The Athearn car, (which I do believe is an RTR version of the old Ramax kit), is an accurate representation of the 1966-1973 ACF 2980. Even ACF got it right, after after the 1973 revamp of the prototype. Up until then, what in truth was a 2980, was stenciled by the builder as 2970. Why, who knows? Maybe someone figured 10 cubic feet in a railroad car didn't make a whole lot of difference, especially since these cars were designed for much more dense cargo, unlike the grain, chemical and, plastics cars.
As far as the pre-1973 cars being accurate after 2013, one way of determining, that would be to trace the number series on one of the photo websites such as www.rr-picturearchives.net or, www.rr-fallenflags.org. Sometimes they show cars in their original owner's paint, as well as cars that have survived a merger, in their new paint and lettering. The best way would be to acquire a copy of the Official Railway Equipment Register for the year that interests you. Quite often the ORER will list cars acquired through merger under the old road's reporting marks and number group, with total number of cars extant under them. Armed with the cubic capacity and certain other pertinent data, the new, merged number block may be traced.
As far as these cars being on the rails after 40 years, it may very well be possible. Remember, the merged railroads after 1996 were much, much bigger than the merger components, serving far beyond their original boundaries. As an example, consider todays BNSF. Into BNSF went BN and ATSF. BN was created by the amalgamation of the CB&Q, GN, NP and, the SP&S. Later, it absorbed the Frisco (SLSF), giving them a system that could load a car in the western most reaches ot the state of Washington and send it all the way to Mobile, Alabama--without it ever leaving their own rails! The 40 year restriction applies only to cars interchanged with other railroads.
There are thousands of former incentive per diem (IPD) boxcars approaching 50 years of age still criss-crossing America, simply because they don't have to leave home rails to turn a profit. Of course the type of service a car is in has a bearing on it's longevity. Hoppers and, gondolas as well as some flatcars, have shorter services lives due to the rugged service they're in.
You can use the 2980 as a stand-in, if you want. As noted, in 1973, ACF did a design change on almost all of its Center Flow line which is very evident. Prior to 1973, the HO 2980s are spot on, with the one rather prominent reinforcing rib running the entire length of the car, about 1/4 of the way down from where the roof joins the side. Except for pressure differential cars all post 1973 cars did not have this large rib. It was replaced with three much narrower ribs running the entire length of the side, on the flat panel where the sides join the roof. This is the major difference in the two groups of cars.
Trinity? Wasn't that formed around the old Pullman-Standard? When the Yellow Peril came to town in 1996, my days of railfanning were over. I cannot help you with much past 1986, the last year of my interests.
NHTX Doughless, The ACF 2971 was built between 1974 and 1975 with a total of 1053 cars being constructed at their Huntington WV plant. These cars were all stenciled for 2970 cu. ft. They carried reporting marks for C&EI, D&RGW, MP, MKT, P&LE, SLSF, and SP. Leasers operated under ACEX,CRDX, ENDX,NAHX, PQX, TRAX, as well as ACFX, the leasing arm of ACF. To the best of my knowledge, this car has never been offered in HO. ACF also cataloged a 2980 cf car built between 1966 and 1982, at their Huntington WV and, Milton, PA works. The stenciled capacity on all cars built between 1966 to 1973 was 2970 cf. Sometime in 1973 ACF Centerflows underwent a design change. The large longitudinal stiffener on the upper portion of the sides became three much smaller "flutes" on the panel immediately below where the roof joins the sides. The cars offered at times, from Athearn and Intermountain are examples of the earlier 1966-1973 production. There was a total production of 4056 of the prototypes with 464 of the pre-1973 production going to the CNW, in number series 96620-96769, 96800-96813, 175000-175299. Other pre-1973 2980s operated under the reporting marks of: CB&Q, D&RGW, EL, GN, GTW, MON, NP, RI, TP, and WM. Due to mergers, many of these cars sported new reporting marks of their new owners. The lease fleet carried the initals ACEX, BSMX, DUPX, and SHPX which later became ACFX. I hope this information, taken from Eric A Neiubauer's "A History of the ACF Center Flow", which as the title implies, is everything you would want to know about these cars, at least up to 1987 when, it was published as: ISSN 0884-027X. AS a SP guy, I'm STILL waiting for a model of the 1973-1975 2971s. With manufacturers now producing models of cars that the total production was 400 or less-there may be hope. By the way, the HO 2980 was first manufactured in America as a flat kit by a company known as Ramax, in the early 1980s, if my aging memory is correct. Good Luck.
