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In reading some of the other threads, these seem like they're going to be a hot ticket item. I'm still debating, as while they're scale, which is a good thing, they're beyond enormous at 24". That being said, whats the overhang going to be like on these things? I know they're not out yet, but there's plenty of room for good estimates based on 21" passenger cars or the 89' atlas flats. They're in the catalog as 054, which I guess may be plausible, but I cant imagine it'll really be feasible as a 24" car on a 27" radius will occupy nearly the entirety of a 90 degree curve and hang over an extreme amount, or clear any 054 switch that has a motor that sticks up (the realtrax light, for example). Even 072 is probably pushing it, but since that seems to be the de-facto standard for running large items, lets work with it... 

 I think I've seen 2.25" of overhang for 21" passenger cars as a number posted before, with the trucks set inboard on the autoracks like they are, I think there will concern about both inboard and outboard swing clearance with these cars, how much, I dont know, but I dont think it would be unreasonable to guess that they'll hang over the inside of a curve at least the 2.25" of a 21" passenger car but up to nearly 3". With most people spacing on 6" centers, I'm guessing these cars could be stretching some layouts to the maximum. Has anyone thought about it or is this car a bit of "They finally made it and I must have it no matter what!"?

I'd like to pick up the add on cars, as I dont want the engine from the set, and I'm assuming if they'll go through the effort to tool these up, future catalogs will include more cars, but I'm hoping I can do a little more with these than set them on a shelf when they show up. 

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The models pictured in the catalog look awful. I'm not buying any until I see them in person. Of course that means that by the time i actually get to see one, it will be impossible to buy any.

 

By the way, the MTH racks are NOT scale. They're way too short. I do however like them and just might decide to be satisfied with what I already have.

While I have no doubt these cars will look fantastic, I'm quite surprised at the number of folks here expressing more than a casual interest in them -- particularly since so few layouts will handle them well.

 

Perhaps Lionel will have prototype samples on display at York?  That would be nice.  I remember that's where I first saw the AtlasO 89' flats, and I thought THOSE looked huge for most layouts... and that was just a low-profile flatcar.  These autorack cars are gonna be far from "low-profile"... quite the opposite in fact!  You won't be able to miss them if they're on display. 

 

I'm just guessing here... but I'm currently thinking these cars are definitely into O99 or O108+ territory before a layout does them any justice.  And quite possibly even broader curves than that, before you're not dealing with excessive overhang issues.  The ratings in the product specs don't necessarily correlate to what "looks good" -- rather they're simply a guide to what is mechanically possible.

 

David

 

 

 

I'm interested in the autoracks, but I would like to see Lionel offer them in three or four cars sets, as well as individual sale.  Hopefully this will happen in 2013, when I have money again (after some big ticket 2012 items are paid for.)

 

0-54 sound like a dream for a 24" car, however, I guess that Lionel figures it is doable with their new coupler system. 

 

Jim

 

 

At that car length you will need to have O-110 or greater to avoid noticeable over/under hang on the curves.  You should also plan on significant clearance issues on any curves under O-84.  While the trucks/wheels won't bind above O-54, I'm betting you can see all three rails if you try to run them through an O-54 curve.

I have O72 curved track and switches, just so I could operate these long freight cars. There is just enough clearance to operate the 89' flat cars on both tracks.

 

I am looking forward to getting one or two of these, but since they are limiited edition high-priced items, it means that I will have to be very selective with the paint scheme choice.


Grand Trunk Western with the ALL BLUE sides would be among the top choices.

 

Like THE ROCK with the full side graphics.

 

Chicago & North Western Whitehead & Kales racks in 1980's safety-yellow or the Thrall Car 1993 CNW big letter scheme in traditional Yellow are two that I would consider.

 

Andrew

 

Falcon Service

As I posted in another thread, my initial beef based on the catalog pictures is using the wrong car classification marks and roadnumbers on the cars.  The Conrail one is completely off; the classification on the bottom shows it as a DTTX.  DTTX designations are for deep-well cars, like the husky stacks; it should be ETTX, and I believe that the roadnumber on that one is for a husky stack as well.

I would just like to seem them do a little more prototype homework on these scale items.  MTH too.
The Conrail one is completely off; the classification on the bottom shows it as a DTTX.  DTTX designations are for deep-well cars, like the husky stacks; it should be ETTX, and I believe that the roadnumber on that one is for a husky stack as well.

