run on a rival road name? 

No strafing. Training flight. Corsairs were made in my town of Stratford,  CT.

@DMASSO posted:

No strafing. Training flight. Corsairs were made in my town of Stratford,  CT.

Very cool. I never could decide which was my favorite WWII fighter--corsairs or P-51s!

@Tuscan Jim posted:

Very cool. I never could decide which was my favorite WWII fighter--corsairs or P-51s!

Corsairs! Fly Navy!

Nice selection of new additions to the Menards boxcar line. Placed order for a couple.

Would like to see a Spokane Portland & Seattle boxcar, would pull the trigger on a bunch of em.

Interested in when the Tide Boxcar will be released also. Will it make it to the stores or just online?

Thanks,

Jeff

@Hent05 posted:

Wow they really look good BUT proposition 65 prohibits shipping to California. OUCH!

Really? Again?! I had heard this was no longer an issue. In the beginning Menards did not have the correct warnings on the packaging.

Here we go again

Joe Gozzo

@Trainlover160 posted:

Really?  Again?!  I had heard this was no longer an issue.  Initially, Menards did not have the correct warnings on packaging.  Here we go again.

Mark from Menards already addressed this about five posts above yours.   All is well.

@RadioRon posted:

Mark from Menards already addressed this about five posts above yours.   All is well.

Missed it🙄

What amazes me is that the colors on Menards freight cars are pretty much correct but Lionel on some things can't get it right, why?

Dave

The Tide boxcar will come at the proper tide!

Please look up MD&W, Minnesota, Dakota & Western, and MT&W Marinette, Tomahawk & Western railroad on rrpicturearchives.net 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=MDW

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=MTW

You can have box cars produced in these colors and graphics.

Thank you,

Andrew

Question: Are those cars larger than a 6464?

Thanks.

Andre

@david1 posted:

What amazes me is that the colors on Menards freight cars are pretty much correct but Lionel on some things can't get it right, why?

Dave

 Because you have to pay 3 times as much if you want the wrong colors or smoke units to die on arrival! 🤣  

@laming posted:

Question: Are those cars larger than a 6464?

Thanks.

Andre

I can’t say I know off the top of my head about the size comparison but generally the Menards box cars are more traditional sized cars similar to post war rolling stock.  Some of their flat cars a closer to scale or as I say close enough.  For the price you can’t beat Menards products. Rivet counters need not apply. 

@laming posted:

Question: Are those cars larger than a 6464?

Thanks.

Andre

Andre, Menards cars are based off of the old AMT/KMT/Williams cars, which are a little larger than 6464's.  They are closer in size to a scale Pennsy X29 boxcar.

Rusty

Thanks for the input, Chris.

I understand about rivets. Unfortunately, I'm still capable of counting them. (In my HO modeling.)

I'm trying to not be too picky with my fledgling 3-rail collection, however I confess that I have devised a set of "Givens n' Druthers" to guide me in my purchases. One of them being: No boxcars larger than the 6464's.

Reason for that is because I want all rolling stock to relate well proportionately with my choices of engines, which in a nutshell would be: PW Lionel cast frame FA's and Baby Hudson's and similar sized engines.

Seeing as there are zero Menard's in my region, I doubt I'll order one online for a look see.

Andre

@Rusty Traque posted:

Andre, Menards cars are based off of the old AMT/KMT/Williams cars, which are a little larger than 6464's.  They are closer in size to a scale Pennsy X29 boxcar.

Rusty

Thanks Rusty.

That helps me a lot. I thought I recalled from recent threads that the Menard's boxcars (like Rail King boxcars), are noticeably larger than the famed 6464 series car.

Lionel's Pennsy X29-type car is a great car for me to relate to, for the Greenberg book I have illustrates the X3854 (X29-type) alongside a 6454 (which is a tad smaller than a 6464). Vast difference.

I need to stick with my "known's". (6464's, 6454's, Industrial Rails, etc.)

Andre

@laming posted:

Thanks Rusty.

