Weaver freight cars.

Thank you Jim.  There are others on the roster but those were the picture I had available.  Too bad Weaver went away but as is said "All good things must come to an end."

I don't own any, but the cars look great and such a variety.  I looked at some I wanted to buy on Ebay and wrote to a vendor asking about the trucks.  He told me that all Weaver trucks are plastic.

Is that correct?

John

@Rod Stewart posted:

Jim, great topic! I really miss Weaver also. Back in the late 80's and into the 90's, there were few if any companies that would do custom runs besides Weaver. Up here in Canada there was precious little available from the big names, but we were able to get some pretty cool looking stuff from Weaver.

You might recognize a couple of these for instance:

The PS2 covered hoppers were and still are a nice running car. On the lower track we have a couple of the venerable ACF grain cars, and off to the right a PS2CD in CP markings.

Talking about ACF grain hoppers:

And then there is these guys; 70 tonners I believe. There were two 12 packs available, all different road numbers, 24 in total.

And of course bulkhead flats:

In short, Weavers filled a huge gap at the time, and they are still great. Only thing is many of their offerings are too light, and you need to properly weight them to get them to run reliably. No big deal.

Rod

Regarding the weight of Weaver cars, I think you are referring to those produced in the early days of Weaver. All of the ones I have in my collection are from their Ultra Line. Those cars are weighted properly. I am running a couple of long consists comprised solely of Ultra Line cars on my layout and have had no issues.

Pat 

Matt,

That's a great idea. Those cars with autographs are very special.

John,

For the most part all early Weaver cars have plastic trucks. I'm sorry I can't give you date as to when Weaver started using die-cast trucks. Beth Marshall who is a dealer that advertises on this forum probably could. She was a Weaver dealer for a long time and she still has a large inventory of Weaver freight cars. The name of her business is Public Delivery Track. Listed below is her contact information.

The best way to get in touch with us is through email at pdt212@gmail.com.  Or you can call 805-226-0320.

We are in the Pacific Time zone, so please don't call at 9 a.m. Eastern Time!  

Pat,

That's great information. Thank you.

@jim sutter posted:

Matt,

That's a great idea. Those cars with autographs are very special.

John,

For the most part all early Weaver cars have plastic trucks. I'm sorry I can't give you date as to when Weaver started using die-cast trucks. Beth Marshall who is a dealer that advertises on this forum probably could. She was a Weaver dealer for a long time and she still has a large inventory of Weaver freight cars. The name of her business is Public Delivery Track

Thanks Jim,

I'll check that out.

John

Not all Weaver Trucks are Plastic. If the 3Rail Part Number Ends with the letters " LD " they are Metal.

Their may be other ways to tell also but I am not aware.

russ

@DETROIT posted:

Nice. I really like their tank cars. However, the plastic handrails are very fragile. Once assembled, they are almost impossible to ship without sustaining some kind of handrail damage.

Jeff

Jeff - You are 100% correct about the old 'just in a box' weaver tank cars - they get decimated in shipping.  For that matter that's a problem with all Weavers that don't have the plastic shell casing.  I think I may have purchased several members of my weaver tank car fleet from you in fact.  The newer tank cars that come in the plastic shells travel pretty well and I think in the later days the plastic used for the tank car detail was stronger/less brittle???  I love my Weaver cars for all the reasons addressed in this thread.

I only have a few Weaver train cars, all related to special runs for hobby magazines!

In this photo, a Weaver-made "Model Railroader" anniversary boxcar rolls along between the MTH-made OGR Hurricane Katrina relief fund boxcar and a Weaver tank car.

In this photo you'll see a close-up of the Weaver-made Railroad Model Craftsman "tank car of ink".

Ran down through the 3 pages of this thread pretty quick so forgive me if someone else showed these cars already. These are my favorites. I believe this was Jim's custom run, I believe He had (6) 12 packs for a total of 72. I have  been collecting these for years. I am up to 48. If any of you out there have any you want to part with and I dont already have the road #, I would have interest in buying.

I received a used Weaver Rock Island Express Boxcar today.  The couplers are completely broken off the trucks and there is some damage to one of the ladders.  It needs love. A

@A. Wells posted:

I received a used Weaver Rock Island Express Boxcar today.  The couplers are completely broken off the trucks

If my memory serves, the couplers are NOT attached to the trucks on Weaver freight cars. The couplers are on a long shank, with the rear of the shank acting as a "spacer" between the truck and under frame bolster, in order to clear the large 3-Rail wheel flanges. Weaver cars were essentially a 2-Rail SCALE product, adapted to the 3-Rail market by simply having the coupler large coupler shank act as a spacer for the 3-Rail truck (whether plastic or die-cast).

and there is some damage to one of the ladders.  It needs love. A

@Hot Water posted:

You are right!  Both of them are in so many pieces it's hard to tell how they originally assembled.

Jini5,

Yes, we did the Pennsylvania hoppers "Coal Goes To War." However, I'm sorry but I do not remember how many numbers we did for each car.

Hot Water, you are correct about the couplers on Weavers trucks. They are separate and are on a long arm with the coupler. On the couplers arm there are two half moon shape that fit around the middle of the truck.

@DETROIT posted:

That DuPont logo is far from reality, though.

Couldn't find a pictures from the 1960s/70s.  I suspect the logo has been updated a bit but pretty close.

North Shore and South Shore PS-1 boxcars. Yeah, they have roof walks, but so hard to find anything for those railroads.

Sometime in the early 1990's we did two southern PS-2 covered hoppers. A white one with green printing and a green with gold printing. Do any of you have either one? Sorry, for the poor quality of the picture of the green one.

Here are two of my absolute favorites from Weaver:

Both are custom runs for museums.  Weaver was great for custom runs, including the ones from Homer City.

