BRAKIE Sheldon,You mean to say none of those 40' boxcars fit your early 50 era? Cars like Monon,Wabash,NKP,Rutland,NY0&W SAL,ACL,Milw,GN,SP&S NP would fit since they all had the 50 era scheme. As you know those cars made it well into the 60s.. I recall seeing those NC&St.L boxcars and gondolas as late as 1964. The 80s was exciting times for every modeler regardless of era they modeled. The fastest selling items in Hobbyland in Huntington, W.Va was the transition era.
Sheldon,You mean to say none of those 40' boxcars fit your early 50 era? Cars like Monon,Wabash,NKP,Rutland,NY0&W SAL,ACL,Milw,GN,SP&S NP would fit since they all had the 50 era scheme.
As you know those cars made it well into the 60s.. I recall seeing those NC&St.L boxcars and gondolas as late as 1964.
The 80s was exciting times for every modeler regardless of era they modeled.
The fastest selling items in Hobbyland in Huntington, W.Va was the transition era.
Well I guess I missunderstood which cars you were refering to that time, yes I have most of those.
Sheldon
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE Sheldon,It was exciting times back then with Athearn,Bev-Bel,C M Shops,Rail Runner cranking out 40' boxcars in road names like EJ&E,IHB(NYC Herald),CSS&SB, Rutland,Wabash,C&IM, Ann Arbor,NC&StL and many more that previously require painting a undec Athearn or Roundhouse car and decaling it. I was modeling the early 60s until 94 and starting in '96 I started collecting IPD boxcars and stopped after returning to N Scale in 2008 and resume after returning to HO in 2012. I still have 5 of my favorite 40' boxcars including my West India Fruit & Navigation boxcar with the car ferry logo.
Sheldon,It was exciting times back then with Athearn,Bev-Bel,C M Shops,Rail Runner cranking out 40' boxcars in road names like EJ&E,IHB(NYC Herald),CSS&SB, Rutland,Wabash,C&IM, Ann Arbor,NC&StL and many more that previously require painting a undec Athearn or Roundhouse car and decaling it.
I was modeling the early 60s until 94 and starting in '96 I started collecting IPD boxcars and stopped after returning to N Scale in 2008 and resume after returning to HO in 2012.
I still have 5 of my favorite 40' boxcars including my West India Fruit & Navigation boxcar with the car ferry logo.
That's my point Larry, exciting for you. I was not modeling that era then or now.
My customer base covered all eras, so yes we had people excited about that stuff, and people excited about the latest MDC open platform passenger cars or 3 in 1 kits.
One of the hottest things in our store were all the new roadnames and products from TrainMinature.....firmly in the earliest part of the transistion era or before. Those TM displays sold out quick.......
Model Die Casting "old timer" steam loco kits were also very hot sellers for us.......
A short history from the current website:
Musicians Jerry Joice and Perry Bodkin establish a hobby store called Roundhouse at 1301 North Catalina Street in Hollywood, California. The business is soon taken over by part-time employees C.H. Menteer and C.A. Voelckel. Shortly after assuming leadership, they are hired to build models for Cecil B. DeMille's film Union Pacific.
Irv Athearn begins building an O-scale model railroad at his mother's home.
Roundhouse Products introduces its HO-scale 0-6-0 steam locomotive as a brass and lead alloy kit.
World War II forces Roundhouse Products to suspend operation in February.
After receiving a large response to an ad about his O-scale model railroad, Irv Athearn establishes Athearn Trains in Miniature and sells model railroad supplies.
Menteer & Voelckel's company is now called Model Die Casting, Inc. and resumes production of the Roundhouse Products line by summer.Irv Athearn becomes a full-time retailer of model railroading supplies.
Model Die Casting relocates to Los Angeles, California. Irv Athearn moves his business from his mother's home to a separate location in Hawthorne, California.
Athearn purchases Globe Models on July 2. The Globe Models name is retained until 1956.
Athearn introduces the 200-Ton Crane in die-cast metal.
Athearn introduces the all-metal RDC-1, RDC-2, RDC-3 and RDC-4.
The Globe Models F7 is introduced as an unpowered kit. A gear drive is added later.
Model Die Casting relocates to Hawthorne, California.
C.H. Menteer becomes sole owner of Model Die Casting.
Athearn introduces the Hi-F Belt Drive for the F7, and the GP9 and Hustler locomotives. A number of plastic car kits are released, including the Cupola Caboose, 40' Box Car, 3-Dome Tank Car, Heavy-Duty Flat Car, 40' Steel Refrigerator Car, and the Streamlined RPO, Coach, Vista Dome and Observation.