That helps me a lot. I thought I recalled from recent threads that the Menard's boxcars (like Rail King boxcars), are noticeably larger than the famed 6464 series car.

Lionel's Pennsy X29-type car is a great car for me to relate to, for the Greenberg book I have illustrates the X3854 (X29-type) alongside a 6454 (which is a tad smaller than a 6464). Vast difference.

I need to stick with my "known's". (6464's, 6454's, Industrial Rails, etc.)

Andre

K-Line had some "Goldilocks" cars:  Old Marx tooling (too small,) 1/4" scale sized (too big) and also their versions of the 6464's (just right.) 

Way back when, I had the K-Line 6464-ish Santa Fe "Map" series cars, they looked great behind my 204's.

Rusty

Nothing wrong with details however with my big clumsy paws and my eyes not being what they use to be the small details aren’t a big deal to me even in HO. How ever you enjoy the hobby is all that matters! 

@Rusty Traque posted:

K-Line had some "Goldilocks" cars:  Old Marx tooling (too small,) 1/4" scale sized (too big) and also their versions of the 6464's (just right.) 

Way back when, I had the K-Line 6464-ish Santa Fe "Map" series cars, they looked great behind my 204's.

Rusty

Oh yeah! I had a ton of those K-Line 6464-wannabe's back in my 1990s Hey Day. Great cars. Had a ton of 'em including the map series. (BTW: 204's and 208's are my favorite stamp-frame FA's!)

I can find the K-Line 6464's (in singles) on The Bay, but that darn shipping is a deal breaker. Need to make some good train meets.

Train meets: Remember those? (Will we EVER be able to have train meets of old? NOT the "new" version of train meets: Cancelled or with so many restrictions that it neuters the meet experience.)

Rusty, you need to hop over to my "The Scent Of Ozone" thread and say "Hi". I've got some questions for you.

Anyway, back on topic:

The Menard's cars look great. Menard's is really providing a great service to 3-railers. I wish them the very best.

Andre

@Chris Lonero posted:

Nothing wrong with details however with my big clumsy paws and my eyes not being what they use to be the small details aren’t a big deal to me even in HO. How ever you enjoy the hobby is all that matters! 

SO true. I say "fun is where you find it".

To wit: If counting rivets is fun for you, go for it! If having the entire Mickey Mouse car collection is fun for you, go for it!

There is no wrong way for one to enjoy their hobby of trains.

Like a late-forumite (that I just can't remember the name of, so sorry) used to say decades ago in his sig line:

"It's a great big tent with room for everybody!"

Andre

P.S. I think the late-forumite that I refer to had "Bear" in some form in his nickname?

@Rusty Traque posted:

Andre, Menards cars are based off of the old AMT/KMT/Williams cars, which are a little larger than 6464's.  They are closer in size to a scale Pennsy X29 boxcar.

Rusty

From what I see, the Menards cars are exactly the same car as the RMT box cars. Very close to my 6464 cars, but not exactly the same size.

Jeff

would like to see scale boxcars (and other rolling stock) from Menards.

Sure would like to see some Western Maryland box cars.  I could go for a 6-pk.

@Menards I'm new to the hobby as my grandfather left mytmy brother and I his collection after he passed a few years ago. I recently purchased a few box cars (weathered and graffitied cars) and I absolutely love them. I was wondering... Are you/have you made any passenger cars and/or sets? The passenger sets I've come across, when new, tend to run above well above my budget. Thanks!

@Anthracite570 posted:

...I was wondering... Are you/have you made any passenger cars and/or sets? The passenger sets I've come across, when new, tend to run above well above my budget. Thanks!

Thanks for your suggestion! While we have not made any passenger cars yet, it is a project we are looking at.

I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on passenger cars. Let me know if anyone has feedback.

1. What is a good length? 
2. What body style has the widest appeal?
3. What price would you be willing to pay?

Keep in mind, these won't necessarily be "scale" but we are in the business of having fun!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

@Menards posted:

Thanks for your suggestion! While we have not made any passenger cars yet, it is a project we are looking at.

