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Has anyone else noticed that there are no 48' spined husky stack car sets from ANY of the manufacturers?  All 48' stack cars are individual units (which I have many) instead of the AB 5 car units of the real world.  The high wall stack cars from MTH and Atlas are spined and the 53' Gunderson maxi-IV cars from Atlas are also spined (albeit they are 3 car (ACB) only).

I was thinking it would be nice if I could convert 48' husky stack cars of the same Road # to 5 car spine units, but I doubt if this endeavor would be practical.  I do have some vague recollection of someone on the forum attempting to do this but I'm not sure of the outcome or if I remember incorrectly.

Thoughts?

Anthony

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Have deinotely seen and noticed the lack of both. MTH ‘s last set was pre 2010, IRC, and possibly not since the 2002 catalog!

The k-line 5 car sets pop up on eBay more often- less than 200 which is pretty good. The two car sets, which can be combined to make a 5 car set, show up even more often. Contrary to what I believe is popular belief, the two car sets are scale and support scale sized K-Line containers and modified MTH and Weaver containers. They support scale sizes of either: one 40’ container, one 48’ container, 2 20’ container, 2 ISO container’s on Trailer with 40’ container. Can provide pics if you’d like. Hope that helps.

@StevefromPA posted:

Have deinotely seen and noticed the lack of both. MTH ‘s last set was pre 2010, IRC, and possibly not since the 2002 catalog!

The k-line 5 car sets pop up on eBay more often- less than 200 which is pretty good. The two car sets, which can be combined to make a 5 car set, show up even more often. Contrary to what I believe is popular belief, the two car sets are scale and support scale sized K-Line containers and modified MTH and Weaver containers. They support scale sizes of either: one 40’ container, one 48’ container, 2 20’ container, 2 ISO container’s on Trailer with 40’ container. Can provide pics if you’d like. Hope that helps.

Steve- I'll take those pics and I did find the early reference to the "kit-bashed" 48's (https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ermodal-husky-stacks). Anthony

I'd like Lionel to make some semi-scale 3 and 5 unit well car sets with containers and also spine cars. Also, they need to make an updated Intermodal Crane with Command-Control. I would buy a few sets of each so I could have an intermodal operation on a future layout. I would still buy the cars for my current layout.

I agree.  You can get the modern Intermodal cranes in HO but not in O.  Interestingly enough, I had starting 3D modeling the CSX Intermodal Crane in Baltimore from photographs two years ago...that's when I got back into model trains.  I have the wheel sets modeled but it was clear that it was going to be a pain to 3D print those components, so I put it aside.  It might have been more exciting if I starting with the hoist first instead of the from the ground-up approach.

I just tried to purchase an Atlas Gunderson maxi-IV well car set off of the evil that is the bay but it someone else bought it while I was checking out.  Talk about getting some strange error messages.

Anthony

Last edited by A. Wells

I’ve done several sets of these, using both K-Line 40’ Thrall and 40’ Gunderson cars. Both conversions require some major cutting, etc but totally worth it. I’ve also done several using MTH 48’ wells. The K-Line Gunderson wells require a metal shop to cut 3/4” off each end. The Thrall cars require the removal of the entire end pieces, and to add a custom fabricated end platform,  then secure to the well itself  .

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@Jeff78rr posted:

I’ve done several sets of these, using both K-Line 40’ Thrall and 40’ Gunderson cars. Both conversions require some major cutting, etc but totally worth it. I’ve also done several using MTH 48’ wells. The K-Line Gunderson wells require a metal shop to cut 3/4” off each end. The Thrall cars require the removal of the entire end pieces, and to add a custom fabricated end platform,  then secure to the well itself  .

62D48A77-2E32-4699-8C19-834B696DCE0C

9E0B70DE-ABBE-4C58-A620-6545A78AA43628A86791-DD0A-4F33-B260-18C130551C34

There they are. I knew Jeff did them. I wanted him to reply. Great job.

@Jeff78rr posted:

I agree- the actual terminology here is "articulated" intermodal well cars. Articulated means the cars share a common truck mount, and "spine" cars refers to the 3- or 5-car sets with a center spine going from truck to truck. They are also articulated, but referring to them as spine cars is correct.

Jeff - I was thinking there was probably some other terminology but, in the interest of time, I decided to go with "spine".  Also, if I had infinite time to spare, I was entertaining the notion of making a mold based on the Atlas Gunderson maxi-IV car sets.  I'm not comfortable hacking up nice new husky stack cars.  They would be all plastic except for the trucks verses die-cast but that's fine for my layout.  And, while I was writing this, I received my MTH TTX 5 car twin stack container set (20-92246).

Were these 48’ containers ever popular even for commercial intermodal transport? I love intermodal trains and I have never seen a 48’ container in real life.

I just assumed that they were an oddball size chosen by MTH and Lionel for their intermodal freight cars.

Searching online, it appears like the 53’ (US & Canada) containers are favored over these quirky 48’ containers for domestic transport. Apparently the 53’ containers cost as much to transport by truck or train while providing over 9% larger capacity per container over the 48’ container.

These are just my opinion,

Naveen Rajan

@naveenrajan (Naveen) - I've only recently noticed 53' trailers on tractors on the Interstate lately in my area.  I've even thought about taking my phone to one of the rest stops and taking photos as they pass by since they match nothing that Atlas offers.  As for 48's, I have been very up close and personal with those containers on the trailer mounts.  Typically the ones I'm accustomed to are J.B. Hunt and APL.

Anthony

The 48’ containers and trailers were very popular and mainstream in the transportation industry in the mid- to late 80’s and through the 90’s. The 53’ units came on the scene in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and are pretty much the container size currently being used. The 48’ containers are pretty much phased out for domestic use, and the 48’ well cars were mostly cut down to the 40’ well size.

