ExactRail has announced production of their very detailed Vert-A-Pac Autorack car in HO painted in the yellow Frisco Scheme. For those of you that may not be familiar with these, they were specifically designed to haul the Chevrolet H-body cars, most specifically the Vega model. More product and historical information is provided at the following link: http://www.exactrail.com/vert-a-pac-autorack-slsf-1 I might add that unlike other companies, ExactRail doesn't announce an offering until it is in house and ready to ship. These cars will be ready to purchase next Tuesday, March 15th. Also, special thanks are in order to our own Rick McClellan who provided prototypical information and paint diagrams to help in the production of this model.
I just found these great articles and photos of how these cars looked when loaded. One is even a Frisco one! http://jalopnik.com/#!5647355/commenter-of-the-day-chevrolet-vega-vert+a+pak-edition http://www.flickr.com/photos/cklx/3235694355/in/photostream/
After doing some more research, I learned that the Vegas were produced in Lordstown, OH and the cars were all returned empty there. Also, as stated in this excellent article and a post on another forum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Vega The Vert-A-Pack cars were developed in a joint effort by SP and General Motors. They were designed to handle thirty Vegas which had special sealed batteries and seals or plugs to prevent the spillage of gas, oil, and coolant in a nose down position. Besides Southern Pacific: Burlington Northern, Cotton Belt, Florida East Coast, Frisco, Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Seaboard Coast Line, Southern, and L&N (#801935) operated these cars according to the L&N Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment Vol. 2.
Thanks for the heads-up, Bob. I intend to get some in both the Frisco and MP schemes. Your efforts in this project, as well as Rick's, are greatly appreciated. I have been interested in obtaining the Frisco, MP and SP versions of these cars ever since ExactRail first announced production. I always thought that this method of finished auto transportation was very interesting. Vega production was already finished by the time I worked there, but the special track for Vert-A-Pack unloading is still in place at the old MP auto facility in Lee's Summit, MO.
The Vert-A-Pac car for shipping the Chevy Vega was a Southern Pacific invention. Hence, many of the Vert-A-Pac's were in SP markings. There was an extensive article on the Vert-A-Pac car in the SP H&TS's publication SP Trainline two issues ago (#104, Summer 2010), giving all the history, details and specs with pics, etc. I do recall many other roads that served Chevrolet had them as well - I recall seeing that SLSF was one of them. Ken
That's the first I heard of a B&O connection. All the info that I've come across gives credit to the SP. I sure wish that you had kept that issue, Ken. But, I can't argue too much since you traded it for Frisco stuff.
Jeeez! Forget everything I said above about the B&O and the Vert-A-Pak cars! You are correct, it was a SP invented car. The article I read was in the SP H&TS publication SP Trainline, #104, Summer 2010, page 20-28. I am a member and still have that issue. I am no longer a B&O HS member, which is why I traded off all of my issues of The Sentinel. My memory is not what it once was! The article in the B&O HS The Sentinel was a similar feature about their invention - the "Canstock" boxcar. I read the two magazines at about the same time several months ago and I got them confused in my mind. Sorry! I will correct my posting above. Vert-A-Paks were rostered by SP, IC and Sou, each built on their own lettered flat cars, plus DRG&W, RI, MP, Milw, B&O, BN, FEC, L&N, MDT/PC, SCL and yes SLSF, these all built on on TTVX flat cars. Ken
That green Vega that is being loaded in the picture on the Jalopnik site was my first car. Sure taught me a lot about the domestic auto industry and their attitude about small cars and customers! Bob, do you know of a vendor aside from Exactrail for the cars?
Hey that's great information on the MP unload area. Some "experts" have said that Vert-A-Paks never came through KC. Never say "never."
Per the SPH&TS SP Trainline article, other than the current Exactrail Vert-A-Pac offering: - An O-scale Vert-A-Pac was fearured in the October, 1971 issue of Model Railroader, along with O-scale drawings - A brass model was offered by Overland, their item #3010 - A wood and white metal kit was offered by Quality Craft, their item #S-7. The article does not say, but I presume these last two items were HO scale. Ken
Those canstock cars are pretty neat, too. I'd like to see a nice HO RTR version from one of the better manufacturers. Does anyone know if these cars ever came to or through Missouri? MoPac was blessed with quite a bit of business from GM. Lots of money was spent through the years to support this business. The facility at Lee's Summit was purpose built for inbound GM autos in the early '70s. The vast majority, if not all, of GM's inbound autos for distribution in the KC area came through there until the contract expired in 1991. It is now handled at GM's Fairfax Assembly Plant by UP. Where were the major auto facilities located on the Frisco?
Obviously, one big one was here in the StL area ..... until recently: Chrysler Corp at Fenton/Valley Park. Ken
Howdy, I noticed the Vertipak for SLSF is In Stock on the Exactrail website. I'm calling the hobby shop to order my set, now. Best, mike
For those interested factory direct trains is having a sale on these: http://factorydirecttrains.com/ExactRailEE-1212-3Vert-A-PacAutomobileCarSLSF801906HO.aspx