I also treasure my 12 PMcK&Y Weaver coal hoppers (took me a long time to track them down), and my collection of the PRR H30 Hoppers.

I certainly miss Weaver, and am enjoying this thread.

Andy

Andy, you and a lot of people miss Weaver. Those are two great looking Weaver custom run cars. I believe the Ligonier Valley Railroad might of done a couple more but I'm not sure Weaver painted them. Andy, I'm glad you are enjoying this thread. Take care and have a great day.

@jim sutter posted:

Andy, you and a lot of people miss Weaver. Those are two great looking Weaver custom run cars. I believe the Ligonier Valley Railroad might of done a couple more but I'm not sure Weaver painted them. Andy, I'm glad you are enjoying this thread. Take care and have a great day.

The Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum did a total of 6 of these hoppers, 3 each in black and tuscan (I'm still on the hunt for two of them), and they did at least one boxcar and one tank car (both Weaver), and maybe a caboose.  They also did a a steam locomotive and a Doodlebug, but those were MTH.  The museum is a great little place to visit for anyone visiting the Ligonier / Latrobe area and is right next door to the historic Idlewild Park which was itself once a destination stop for the railroad.

Andy

Andy, do you know if Bob Stuzman from Ligonier is still living. Mr. Stuzman and two other fellows use to come to store every Wednesday. One of the fellows name was David Summerville, he was from Latrobe. They were all members of the Ligonier Valley Railroad. They loved helping me in the store. They would unpack boxes and put price stickers on the items that came in. They all enjoyed eating their lunch in a restaurant here in Homer City. The Good old days.

A couple of my favorites.

Neal Jeter

Hi Jim,

I do have one of the Southern Hoppers.

Here are some of my favorites.

Hi Jim,

The answer your question on the Ligonier Valey Railroad guys is, both Bob and Dave are alive and well and still running trains.

I hope you are well also. I miss the many trips to your store.

Lionlman,

I love your two cars. Especially the Squirrel Salted Peanut Bar one.

Tom Morris,

Glad to know you have the White Southern PS-2 hopper car. I have only seen two, yours and the one I had. I see you had some other great looking Weaver cars. From lookin at your cars, I would have to say you love southern railways. Good for you.

LGVScott,

Great to hear from you. Happy to know Bob ad Dave are doing fine.  I feel last June and cracked my hip. I have been in and out of the nursing home and the Indiana Hospital three different times. Presently I am at home and going for Physical Therapy twice a week. Scotty, please take care tell everyone I said hello.

@jim sutter posted:

Lee Drennen,

It was one of our custom runs. I grew up on Bunny Bread. It was made by the Harris Boyer Bakery in Johnstown. PA. Johnstown was only 24 miles from Homer City. A lot of our customers were from Johnstown. Beside the red roof and red end version, Weaver made as a Blue roof and Blue end version.

Jim. Thanks for the info. That is a beautiful car thanks for posting I still eat Bunny Bread.

Here’s my favorite Weaver Hopper.

@Craftech posted:

I don't own any, but the cars look great and such a variety.  I looked at some I wanted to buy on Ebay and wrote to a vendor asking about the trucks.  He told me that all Weaver trucks are plastic.

Is that correct?

John

@jim sutter posted:

Matt,

That's a great idea. Those cars with autographs are very special.

John,

For the most part all early Weaver cars have plastic trucks. I'm sorry I can't give you date as to when Weaver started using die-cast trucks. Beth Marshall who is a dealer that advertises on this forum probably could. She was a Weaver dealer for a long time and she still has a large inventory of Weaver freight cars. The name of her business is Public Delivery Track. Listed below is her contact information.

The best way to get in touch with us is through email at pdt212@gmail.com.  Or you can call 805-226-0320.

We are in the Pacific Time zone, so please don't call at 9 a.m. Eastern Time!  

Pat,

That's great information. Thank you.

I believe 2008 was when Weaver models decided to go die cast on their trucks and couplers for their Ultra Line freight cars. I do see exceptions as one of their last new designs, the 4 bay High sided hopper also was made with the plastic trucks and couplers along with the roadrailers.

The Merchandise Service boxcars return to Westmoreland Glass has a special meaning for me as two of my Aunts worked there as decorators. They hand decorated the milk glass items that were produced there. And Latrobe is special too. Besides being the home of the late Arnold Palmer, Rolling Rock beer, St. Vincent College, the summer training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s where I met and dated my wife. As for the gondola, well it’s just darn good looking. Too bad Weaver is gone. As they are sorely missed.

These rib sides are, I think, the best ones of all.

NCDave,

Your Penna. Merchandise Service was always one of my favorites. We did 150 of those with Westmoreland Glass Company Grapeville, Pa. The other 150 said Jeannette Glass Company Jeannette, Pa. Just like your green REA car there's a Tuscan version.

Jim Brenner,

I can see why you liked your Milwaukee road ribbed box car. Its really sharp looking.

What I miss is Buffalo Creek Graphics, they had a good line of special painted Weaver cars.  I have a number of them but no photos, a number for the NKP and SAL.

Jim,

I’ll have to keep a eye pealed for the Jeannette Glass car as well as the Tuscan version of the REA car. Thanks for the heads up!

Dave

Bob Delbridge,

I can understand you missing Buffalo Creek Graphics They had Weaver make some great looking cars. I especially liked the one with Coudersport on it.

NCDave,

There is also a Penna Merchandise box car with when empty return to the Westinghouse plant Derry PA.

A few more of my favorites but actually all the weaver cars I have are my favorites. Pics..............Paul 2

Paul 2,

Those are all great looking cars. I would have a hard time picking a favorite.

Here are more of my favorite cars. The WAG boxcar, is a special run by Buffalo Creek Graphics. The others are stock Weaver.

Jeff