I would just like to seem them do a little more prototype homework on these scale items.  MTH too.
 

John

Well John, It's more than off! The Conrail Quality paint scheme does NOT exist on that type of early 1980's autorack with the bulging end pannels. The MTH racks are more correct with the paint scheme other than the length. The lionel's should have "trailer Train" spelled out on the flatcar with TTGX as the marking for Bi-Level with roof.

 

Also in the wording, Lionel sated the racks will be Bi-level [TTGX], regardless of what you perceive as end doors on the photo.

 

I hope John that you and others like you directly e-mailed lionel to get the Trailer Train Paint schemes correct for that car!

 

I haven't decided whether to preorder one of these cars to sample or wait and see production models. I also wonder how high these will ride if made for 054 curves, and, if too high, whether that can can be corrected. In response to the original poster, here is a sample of scale 89 foot cars on 072 curves. These are Atlas TOFC flats rated for 072 minimum in three rail. Mine are modified with body-mounted Kadees:

 

 

 

Last edited by Rich Montague

I find it interesting that Lionel intends to make autos that can be loaded and unloaded from these cars.  You might have to scratchbuild the ramps but it would be cool to have another industry to model.  I am still disappointed about the price and (as John pointed out) the markings but I'm sure they will be a hot item.  I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures.

The more I think about it, the more I wish Lionel did NOT offer this as a set with a locomotive.  As I've indicated earlier, few folks will have the layout real estate to do these puppies justice.  And for those that do, the last thing they'll need is another locomotive.

 

But I guess the Lionel bean-counters figured they might as well throw a $500-$600 loco into the picture while folks are already spending that much on the cars themselves.  Personally, the loco doesn't do anything for me, as I prefer a slightly different CSX paint scheme.

 

Instead, I wish Lionel would have offered the initial auto rack cars as a standalone 4- or even 6-pack.  Then after the series was established, they could have thrown ONE into a set here and there for the true collector to hunt down over time. And naturally, I'm sure we'll see more of these as add-ons every so often.

 

But as a set right from the get-go?  Definitely not my first choice, as I think Lionel is forcing a behavior that wouldn't have otherwise occurred.  But it sounds like we're not going to disappoint the bean-counters after all.  

 

David

Originally Posted by loco-dan:

I hope Lionel takes the opportunity to add Kadee coupler mounting pads and multiple truck attachment points, one for smaller curves and one for people with large curves that want the proper truck placement.

Dan

 I think that would be great. I don't see Lionel responding. I'm still hopefull they see who's buying there products. They are very innovative lately. I hope these cars are well detailed like some other recent car releases.

 I don't mean to discredit anyone, I bet they sell no matter what they are priced.. I'm always amazed at prices at first like sticker shock.

I took some photos of an OMI 89' autorack on O72 and O120 curves and jotted down a few measurements. The OMI rack measures 22.25 at the car ends. Looks like the Lionel rack will be somewhere close in length at 24" measured across the couplers. I also took some measurements with an Atlas 89' flat that measured 22.25 at the car ends.

 

The overhang at the car ends for the OMI rack =2.375 on O72

The overhang at the car ends for the Atlas flat =1.875 on O72

I noticed that the trucks on the OMI rack are centered at 3.25" from the car ends whereas the trucks on the Atlas flat are centered at 2.875 from the car ends. The truck spacing from the car ends will definitely affect overhang at the car ends and the overhang at the center of the car lengthwise. I don't know where Lionel will place it's trucks, but the overhang shouldn't be too much more or less than either of these two cars. Here are a few pics.

 

 

 First pic is OMI rack on O72 then O120 curves

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OMI rack overhang at car center on O72 then O120 curves

 

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Atlas flat and OMI rack coupled on O72 curves. The Atlas flat has more car center overhang due to the wheels being placed closer to the car ends.

 

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Travis

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Greetings from the 2-rail side of the house. I know for one I'm rally excited about Lionel’s announcement with regards to the full scale autoracks. Truth be told I just bought my first piece of scale Lionel a PS-2 covered mill gondola and converted it to 2-rail with kadee couplers, looks great! So I am in deed looking forward to the autoracks. I don't have a permanent layout but have teamed up with my friend Steve on a double track module layout with 54" and 50" radius I guess that would work out to O-108 and O-100 so problem in that area with regards to offset.

A most welocme product.

 

Walt

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