Like unit trains? Like to build one on a budget? | O Gauge Forum (2024)

But can you do it on a budget?

There is a way if you Dont need the most detailed freight cars.
I like tank cars and I use a combination of railking and and Menards tank cars. The RK tanks and the Menards tanks are approximately the same size so they go well together. I have been running a 22 tank car train, a little big for my layout but I like the colourful tanks of both mfgs so it looks and runs great.

Another unit train is the container train I run. No its not the AtlasO just released but they are the old ROW molds from 1995 being used by Menards. The 40' containers are well done and the printing is perfect imo. I just wish they would make some 48' containers.The cars could use a little more weight.

I have a military train made up of mostly of flat cars from Menards and Mth flat cars that were custom made by me. The flat cars made by me are from both 60' and 40' flat cars from Menards and Mth. I used plastic and diecast models to form the loads, added some details like chains and chocks.

Another unit train of flat cars like above carrying various Commercial vehicles and other loads like trucks, farm equipment, etc.

I also have a unit train of 10 NYC jade green box cars that I got from Menards being pulled by a NYC Mike from K-!ine.

The whole point of this is to relate that you don't have to spend a fortune to have a unit train of your choosing.

Do you have a unit train, what kind? Did you make it up yourself?

How ever you do it, have fun

Dave

Every once in a while I will put together a unit train of container well cars or reefers.

See a lot of real deal unit trains of container cars, UPS trailer trains or tankers passing through but never see any reefers any more. I guess the truckers got that business.

Bill

I enjoy unit trains and I have several made up of Marx cars. I posted this picture on another OGF thread but I guess it's worth re-posting it here.

As noted, the cars are relatively inexpensive. For me, the big issue (and the reason for the continued hunt) is finding nice examples. All of the cars in each of the series (NYC Pacemaker, SOM, and FGEX reefer) have 16 different car numbers. There are 17 in the PRR series because Marx also made one with no car number. So far, I've only completed the run for one of the series.

That is a great picture, always liked Marx trains. Had a few thru out the years.

Dave

Terrific photo of the Marx freight trains. I am guessing it took more than a few years for that unit train accumulations.

Bill

Glad to see some Marx tinplate represented here.

How about a unit train of 3/16 scale box cars or tank cars by Marx?
They were some of the best scale tinplate out there and are quite
common today in good to excellent shape on *bay and at train shows.

Both the box cars and tank cars come in several road names and numbers.