I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on passenger cars. Let me know if anyone has feedback.

1. What is a good length? 
2. What body style has the widest appeal?
3. What price would you be willing to pay?

Keep in mind, these won't necessarily be "scale" but we are in the business of having fun!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Learn from the Lionel MPC 9500's.  How NOT to access the light bulbs.  Make it so easy George Jetson can change them out!

I think 18" is a good length.

@Menards posted:

Thanks for your suggestion! While we have not made any passenger cars yet, it is a project we are looking at.

I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on passenger cars. Let me know if anyone has feedback.

1. What is a good length? 
2. What body style has the widest appeal?
3. What price would you be willing to pay?

Keep in mind, these won't necessarily be "scale" but we are in the business of having fun!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

You might want to start a new thread on this topic. You will get lots of people commenting. 

@laming...I don't know for sure...but @bearlead hasn't posted here since Feburary 2020. He may be surprised to be referred to as "late". He was / is a great member of the early forum culture. If I am incorrect about his current status I mean no disrespect. I wanted to acknowledge him as a wonderful participant and valued member in our online community. Hopefully Bearlead will start posting and commenting again if that's in the cards...

John

Hi John!

I think you're right: "bearlead".

It was so long ago since I've read a post by him, I "assumed" the worse! Glad it looks as if he's still kickin', at least as recently as February. I recall he had good things to say, and as you can see, I still remember his sig line!

Andre

@Jim R. posted:

You might want to start a new thread on this topic. You will get lots of people commenting. 

Absolutely... this is buried in this thread.

@Chessie posted:

I think 18" is a good length.

  Not if they want to make them cost effective & appealing to "newbies."  If Lionel made its starter set Polar Express & Harry Potter cars 18 inches, they wouldn't have sold.   

@Menards posted:

Thanks for your suggestion! While we have not made any passenger cars yet, it is a project we are looking at.

I'm curious of everyone's thoughts on passenger cars. Let me know if anyone has feedback.

1. What is a good length? 
2. What body style has the widest appeal?
3. What price would you be willing to pay?

Keep in mind, these won't necessarily be "scale" but we are in the business of having fun!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

My personal thoughts:

1) 13” or 16.5” basically able to run O31 radius curves
2) Personally I prefer streamlined cars, but Madison heavyweights are also a big part of my collection

3) individual cars with empty but “detailed” interiors, ~$40; If they had actual people figures and detailed interiors, ~$60. if just frosted “glass” with or without silhouettes, ~$25.

i think either the Lionel baby Madison or rail king passenger cars are good ideas for size and such. Again, just my personal opinion on what I like.

For the fun operation of passenger coaches, the roof of the passenger coach needs to have a hinge that allows the top to open up, allowing children and adults to load and unload all of the passengers at each stop. 

Andrew

The passenger cars would have thin, bright LED strips for lighting.

Andrew

@Keith Crook 020419 posted:

My personal thoughts:

1) 13” or 16.5” basically able to run O31 radius curves
2) Personally I prefer streamlined cars, but Madison heavyweights are also a big part of my collection

3) individual cars with empty but “detailed” interiors, ~$40; If they had actual people figures and detailed interiors, ~$60. if just frosted “glass” with or without silhouettes, ~$25.

i think either the Lionel baby Madison or rail king passenger cars are good ideas for size and such. Again, just my personal opinion on what I like.

I agree.

Stay with the low cost high quality market niche you have so beautifully established.  I would much rather my grandson have Menards 13 or 16 in passenger cars than none at all..

Not everyone has a lot of storage space or budget.   

I prefer the Pennsylvania R.R./Strasburg R.R. type passenger cars. I  would not be all that picky on size so long as they are more affordable than some of the competitors. For price, I think $30 could be the sweet spot, or a bit more, depending on the level of detail on the cars.

There has to be a baggage car.  Well, Jack wants to ride....

I'd like to add my two cents worth if I may?  I was going to throw in my wooden nickel too, but it has been reduced to nothing more than a pile of sawdust thanks to an angry army of termites!

