New Atlas Model--Wagon Top Boxcar

B&O only?, Pennsy had their own round roof cars.

Here is a pretty good list http://www.ttnut.com/boxcar-ty...-railroad-t1078.html

Any dealers taking pre orders yet?

These cars are bring made from the waver models tooling. The prr decoration is for Atlas O to make the most out of the run. Lionel made the correct prr version.

I wonder how far off the b&o was to the prr version. 

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

These cars are bring made from the waver models tooling. The prr decoration is for Atlas O to make the most out of the run. Lionel made the correct prr version.

Yes, but painted them the incorrect color.

I wonder how far off the b&o was to the prr version. 

A lot! Look at the photos, posted above, of the B&O car vs. the PRR car.

the PRR, NP, DT&I etc roundroof cars were built pretty much like other boxcars of the era for framing and structure.    the roof was raised using the curved section instead of flat from the top of the side.

The B&O car is very unique to the B&O and is referred to as a "Wagon-top" boxcar.   The structure appears to be outside framed bows running from the lower frame up the sides and over the roof and down the other side.     It appears that the panels between the ribs were continuos from the bottom over the top as with the bows.   

the visual differences are pretty obvious.    Most modelers wouild not  use one to model the other.

Who is going to buy an Undecorated model and put their own favorite railroad name and scheme on the round roof box cars?

Andrew

Any B&O fan who wanted these, obtained them already during the Weaver days. I think it was a poor business decision and timing by Atlas trying to market a limited road product. With high prices and no demand of O scale trains these days, it will be tough to sell them. Even Weaver had a limited fan base on sales as these cars were in the higher price category.

Only the true R.R. diehards bought them at that higher price. Glad they were and available again. Definitely worth it to me. Best of luck on the re-release!

If they come undecorated and not a crazy price. I will get one and decorated for my railroad. New York Central

It looks like a 60.00+ street price on this car, will be interesting to see if it gets sufficient reservations to get produced.

These Round Top Box Cars would look great in variations of the Chessie System paint schemes.

Enchantment Yellow body.

Navy Blue Body.

Green Body for MOW.

Andrew

falconservice posted:

Who is going to buy an Undecorated model and put their own favorite railroad name and scheme on the round roof box cars?

Andrew

First, they are the B&O "Wagon Top Boxcar", and only the B&O made them in house, and thus owned them. They are NOT the PRR version of "round roof" boxcars. So,,,,,,,,,,why bother with undecorated models?

The Atlas MSRP is $72.95.  They show 3 B&O versions and the PRR car, didn't see any mention of undecorated.

http://www.atlaso.com/o40wagontop.htm

3007900     Undecorated

This is a CSX licensed product, so when will they get to the CSX schemes?

Andrew

First one listed on the link is the undecorated unit

As a PRR runner, I am not going to buy the PRR scheme because it is not a round-roof car.  I would like to buy some of the B&O cars for interchange ops, but I know very little about B&O equipment.  Of the 3 B&O schemes being offered, which ones were in use prior to 1950?  Thanks.

falconservice posted:

http://www.atlaso.com/o40wagontop.htm

3007900     Undecorated

These are great models to fill out a run as they require no paint [basic prime I would assume] or decoration and Atlas can produce any quantity they have reservations for.

Are all the experts here sure that PRR never owned any of these wagon top boxcars?  Unless Atlas has changed their business plan, they said they would only produce product that was actually prototypical unless the item was part of their Trainman line.  I did not see any indication that these were Trainman listings.

I predict the the PRR version will be a good seller for Atlas weather it si prototypical or not!

Don

The first run of Atlas "wagon tops" will not have opening doors; if they do a second run, Atlas hopes to have opening doors. I received this information from Atlas while at York. I'll wait for the improved second run of "wagon tops."

The Pennsylvania Railroad car listed has the number 80330. That is in the round top number series for PRR. The roof had ridges similar to the wagon top.

DGJONES posted:

Are all the experts here sure that PRR never owned any of these wagon top boxcars?  Unless Atlas has changed their business plan, they said they would only produce product that was actually prototypical unless the item was part of their Trainman line.  I did not see any indication that these were Trainman listings.

I predict the the PRR version will be a good seller for Atlas weather it si prototypical or not!

Don

You will notice in their listing that Atlas refers to these cars as former Weaver tooling not Masterline or Trainman perhaps if a future run includes operating doors they will reclassify that run and stay with strickley accurate paint schemes, in todays market I think they have to be flexible in terms of repainted reruns to compete in the 3 rail market. JMO

DGJONES posted:

Are all the experts here sure that PRR never owned any of these wagon top boxcars?  Unless Atlas has changed their business plan, they said they would only produce product that was actually prototypical unless the item was part of their Trainman line.  I did not see any indication that these were Trainman listings.

I predict the the PRR version will be a good seller for Atlas weather it si prototypical or not!

Don

I think that went out the window with the MR woodside reefer they did several years ago.

DGJONES posted:

Are all the experts here sure that PRR never owned any of these wagon top boxcars?

Yes!

 Unless Atlas has changed their business plan, they said they would only produce product that was actually prototypical unless the item was part of their Trainman line.

That "policy" just might have changed a bit after the passing of Mr. Jim Weaver at Atlas. 

 I did not see any indication that these were Trainman listings.

But NOT "Master Line" either, so,,,,,,,,,,maybe anything goes with the former Weaver tooling line.