Athearn introduces the plastic-bodied RDC-1 and RDC-3, powered by the Hi-F Drive, and a plastic version of the 200-Ton Crane.
Athearn introduces the 4-6-2 steam locomotive with the Hi-F Drive, as well as the 50' Double Door Box Car, Quad Hopper and Pickle Cars.
Athearn introduces a gear-drive version of the 4-6-2 and a gear-driven 0-4-2T and 0-6-0.
Athearn introduces the GP30.
Athearn introduces freight cars with RP-25 wheels.
Athearn introduces the "ring-magnet" motor for diesel locomotives.
Athearn introduces the GP35, SD45, SDP40, DD40 and SW1500 Cow & Calf.
Athearn introduces the Alco PA1/PB1.
Athearn introduces the U28B, U28C, U30B, U30C, U33B and U33C.
Athearn introduces the F45 and FP45 with Athearn's first flywheel drive. The flywheel drive is also added to most of the other Athearn locomotives. Notable exceptions include the RDCs and Hustler, which still use the Hi-F drive, and the DD40. The F7s are available with or without flywheels. The S12 and SD9 are also introduced with the flywheel drive.
Athearn introduces the H24-66 Trainmaster. Model Die Casting introduces an N Scale product line.
Athearn improves the locomotive line with a new drive that has new narrower motors and new handrail stantions. New plastic EMD Blomberg Truck Sideframes are applied to the F7, GP9 and GP35. Athearn introduces the SD40-2 and SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor. With the new narrow motors, they are Athearn's first hood units to feature scale-width hoods. Model Die Casting introduces the Shay steam locomotive kit.
Model Die Casting introduces the Alco RS3 diesel locomotive kit.
Athearn introduces the GP38-2.
Athearn introduces the GP50.
Athearn introduces the GP40-2, SW1000 & SW1500. The old SW1500 Cow & Calf is now correctly called an SW7.
Irv Athearn passes away. Athearn introduces the Impack Articulated TOFC Spine Car.
Athearn introduces the 50' Modern Double-Door Box Car.
Model Die Casting relocates to Carson City, Nevada.
Athearn is sold to new owners. Athearn introduces the MAXI-III and Husky-Stack Well Cars.
Athearn introduces the GP60, GP50 Phase II and C44-9W. The DD40 is released with flywheels. In September, the non-flywheel version of the F7 is discontinued. From this point on, the only difference between the Standard and Super-Powered F7s is the large weight.
Athearn introduces the AC4400CW. Model Die Casting introduces new can motors.
Athearn introduces the AMD-103. In June, Athearn announces the development of the SD70-series for the Genesis line. In October, Athearn announces the development of the Bombardier Bi-Level Commuter Cars.
On July 2, Athearn purchases the F-Unit tooling by Paul Lubliner from Highliners to be used in the Genesis line. Highliners retains the rights to sell the F-Units in undecorated kit form.
Athearn releases the Genesis SD70-series and announces the Genesis 2-8-2 steam locomotive. In October, Athearn announces an improved version of the SD40-2 that will replace the existing models.
The Athearn RDC-1 and RDC-3 are officially discontinued due to a damaged frame mold.
Athearn introduces the Ready To Roll Line. Model Die Casting introduces Ready To Run versions of some locomotives and cars rolling stock.
Athearn secures Ford licensing
New tooling announcements
Ready To Roll F59PHi; Ford C series begins
Athearn acquires Rail Power Products. Athearn acquires the tooling for four 50' Box Cars from Details West. They are later released in the Ready To Roll line. Athearn introduces the N Scale product line.
Athearn secures John Deere licensing
Genesis Auto-Max; Trinity 10-Panel Covered Hopper
Ready To Roll Ford C series begins
N F59PHi; Ford C series begins Tractor, Box Truck, Stakebed, Fire Trucks
Athearn announces their first locomotive equipped with sound
Athearn secures USPS licensing
Genesis 4-6-6-4 Challenger; TBOX
Ready To Roll SD50, CF7; GP60M/GP60B; Coalporter; Ford C Fire Truck program begins including pumper, rescue, and Telesqurt
N Auto-Max; Bethgon Coalporter
Athearn is puchased by Horizon Hobby. On June 14, Model Die Casting is purchased by Horizon Hobby. The Roundhouse name will be used only for HO-scale Pre-WWII products, with the rest of the Roundhouse line under the Athearn name.