Passenger Cars: I'd like to see Menards produce the entire set of streamlined passenger cars based on the HO scale Mantua-Tyco streamlined car fleet.  They were close to 72 ft. in scale length which enabled them to operate on HO scale 18 inch radius curve track that was the standard track supllied with most HO train sets during the 50s and 60s. 

Mantua-Tyco proposed to manufacture a complete set of cars.  Not all were produced though, e.i. baggage car, diner, dome.  Information can be obtained on Tony Cook's Tyco train site which I located by going to Google.  The cars were very attractive and were delivered in several road names.  I believe they would prove popular in the event Menards were to choose the design of these cars to put on the market today.

Caboose: Again, I turn to Mantua-Tyco.  A caboose very simular to a Pennsylvania Railroad cabin car was produced and included in many train sets, except of course for the little 4-wheel wood bobber caboose, which were included in some sets.  Instead of the standard Penny center cupola, the M-T car had an offset cupola.  One must wonder if New Jersey based M-T didn't work from plans provided by the PRR when designing this caboose?  Who knows if the Pennsy had planned to build cabin cars based on this design?

Vintage wood style passenger cars, like those which operate today on the popular Starsburg Rail Road, would be most welcomed too of course!

I am well aware that Menards will be required to invest X number of $ to design and maufacture any passenger cars (and a cabin car too) before they become part of the ever expanding line of excellent top quality "Nice Price" O gauge equipment, however, I did want to obtain the reaction of fellow OGR model rails (and Menards too of course) just the same.

Thank you!

Joe Toth Jr.

I would love to see some Lionel 2500 series passenger cars. I have a small layout that I am developing and my needs are for the traditional "shorties".

Thanks to Wild Mary, there's a new post regarding the possibility of Menards introducing passenger cars to the O gauge market.

Check out "Menards Passenger Cars-Any Chance?"

@falconservice posted:

For the fun operation of passenger coaches, the roof of the passenger coach needs to have a hinge that allows the top to open up, allowing children and adults to load and unload all of the passengers at each stop. 

Andrew

This is something that Lionel, mth do not have.  Even if the roofs just sat snugly or snapped on it would greatly increase the play value. 

A fit as simple as the tops of the @Menards  delivery vans would do the job.

Yes, I know this means some roofs would get lost by children but you can't win with everything.  My kids love putting stuffed animals and little people or other toys inside freight cars to take a ride.  Being able to add people or critters to a passenger without having to flip it upside down would be really nice.  Kids and many adults I assume, would rather not glue figures to a seat to keep them in place while rolling the carbody back over to screw reinstall the screws that hold the roof in place.  The drawback to this approach is that getting the lighting attached is much harder.  If you went with an easy open top and lights at the same time another cross brace or something would be needed to hold the lights.  It would also potentially mean switching from a two piece to three piece construction.

piece 1 - removable roof

Piece 2 - rectangular car body with cross bracing for the lights and wires, but most of the car top open.  molded in steps and vestibules.  No opening vestibule doors, prices need kept down. Window strips optional.

piece 3 - frame, either stamped metal or plastic. since an open top capable car would be meant for play value, any electric components for lights would be mounted under the frame.  

additionally parts -  passenger looking truck assemblies, both with roller pickups. Possible some type of box to house the electronics under the frame. Other than that as few detail parts as possible.  Kids break stuff off.  For that matter, so do I.  

Lionel baby Madison style cars are okay with me, and make sense with lots of road names.  I am not sure what length those.  Longer cars requiring bigger curves limits the market.  I the Madison style car was selected I would avoid rivets just to make paint easier.  

Of course other options would be to skip lights on the inside all together, or have conventional bulbs mounted in the floor.

Frankly the idea is exciting to me, because anything that actually makes my kids want to truly play with the trains is an improvement.  Also a passenger car I can get for a reasonable price point to custom paint myself is attractive as well.  My middle child has a customized "Stephen Express".  It used to a set of Lionel MLB themed cars that I got for a song.  customizing those cars for him was something special.