@Jeff78rr posted:

The 48’ containers and trailers were very popular and mainstream in the transportation industry in the mid- to late 80’s and through the 90’s. The 53’ units came on the scene in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and are pretty much the container size currently being used. The 48’ containers are pretty much phased out for domestic use, and the 48’ well cars were mostly cut down to the 40’ well size.

I just bought 6 more Atlas 40' containers today.  I was trying to find a photo on one of the TTX affiliate websites that featured a string of empty 40' well cars to share, but alas, I cannot find it today. A

Like the Class 1 roads, I'm switching over to Gunderson Maxi -IVs. I'm phasing out my Lionel Husky stacks too- selling some even today. I did the same thing Jeff did with the K-Line DTTX well cars- taking 2 of them and making them a 5 well car too. I do notice another well car that is missing is a 53' stand alone well car- I played with the idea of modifying a Lionel Husky stack, but other than welding and grinding a section to make the car hold a 53' Atlas container, I don't know it could be done.

A 40' 5-unit articulated well car would be a welcome addition to the world  of O gauge intermodal rolling stock.

Geno

@72blackbird posted:

Like the Class 1 roads, I'm switching over to Gunderson Maxi -IVs. I'm phasing out my Lionel Husky stacks too- selling some even today. I did the same thing Jeff did with the K-Line DTTX well cars- taking 2 of them and making them a 5 well car too. I do notice another well car that is missing is a 53' stand alone well car- I played with the idea of modifying a Lionel Husky stack, but other than welding and grinding a section to make the car hold a 53' Atlas container, I don't know it could be done.

A 40' 5-unit articulated well car would be a welcome addition to the world  of O gauge intermodal rolling stock.

Geno

Geno - I saw your Lionel Husky Stacks for sell.  Friday night I had yanked out one of my Lionel 48' used, back-up CSX Husky Stacks.  I looked at the possibility of using those as the basis for a 5 well car set.  However, if I stay true to scale, none of the Lionel Husky Stacks will be suitable for that purpose.  I'm not sure if you are aware, but the LHS's are not true to scale length wise.  The disappointment of this fact has really sunk in at this point and it hurts even more as I own about 22 LHS's.  But you are correct, the Lionel units can be used as a basis for 40' 5-unit articulated well cars.  However, the Thrall units are most often rebuilt for this purpose (see various pics of the TTX units on the web and the HO sets).  (Also, you will most certainty need some serious power tools to dissect and grind the LHS's and plenty of oil to act as a coolant.)

So, all in all, I've decided on another route in my own quest for a 48' O Scale Gunderson III 5 well car set.

Anthony

@72blackbird posted:

Like the Class 1 roads, I'm switching over to Gunderson Maxi -IVs. I'm phasing out my Lionel Husky stacks too- selling some even today. I did the same thing Jeff did with the K-Line DTTX well cars- taking 2 of them and making them a 5 well car too. I do notice another well car that is missing is a 53' stand alone well car- I played with the idea of modifying a Lionel Husky stack, but other than welding and grinding a section to make the car hold a 53' Atlas container, I don't know it could be done.

A 40' 5-unit articulated well car would be a welcome addition to the world  of O gauge intermodal rolling stock.

Geno

Here is a video of Gunderson TTX 40' well cars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0QlTMkpOOA).  I assume they are rebuilt 48's.  Anthony

@A. Wells posted:

Geno - I saw your Lionel Husky Stacks for sell.  Friday night I had yanked out one of my Lionel 48' used, back-up CSX Husky Stacks.  I looked at the possibility of using those as the basis for a 5 well car set.  However, if I stay true to scale, none of the Lionel Husky Stacks will be suitable for that purpose.  I'm not sure if you are aware, but the LHS's are not true to scale length wise.  The disappointment of this fact has really sunk in at this point and it hurts even more as I own about 22 LHS's.  But you are correct, the Lionel units can be used as a basis for 40' 5-unit articulated well cars.  However, the Thrall units are most often rebuilt for this purpose (see various pics of the TTX units on the web and the HO sets).  (Also, you will most certainty need some serious power tools to dissect and grind the LHS's and plenty of oil to act as a coolant.)

So, all in all, I've decided on another route in my own quest for a 48' O Scale Gunderson III 5 well car set.

Anthony

Hi Anthony,

I was aware that the LHSs were not true scale- I chose them over the MTH HSs because of their diecast construction and detail. But things do change- the intermodal industry has abandoned 48' containers in favor of 53s, and it has been over a decade since 48s have been in widespread use to move goods and freight. I'm sure Gunderson has used many 48' well cars and reworked then into 5-unit 40' articulated well cars too, because the 48' husky stacks were once an industry standard and plentiful. It's cheaper and more cost effective to modify and rebuild new 5-unit articulated 40' well cars from retired 48' well cars, than to cut them up, melt the metal, pour and form it into new sheets, and then build new 40' well cars from scratch. It's also easier from a fabrication standpoint to stretch a 48' well car into a 53' well car too- I see plenty of 53' stand alone Husky stacks in use today.

I still have 3 LHS TTX 48' well cars- I may attempt to cut them up, and turn them into an articulated 40' well car. I build musclecars as a hobby, so cutting, welding and shaping metal is something I have done many times. But alot of our fellow O gauge hobbyists still like the 48' husky stack, extinct or not- I've had little issue selling off the 48' LHSs, and if you wanted, you could do the same as well. Atlas will also do another run of 53' Maxi- IV well cars also, and hopefully Lionel or MTH would take the chance and produce a Thrall or Gunderson 5- unit articulated 40' well car- they would sell well.

Geno

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