Athearn secures Mack licensing
Athearn begins offering 1/50-scale die cast
Genesis SD45T-2
Ready To Roll GP35 reintroduced with ex-Rail Power Products shell, SD60; FMC 4700 Covered Hopper; Mack B & R series begin Tow Truck, Dump Truck, Cement Mixer, Tractor
N SD70 series; SD75 series
Genesis MP15AC Switcher; SD45-2
Ready To Roll SD35; SD40 RS-3; HO PS-2 2893 Covered Hopper; 65' 6 Mill Gondola
Roundhouse 40' Pfaudler Milk Car
N 40' Pfaudler Milk Car; PS-2 2893 Covered Hopper; 65' 6 Mill Gondola
On May 31, McHenry Couplers is purchased by Horizon Hobby.
Genesis Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy
Ready To Roll GP40X; 50' Santa Fe Ice Reefer; ACF 2970 Covered Hopper; HO PS2 2003 2-Bay Covered Hopper; 30,000 Gallon Ethanol Tank Car; 16,000 Gallon Clay Slurry Tank Car; Ford F-100 series begins Pickup and Panel Truck
N 4-6-6-4 Challenger; 50' Santa Fe Ice Reefer; N 30,000 Gallon Ethanol Tank Car; Mack B & R series begin Tow Truck, Dump Truck, Cement Mixer, Tractor
In July, Athearn acquires the tooling for several trailers from A-Line. They are later released in the Ready To Roll line.
New Tooling
Genesis F45/FP45; Union Pacific FEF 4-8-4 Northern
Ready To Roll SD40T-2 tooling upgrade; SD45; PS-2 2600 Covered Hopper; Ford Model A series begins Coupe, Sedan, Pickup, Woody, Delivery, Huckster, Telephone Truck, Tow Truck; Ford F-850 series begins Fire Trucks, Stakebed, Box Vans, Tow Truck, Cement Mixer, Grain Truck, Boom Truck
N Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy
In September, Athearn acquires the Tower 55 line tooling from Overland Models to be used in the Genesis line.
Genesis Southern Pacific Mt-4 4-8-2 Mountain; Southern Pacific Chair Car
Ready To Roll Slab Side Turbine, SW1000 and SW1500 tooling upgrade; Trinity 57' All Purpose Spine Car; RTC 20,900 Gallon General Service Tank Car; 30' NACC 8,000 Gallon Tank Car; 13,600 Gallon Acid Tank Car; Checker A8 Taxi; Flxible Bus
Roundhouse 85' Pullman Palace Passenger Car
N F45/FP45; PS-2 2600 Covered Hopper; Flxible Bus
Athearn establishes a relationship with SoundTraxx to begin offering locomotives with Tsunami sound
McHenry begins offering N scale couplers. New tooling announcementsGenesis FP7; GP15-1; Ready To Roll Veranda Turbine; GATC 2600 Airslide Covered Hopper; RTC 20,900 Gallon Acid Tank Car; 33,900 Gallon LPG Tank Car Early & Late Versions; 40' Wood Chip Hopper; HO Yard Tractor; Grain Truck N GATC 2600 Airslide Covered Hopper; ACF 2970 Covered Hopper; 40' Wood Chip Hopper; 33,900 Gallon LPG Tank Car Early & Late Versions; Bay Window Caboose
Athearn releases the Genesis SD70ACe based on former Tower 55 tooling.
Athearn secures UPS Licensing
Genesis SD70M-2; 50' GATC 20,000 Gallon SHN Type 40 General Service Tank Car; 50' GATC 20,000 Gallon SHN Type 30 Acid Tank Car; F89F 89' Flat Car; 50' PC&F Boxcar with 8'+6' Landis Doors
Ready To Roll U50
N F59PHi available with Tsunami Sound for the first time
Genesis GP7 & GP9; DDA40X "Centennial"; GP15T; Southern Pacific Bay Window Caboose; 50' GATC 20,000 Gallon SHN Type 40 Acid Tank Car; 50' PC&F Box Car with 8'+8' Landis Doors
Ready To Roll 24' Ore HopperRoundhouse ex-MDC Arch Roof Passenger Car upgrade
Athearn Home
Jim
BRAKIE ATLANTIC CENTRAL Respectfully Larry, the model train industry does not revolve around the era you model.......or the one I model. I have very little MDC stuff, and lots of Athearn stuff, because of my choice of era. I don't have not one IPD box car, because I don't buy anything past my 1954 cut off..... Sheldon True enough but,it doesn't change the facts of the IPD boxcar war between Athearn and Roundhouse and Roundhouse was a competitor with the same road names it was basically a FMC car versus a ACF car and Roundhouse had the better car as far as paint and crisp lettering and the lack of the claws on the door..Working in a hobby shop you should have seen that in your stock. Clarence and Irv may have been close friends and help each other but,down deep both was business men trying to make a living and therefore competitors or as Scrooge would say "Business is business."
