O Scale Well Cars Compared

Atlas O Gunderson well cars

In my opinion, Atlas O makes the most detailed, accurate, and best performing rolling stock readily available in O scale

These well cars are a perfect example of this

These are full scale built to prototype, die cast construction, and intricately detailed  

The containers are separate sale, but when you add the costs, it is close to Lionel's stack car

The separately applied details are very delicate, and must be handled with great care

Don't forget the Menards containers and well cars.

There's a full detailed topic somewhere on here comparing all the well cars on the market from K-Line all the way up to Atlas including container size etc. That being said, as is usually the case, if you have the space and the money,  Atlas is the best on the market.

Good thread and a topic I have been curious about. I only have Kline but am very happy with them. Relative to containers, I have two weaver 20 footers and they don't work with Kline 40 footers. Surgery is anticipated!

Is that a "gar" in your picture? Good man!

A few years ago there was an extensive topic (pages and pages of posts) that went into just about every detail about containers and well cars.  There was a lot of very useful information.  Unfortunately, that thread got deleted. I wish I had saved it, but I didn't since there was always new information being added that I didn't want to miss.   IIRC there was an attempt to resurrect that thread, but it was not very successful.

Now, when I find a thread full of information that I find very useful, I save that information, and then I check the thread periodically for additional info.

@VinceL posted:

A few years ago there was an extensive topic (pages and pages of posts) that went into just about every detail about containers and well cars.  There was a lot of very useful information.  Unfortunately, that thread got deleted. I wish I had saved it, but I didn't since there was always new information being added that I didn't want to miss.   IIRC there was an attempt to resurrect that thread, but it was not very successful.

Now, when I find a thread full of information that I find very useful, I save that information, and then I check the thread periodically for additional info.

Probably thinking of the thread authored by BNSF Mike.  And you’re right, it was very useful, with excellent detail as to whose containers fit into what cars.  

There are many good options, but the Atlas O Gunderson Maxi-IVs https://archive.atlasrr.com/OR...c-omaxiivwellcar.htm are (arguably) the 'best'. They were cataloged in Fall 2022, and you can still pre-order them from a number of dealers, if anyone is in the market for them.

I have both the Atlas Maxi-IV and the Lionel maxi stacks, Atlas is the most accurate for its prototype, only the main well section is diecast the detailed ends are plastic. The original Lionel Stack cars are based on the 48' containers available back then to the real RRs they are fully diecast very nicely done, to accommodate the tight radius Lionel produced the detailed containers by 2 scale feet [1/2"] shorter to clear 3 rail truck wheels, lettered all out side car markings  to this dimension and put 2 low bulkheads in the well [they are removeable] and the car with scale 2 rail trucks will fit a Atlas 53' container.