Doughless,
The ACF 2971 was built between 1974 and 1975 with a total of 1053 cars being constructed at their Huntington WV plant. These cars were all stenciled for 2970 cu. ft. They carried reporting marks for C&EI, D&RGW, MP, MKT, P&LE, SLSF, and SP. Leasers operated under ACEX,CRDX, ENDX,NAHX, PQX, TRAX, as well as ACFX, the leasing arm of ACF. To the best of my knowledge, this car has never been offered in HO.
ACF also cataloged a 2980 cf car built between 1966 and 1982, at their Huntington WV and, Milton, PA works. The stenciled capacity on all cars built between 1966 to 1973 was 2970 cf. Sometime in 1973 ACF Centerflows underwent a design change. The large longitudinal stiffener on the upper portion of the sides became three much smaller "flutes" on the panel immediately below where the roof joins the sides.
The cars offered at times, from Athearn and Intermountain are examples of the earlier 1966-1973 production. There was a total production of 4056 of the prototypes with 464 of the pre-1973 production going to the CNW, in number series 96620-96769, 96800-96813, 175000-175299. Other pre-1973 2980s operated under the reporting marks of: CB&Q, D&RGW, EL, GN, GTW, MON, NP, RI, TP, and WM. Due to mergers, many of these cars sported new reporting marks of their new owners. The lease fleet carried the initals ACEX, BSMX, DUPX, and SHPX which later became ACFX.
I hope this information, taken from Eric A Neiubauer's "A History of the ACF Center Flow", which as the title implies, is everything you would want to know about these cars, at least up to 1987 when, it was published as: ISSN 0884-027X.
AS a SP guy, I'm STILL waiting for a model of the 1973-1975 2971s. With manufacturers now producing models of cars that the total production was 400 or less-there may be hope. By the way, the HO 2980 was first manufactured in America as a flat kit by a company known as Ramax, in the early 1980s, if my aging memory is correct. Good Luck.
If I understand the history correctly, the Athearn car closely resembles the 2980 car, but is called a 2970 by Athearn. And you are saying that ACF stenciled these cars 2970 also? (so its kind of a naming mess up)
ACF also cataloged a 2980 cf car built between 1966 and 1982, at their Huntington WV and, Milton, PA works. The stenciled capacity on all cars built between 1966 to 1973 was 2970 cf. Sometime in 1973 ACF Centerflows underwent a design change. The cars offered at times, from Athearn and Intermountain are examples of the earlier 1966-1973 production.
Since this early version was not produced after 1973, if I wanted to be accurate for, say, 2013, these should pretty much be absent from US rails by then.
Especially since the new Trinity 3281s and Trinity Pressure Diff 3230s are all over the place now.
However, since ACF still made the 2980 (2970) into 1982, there would still be some of these running. It would be a matter of using the Athearn early version 2970 as a stand in.
Is the Athearn model much different than the later 2980?
- Douglas
NHTX AS a SP guy, I'm STILL waiting for a model of the 1973-1975 2971s. With manufacturers now producing models of cars that the total production was 400 or less-there may be hope. By the way, the HO 2980 was first manufactured in America as a flat kit by a company known as Ramax, in the early 1980s, if my aging memory is correct.
You're absolutely correct. Back, before I backdated my layout to the late '30s, I had at least a half-dozen of those Ramax cars. A few minutes ago, I saw a reference to them my log-book, with a 1982 date, but no mention of the manufacturer's name. I then pulled out my January 1982 issue of RMC, and found the reference there to Ramax.
Those kits were actually quite nicely-done, as they were easy to assemble, with the parts mating very well. If I recall correctly, the price was very reasonable, too...well under $10.00.I sold mine, along with another hundred-or-so other cars that were too modern for my current layout.
Wayne
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Looking for information to tell me if these cars are still running, or when in the 2000's they stopped.
I think building started in the mid 1960s, for CNW at first.