New Athearn Open Hopper (HO & N Scale)

To All:

Please excuse my tardiness in posting this new product announcement as I have been busy doing other things (mainly working on the RR, YEA!) and just forgot to do so. The pre-order date is tomorrow (Friday 01/23/14) for the dealers, so put this message in the better late than never category.

I actually believe that mention of this car was actually made on the N-Scale side so I will only cover the HO version, so here goes.

Athearn has announced production of a 100 ton 3 Bay Open Hopper similar in design to the ACF cars the Frisco built in their shops as kits in 1977. Notice that I did say similar as these are I believe based on Greenville prototypes vs. ACF the Frisco had. The ACF car has been available for several years in kit form from Bowser. The most recognizable feature is one less rib on the Athearn car vs. the Bowser car. I did query my contact at Athearn and he said that in their Ready-to-Roll line they do take some prototypical liberties to produce cars that are close. He also said that this car was being offered partially due to modeler's requests for it.

Having said that this offering differs from the Bowser car in several regards besides not being exactly prototypical:

(1) It is numbered in the second batch built that had sans-serif lettering vs. the serif lettering of the first batch.
(2) It is in RTR form vs. a kit.
(3) It has many added details that are molded on the Bowser car including factory applied wire grab irons, stirrup steps, end braces, and brake wheel. Also separately applied brake gear including brake wheel, brake wheel housing, air reservoir, brake cylinder, triple valve and trainline with supports and roping eye.
(4) Also included is a realistic coal load.

This car will be available in 9 road numbers (1 individual number and 2 different 4-packs) with delivery expected in late August. The particulars including the stock numbers and MSRP's are listed in the below referenced PDF.


http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/122713/05_RTR_40_3_Bay_Ribbed_Hopper_122713.pdf


Also, here is a link to the single car that can be enlarged to see the level of detail which is quite impressive vs. the Bowser car.


http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH76471

 

Wow! I preordered the two 4-packs of these Athearn cars back in January. They arrived today. Not even close to being per the prototype.

1. The Athearn cars are 70 ton, 40 ft. IL. The prototype was 100 ton, 45 ft. IL. The Athearn cars actually have the correct Frisco weight limits
and dimensions printed on the sides.
2. The Athearn cars are 10 ribs on the side, the prototypes were 13 ribs per side.

That said, they are well made, highly detailed models with an included coal load. I have a set of the Bowser 100 ton 3 bay cars, which are much closer to the prototype.

Keith Edgington