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Respectfully Larry, the model train industry does not revolve around the era you model.......or the one I model. I have very little MDC stuff, and lots of Athearn stuff, because of my choice of era. I don't have not one IPD box car, because I don't buy anything past my 1954 cut off..... Sheldon
True enough but,it doesn't change the facts of the IPD boxcar war between Athearn and Roundhouse and Roundhouse was a competitor with the same road names it was basically a FMC car versus a ACF car and Roundhouse had the better car as far as paint and crisp lettering and the lack of the claws on the door..Working in a hobby shop you should have seen that in your stock.
Clarence and Irv may have been close friends and help each other but,down deep both was business men trying to make a living and therefore competitors or as Scrooge would say "Business is business."
Again, that is just one narrow product area, in one short period in time, with two companies with broad product lines a 40 year history.
Agreed, all the MDC releases in the early 80's were a step up. I don't think Athearn was anywhere near as concerned with that market and easily conceeded that to MDC and others while maintaining their otherwise large hold on the rest of the market.
The transistion era was then, and remains now the largest part of the market, and Athearn had then, and still has, a solid product line for that group.
I would say that "current" or modern modeling is easily second, and having both lines keeps Athearn/Roundhouse/Horizon one of the top players still.
Irv and Clarence were smart enough to realize that anything that promoted the hobby was good for them and they happily conceeded one part of the market to have the whole slice of another part. Unlike many of these companies today who all fight over one slice, like BIG BOYS, while other markets go untapped.
I sincerely believe this current behavior is partly responseable for shrinking the market. If people can't get the products they need or want for their "vision" of the hobby, they loose interest.......and spend less or get out all together. Everone fighting over Big Boy sales and/or long gaps of availablity between "preorder" runs is not good for the hobby.
Irv and Clarence worked to widen the selection, not fight over the same customers. Even the IPD box car war was made up mostly of different prototypes from each company. Sure they both targeted the same modeling group, but more with the hope the customers would both, not one or the other.......
ATLANTIC CENTRALRespectfully Larry, the model train industry does not revolve around the era you model.......or the one I model. I have very little MDC stuff, and lots of Athearn stuff, because of my choice of era. I don't have not one IPD box car, because I don't buy anything past my 1954 cut off..... Sheldon
As long as we are on the nostalgia express, how about all those "Bi-Centennial" trains from the mid-1970's? I had a few.. I recall a TYCO 4-6-0 "1776" steamer.. I don't know what ever happened to it, but I wish I still had it. I do still have my first trainset though.. A TYCO Amtrak "Intercity Express" Every once in a while I get it out and run it around the layout at about 300 scale MPH !!!!
You can check this out on youtube. Go to the "bobozo389" channel and search Todds layout. It's good for a few laughs!
Todd
Well, I don't remember the Athearn steam engines, but as a kid in the 1970's I mowed a lot of lawns to buy Athearn diesels from the old "Hobbies for Men" mail order store that had 4-page ads in Model Railroader. I still have some of those units on my current layout!
DavidH66 Remember those ld Athearn ads from the... Anyone else remember these?
Remember those ld Athearn ads from the...
Anyone else remember these?
Yes I remember... My favorite,
Somehow I missed getting one of these...
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
BRAKIE Irv Athearn would go on and make cars and locomotives for Cox Models then later he supplied cars for Atlas. Then there was the Bev-Bel deal and other custom road name cars..It turn out Uncle Irv's biggest competitor would be Roundhouse. The fun part was the three way IPD boxcar war.Roundhouse was duplicating several road names on their FMC 50' boxcar that Athearn and Bev-Bel was using on Athearn's ACF(called Railbox boxcars for some reason) 50' boxcars. Then enter C M Shops and Rail Runner using Athearn cars with the same road names. Fast forward to today and Athearn is using the same road names they used 30 years ago on their RTR ACF and former Roundhouse FMC boxcars..
