HO Scale Intermodal trains

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Dallas Modern HO Scale

Modern HO scale modeler
Im thinkin about starting an intermodal train. Anyone have pics of any in ho scale? I wanna makw a modern UP train that i see every day leaving the yard by my house (ZMQLA). I know athearn makes the 53' containers for them but its hard finding cars to hold 53' containers. all i found was walthers single and 3 pack well cars that can hold 53' top and bottom. anyways, can u guys share pics of your inermodal trains?
 
there are alot of guys that run intermodal. you can find well cars,spine cars even old flat beds.all depending on your likes.

search Ebay and you will find both new and used stuff. Im not into intermodal so cant say what to look for.
 


Here is a video of one of my older Intermodal trains which I have prob another 50 wells for it now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foDBSJ1Pbc0

i remember seein that train b4, nice video. the intermodals that come thru dallas are not like that tho, ur train has mixed international containers with domestics, the ones that come thru here are either or, not both mixed. the one that im trying to model is all EMP, Hub Group, Pacer Stacktrain, Stax, CSX etc. but yea, pretty hard to find well cars for 53' containers. anyways thanks for the video! hopefully i'll have one of my own
 
For the most part it seems 53 footers are usually stacked on top. Although I think Athearn and Railpower Products both have models of cars with a 56' foot well for containers. Railpower Products went out of business but I Think Aline Protopower West are makin' their old stuff.
 
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I was going to say the same as Dirty above. A majority of the time ya see the 53' containers stacked on the top.

yea we dont get those thru here nomore, they're all 53' top and bottom. this yard here by my housr has all 53' top and bottom for some reason. u can sit here and watch trains go in and out and thats all ull see
 


Good thread, I have only 48' footers where they use to run 40' containers on the bottom and 53' on top if desired or 40' top/bottom. I purchased them a few years back b/c I run 90's era and early 2000's.

What years did the 53' container start being most common ???
 
After deregulation 40'-45' trailers went to the 48' then Around the mid to late 80s the 53' started showing up then the 53' were gaining alot of popularity in the early/mid 90s for over the road truckers. 53' trailers are basicly "interstate only". Many states still only allow 48' on back roads and non state routes. Its one reason why you may see city trucks still pulling 48' when the over the road guys always have 53'
Its been a big debate from the mid 90s to allow 53' on all roads but many states still will not budge. some citys wont let them in such as NYC. There are some states that now let 57' trailers on desegnated routes. I have seen a few out west. the issue now is that the trucking company doesent get paied any more to haul the extra 2-4 skids. that and the legal weight is still at 80,000 for interstate. In todays terms.. trucks cost more can haul more voulume but pay less and GVWR has been frozen for almost 20 years..

Trent
 




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