Lionel Husky Stacks

I'm not an Intermodal expert by any means but I have a long Atlas O Intermodal train and facility. I mention this because my prior train ( since sold ) used Lionel husky stacks. At that time Lionel cars cost $65-$75 and came with containers. I was impressed by the die cast cars and their detailing. Three car Gunderson sets without containers are now about $230 and containers average about $25 as they are not included with Atlas cars. I would say Lionel cars are a bit more economical. Atlas sets are extremely well detailed. Different cars, though.

Scrappy

I just found and ordered a set of Atlas maxi iv well cars.  They are amazing. I am thinking buying  a few Lionel husky stacks to run  behind them. The huskies look decent in pics I have found. I believe they are a bit short but not sure about that.

The Lionel Husky stacks are scale length, slightly over size width, to make the typical Lionel curved track the well bulkheads are 1/2" shorter for 3 rail truck swing as a result the Lionel 48' containers are actually 1/2" shorter [46scale feet] standard MTH 48' containers will not fit in the wells, side markings match the under sized dimensions. I think these diecast cars despite being slightly wider are the best detailed well cars on the market and I do own Atlas 53' maxi-stacks also. JMO

The Lionel husky stacks are scale width and height but are Not scale length- especially in the well. The MTH premier well cars are scale width and height and length. The Atlas O Gunderson cars are also scale width and height and length. 

However the Lionel cars are intricately detailed so of you like the details and the length doesn't bother you then go for it.

Has anyone tried the 20' Atlas containers in the Lionel cars?  I run some in my Atlas Maxi-IV cars but they move around a bit as the cars are run.  Part of the problem is 20' and 40' containers are prototypically narrower than 53' domestic containers.

I have a few of them myself and was lucky enough to pick up the bulk of them at about $50 a car new from a forum member. I love all the details on the containers and cars themselves. The opening trailer doors actually have working latches. They ride super low on the tracks and look much better than MTH gunderson. The 1/2" short containers don't bother me.

JFC454 posted:

Has anyone tried the 20' Atlas containers in the Lionel cars?  I run some in my Atlas Maxi-IV cars but they move around a bit as the cars are run.  Part of the problem is 20' and 40' containers are prototypically narrower than 53' domestic containers.

Great question! Can you put atlas 20' containers in Lionel Husky well cars???

Since I have the latest run of Lionel Husky Stack, I can answer my question.  The 20' containers will fit inside the well, but there is nothing to fix them in position.  Also, since the markings are not to scale, two 20' containers extend beyond the 40' marks on the side of the car.

I have 30 of the Lionel husky stacks. A mix of the earlier runs and the newest run. They are very well detailed. The cars are all die cast. Rotating bearing caps. Just need to watch out when handling as those grab irons can break off easy. The latest run offers etd on some of the cars which is mounted on the coupler.

JFC454 posted:

Since I have the latest run of Lionel Husky Stack, I can answer my question.  The 20' containers will fit inside the well, but there is nothing to fix them in position.  Also, since the markings are not to scale, two 20' containers extend beyond the 40' marks on the side of the car.

Could you use the Museum removable tack product?

I have all 4 of the new BNSF ones and a TTX one. they are the most detailed Husky stacks that I have ever owned. They are also quite friendly to curves as they will negotiate O36.

I ended up buying a few.  They are excellent cars.  Thanks for the feedback.

How come nobody has mentioned that the Lionel version sits lower to the rails (more prototypical).

Here's MTH:

No surprise Lionel did an exceptional job on these cars first produced in 2005 albeit with relocated bulkheads and shortened containers to allow 3 rail truck swings to operate on 0-31 curves, die cast and highly detailed I doubt you will see the current Lionel invest in tooling for this level of detail again. JMO

T4TT posted:

I ended up buying a few.  They are excellent cars.  Thanks for the feedback.

Lionel or MTH?  Look great

This is the newly released Lionel Husky stack.

great looking....have to pick some up

thanks

how does the new lionel cars look with the old kline diecast ones?

Here are (3) pics of my "Huskies":

Donald

3rail 2 posted:

Here are (3) pics of my "Huskies":

Donald

What ballast do you use?  

Ret.Leo posted:

What ballast do you use?  

I used Brummy's rubber ballast in (2) different sizes. A gray color. Secured with Elmers white glue. Fines between and along the rails and the larger pieces out near the edge.

After all is dry, I spray lightly with a thin mixture of India Ink and alcohol. Let dry and spray again if needed.

Donald

3rail 2 posted:

Ret.Leo posted:

What ballast do you use?  

I used Brummy's rubber ballast in (2) different sizes. A gray color. Secured with Elmers white glue. Fines between and along the rails and the larger pieces out near the edge.

After all is dry, I spray lightly with a thin mixture of India Ink and alcohol. Let dry and spray again if needed.

Donald

Thanks for the info.

i actually need a ton of these for my layout plan which i hope comes true

can these be used with the operating mijack crane?

@SPSF posted:

How come nobody has mentioned that the Lionel version sits lower to the rails (more prototypical).

Here's MTH:

Because its not that big of a deal and the height can be fixed if needed. The inaccurate [proprietary] length of the Lionel car can't be fixed to full scale length without "major surgery".

Fwiw, Atlas O 40ft maxi stack rebuilds will be coming in the fall of 2022 or in 2023.

My experience: I have a variety of manufacturers.  First got into these with K-Line cars, which I still have and find satisfactory. I went over to MTH but decided, while they are scale-sized, were a tad too high for my taste. I then went over to Lionel and am satisfied. I pre-ordered an Atlas deep well car, because I have K-Line ISO tank containers, which I bought separately some years ago, and they need to be transported.  I run post war (e.g., 450 signal) and some accessories had to be raised to accommodate the container clearances, which was no big deal.

Mark

@paigetrain posted:

i actually need a ton of these for my layout plan which i hope comes true

can these be used with the operating mijack crane?

The Mijack is designed to be used with the Maxistack containers.  There are indents for the crane to hook them.  The Husky stack containers are larger and configured differently.  

If someone can provide the Lionel model numbers for the old/new versions I would greatly appreciate it.  I got a little confused looking them up.

I originally had 14 of these cars and I believe the original Lionel catalog #s were CSX 6-17588,6-21875 [2pk],6-21894 [2pk],6-27560,6-27525,6-27526  6-31760 [set] GBRX 6-21893 [2pk]  BN 6-21895 [2pk]  TTX 6-21874 [2pk],  COE 6-27528 [2pk], A&C 6-27552.If interested the TTX set and the A&C cars are available.

TO answer prrhorseshoecurves question the Lionel cars are accurately scaled however to make them operational for O 36 curves the containers are 1/2" ]2 scale feet] shorter 11 1/2" vs 48' 12" there is a low bunker plate in each end which removes and a scale 48' container MTH makes a nice one can be used if you are using correct 2 rail trucks. The markings on the car sides reflect this inaccuracie , One of the best detailed cars Lionel has put out even the new Atlas triple stack cars are a hybrid with die cast container body and plastic ends. JMO

@hibar,

I normally would have taken you up on that, but I just got done with a Stout auction, and I'm pretty sure I've maxed out my budget for a bit.  Are these listed in the 'For Sale' forum?  If so, I can easily find them when I've replenished my budget.

Thanks for your very clear synopsis of the different varieties.