Irv Athearn would go on and make cars and locomotives for Cox Models then later he supplied cars for Atlas. Then there was the Bev-Bel deal and other custom road name cars..It turn out Uncle Irv's biggest competitor would be Roundhouse.
The fun part was the three way IPD boxcar war.Roundhouse was duplicating several road names on their FMC 50' boxcar that Athearn and Bev-Bel was using on Athearn's ACF(called Railbox boxcars for some reason) 50' boxcars. Then enter C M Shops and Rail Runner using Athearn cars with the same road names.
Fast forward to today and Athearn is using the same road names they used 30 years ago on their RTR ACF and former Roundhouse FMC boxcars..
Model die Casting and Athearn were never really in competition with each other. In fact, Clarence and Irv worked to help each other.
Sure, there were a few overlaps in the two product lines, but seriously, look at any old Walthers catalog and compare the two product lines.
MDC concentrated on older, 19th and very early 20th century stuff, Athearn never went near that market.
Athearn hardly ever did any steam, MDC only did a few diesels.
MDC did stuff like the Milwaulkee horizontial rib box cars - Athearn never touched it.
Sure, basic 40' and 50' box cars, yes they both did them.
Yes, in later years, a few other direct competing items, but not many. Yes in the late 70's and early 80's they both added some similar "modern" equipment.
Athearn had heavy weight and fluted streamlined passenger cars, MDC had the full range of open platform wood cars, the palace cars and the Harriman cars - where is the competition?
When I worked in this business, in the 70's and 80's, it was commonly known that they worked together and helped each other.
A quick scan of the 1983 Walthers catalog show only about 8 items that could be considered in direct competition with each other.
Only after Clarence and Irv were older, and/or gone, did the "competition" increase, and even then just a little.
This is why it was such a perfect match for Horizon to buy both companies.......
But what do I know, I was just selling this stuff at age 14 and managing a train department at age 20......I'm 60 this year......
Respectfully Larry, the model train industry does not revolve around the era you model.......or the one I model. I have very little MDC stuff, and lots of Athearn stuff, because of my choice of era. I don't have not one IPD box car, because I don't buy anything past my 1954 cut off.....
Another fun part was when Roundhouse got into making the 12-packs with multiple road numbers -- packs of hoppers, boxcars, tank cars, whatever. For awhile, they put out a new 12-pack or two every month. I still have some to assemble. Athearn played the 12-pack game a bit (with Railbox and some mechanical reefers, if memory serves) but not to the degree Roundhouse did.
I got a HO catalogue in 1961 with Irv on the cover as pictured in this thread. This was about the time that slot cars and space models were giving model trains severe competition. When Lynn Wescott replaced Paul Larson in 1961 he later said that he was not sure the hobby would last. Irv Athearn had a unhappy - read financially disastereous time - making HO trains for Lionel and was thinking about shutting down the business about the time this catalogue came out.
The Athearn ad that got me all excited and doing hand springs was the mid 60 full page ad that stated "Athearn announces EMD's SW1500" complete with artist rendition of a supposed SW1500.
A very disappointed deep sigh escape my lips when I saw the SW1500 was a SW7.
Joy was restored after seeing the ad for Athearn's SD45 and seeing them in person at Hall's hobby shop.
Exciting times back then when new models was on the shelves when the ad came out in MR.
Not much out there.
Very strange:
Yes I do. I remember one with an HO scale Geep photoshopped on real tracks, with a real crew climbing the steps.
Another with a real UP loco pulling an Autoloader, complete with autos. The funny thing is one of the autos is missing the grill casting.
Another had someone holding a real Amtrak Genesis loco, in anticipation for the model coming out.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
Lenscap wrote ""Old Athearn ad" covers a LOT of ground!" that is a very true statement ! But in answer to the posters question. Yes. The modeling industry methods, qaulity etc...has grown by leaps and bounds. I think generally much better today.
YGW
Using the freebie access to the digital archive, was noting the Athearn ad for O Scale stamped metal freight cars in 48 or so.
"Old Athearn ad" covers a LOT of ground! (And I do remember the ones you're talking about. )
DavidH66 Remember those ld Athearn ads from the mid90s? The ones where they'd use primitive photoshop to add their models. I remember those when I first got into Model Railroading. Anyone else remember these?
Remember those ld Athearn ads from the mid90s? The ones where they'd use primitive photoshop to add their models. I remember those when I first got into Model Railroading.
No offense, but that is funny, because I remember Athearn ads from the 60's.......talk about primitive by today's standards. It is just funny how people see the world.