I predict the the PRR version will be a good seller for Atlas weather it si prototypical or not!

Don

DGJONES posted:

Are all the experts here sure that PRR never owned any of these wagon top boxcars?  

This particular PRR modeler is sure.  Those boxcars were strictly B&O.

Unless Atlas has changed their business plan, they said they would only produce product that was actually prototypical unless the item was part of their Trainman line.  I did not see any indication that these were Trainman listings.

That business plan went out the window sometime after Jim Weaver passed away.  If you care about prototypical accuracy, you need to watch Atlas just like MTH and Lionel.

I predict the the PRR version will be a good seller for Atlas weather it si prototypical or not!

You're probably right about that!

Don

I could never find a Weaver B&O wagon top box car for under 68.00 dollars.  With the new releases maybe I can find one on sale. 

I am positive the PRR one will sell,  only because not many people will know the difference...

I find it interesting that the only "fantasy" road name chosen by Atlas is PRR.  If they are going to do fantasy paint schemes I would also expect some of the other big sellers: UP, ATSF, NYC, etc.  It almost seems like they think PRR actually did own wagon top boxcars.

Opinion.

Unlike the big 2 mfgrs Atlas is only dipping their toe in the "fantasy scheme market" and PRR is an excellent choice to round out the run, I doubt you would actually see them do the other roads you suggest. If it is necessary to get a run of any model produced and they have to add at least one non prototypical paint scheme to make the run I have no problem with that after all only the people that want that scheme will buy it.  JMO

SIRT posted:

Any B&O fan who wanted these, obtained them already during the Weaver days. I think it was a poor business decision and timing by Atlas trying to market a limited road product. With high prices and no demand of O scale trains these days, it will be tough to sell them. Even Weaver had a limited fan base on sales as these cars were in the higher price category.

 

Only the true R.R. diehards bought them at that higher price. Glad they were and available again. Definitely worth it to me. Best of luck on the re-release!

I would respectfully disagree.

I have been waiting for the announcement to place a preorder. Didn't have the money the first time arround, and the weaver cars go for crazy money on ebay.

Jim

Some people might not have been into O Scale operation when these Wagon-Top Box Cars first came out. They might have been only starting with O gauge cars and locos.

Andrew

Jim and Andrew are correct, plus this...I didn't know any better when they first came out, now I want a couple.

Also, if they're going to offer this with opening doors I hope they keep the model with non-working doors as well, especially if the detail on the opening doors ends up larger than scale.

I have them for $65.66 each on pre-order..... It would be tough to sell these at $60 each.... I am rebating the shipping on orders of 4 or more.... 

• AO-3007900 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Undecorated  3-Rail
• AO-3007901 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Pennsylvania (Shadow Keystone)  3-Rail
• AO-3007902 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Baltimore & Ohio  3-Rail
• AO-3007903 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Baltimore & Ohio  3-Rail
• AO-3007904 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Baltimore & Ohio  3-Rail

Atlas will be using their trucks and couplers, so I assume that means the floorboards will be reworked as well..... 

I didn't order these originally for my collection and then had trouble finding them so I am looking forward to these..... 

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MrMuffin'sTrains posted:

I have them for $65.66 each on pre-order..... It would be tough to sell these at $60 each.... I am rebating the shipping on orders of 4 or more.... 

• AO-3007900 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Undecorated  3-Rail
• AO-3007901 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Pennsylvania (Shadow Keystone)  3-Rail
• AO-3007902 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Baltimore & Ohio  3-Rail
• AO-3007903 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Baltimore & Ohio  3-Rail
• AO-3007904 40' Wagon Top Box Car  Baltimore & Ohio  3-Rail

 

Atlas will be using their trucks and couplers, so I assume that means the floorboards will be reworked as well..... 

I didn't order these originally for my collection and then had trouble finding them so I am looking forward to these..... 

To get the weekly newsletter from MrMuffin'sTrains with new arrivals; product announcements; special sales and discount codes for our website - sign up here!

Just ordered a red/white B&O, thinking about the brown/white as well. 

I always thought this was a wagon top box......take it is not??? (the B&O)

AMCDave posted:

I always thought this was a wagon top box......take it is not??? (the B&O)

Since that is not a prototypical SCALE car, it does NOT compare to the original Weaver tooled B&O "Wagon Top" boxcar.

I understand it's not scale. But is the intent was to make it a Wagon top or just some freelance car. Disqualifying it  only because of semi-scale means a Rail King N&W J 4-8-4 is not a 'J' but rather a freelanced loco.....and thus almost 99% of Lionel made before 1990!!   

From the Baltimore Railroad Museum.

So a half way attempt at a wagon top??? I'll go with that......the model was free.....the body shell was used by a seller I bought a bunch of small parts from.....he packed them in the body and wrapped it......I made a chassis for it. Well worth what I paid!!! thx

AMCDave posted:

I understand it's not scale. But is the intent was to make it a Wagon top or just some freelance car. Disqualifying it  only because of semi-scale means a Rail King N&W J 4-8-4 is not a 'J' but rather a freelanced loco.....and thus almost 99% of Lionel made before 1990!!   

You are correct Dave it is a model of a B&O wagon top though not to 1/4" scale,virtually all of the 3 rail only MFGRs build undersize, less detailed models in their secondary lines Railking etc, Even the top line Premier and Lionel lines put out some compromised products [close is good enough for their targeted market] JMO