Trackside  “Tid-Bits”  Product Review

Buy Athearn RTR Rolling Stock

Double stack technology started in earnest back in the mid 1980’s with the development of container well cars by the Southern Pacific Railway. Marine containers were pretty much a standard 40 feet in length.  These containers would fit in the early well cars with ease.  As container size grew, these early well cars became outdated, thus necessitating the need for larger cars.  The Gunderson Corporation was an early pioneer of stack car technology.  One of their earliest cars featured bulkheads on the ends and was referred to as “Twin-Stacks”. A newer version coming out was to be known as “Maxi-1”.  Even that car was to fall out of favor

 based on the need to hold longer containers such as the newer 45'-53'.

The Maxi 1 was re-born when railroads realized that all these longer well cars weren’t needed. The extra un-used weight of these cars contributed to loco fuel inefficiency.  The 40’ wells were just fine for the job at hand.  Here is where the Athearn model comes into play. 

Like all of Athearn’s newer offerings, the Maxi 1 features incredible detail, prototypical accuracy and scale fidelity.  The Maxi 1 reviewed is in the newer TTX scheme. When fully assembled it reaches a scale 290 feet.  It will hold either 2-20 foot or a single 40 foot container in each of its bottom wells.  Above the car on top of the lower container can safely hold 40-48’ containers.  We tried a few of the newer 53’ containers on the top, but would not recommend them for tighter curves on the home layout.  (If you want to haul 53 footers, wait for Athearn’s new Spine Car coming down the line soon). 

Athearn apparently had to make a decision between weight and detail.  They chose detail and that’s where we all came out a winner!!  One can always put weight in the bottom containers.  The detail on the cars is very nice and correctly executed.  Be careful though, as they can be delicate.  Brake lines and air cylinders are correctly positioned and identified to the proper car. The walkways are made of an ultra thin etched metal, which allows them to be see thru, adding to the realism of the car.  The well car floors have cross braced members in all the right positions.  Containers are secured to the car floors by means of the traditional Athearn pin and hole system.  McHenry scale lower shelf knuckle couplers are included on the car.  The 5-unit set includes metal wheel trucks with correct 38 inch wheels on the ends and 33 inch wheels over the articulation joints. 

Athearn has done a fine job of carefully painting the cars to their correct as delivered colors, plus lettering them down to every minute letter, symbol and number. 

Oh, by the way did we mention the separately applied wire grab irons, they are definitely worth checking out. These cars are loaded with subtle details. 

As more and more modelers turn to running current day railroads in their basements, intermodal will play an important part of operations.  Athearn’s Maxi 1 well cars will fill out many a modern day car roster nicely.  These 5 unit car sets have an MRSP of $129.98 and on the initial run have road names from Maersk, TTX ( Trailer Train ), Bridge Line ( K-Line ), and finally Southern Pacific ( Early Trailer Train ).  If you like today’s railroading check these cars out.  Athearn will be introducing additional containers for these cars at some time in the not too distant future.

Buy Athearn RTR Rolling Stock