Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Atkins Co. Pickle Car?

4756 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, August 6, 2018 9:20 PM

There is an Atkins Pickle Festival each May, and an article about the company in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

I bought an AMB pickle car kit and a Tichy flat to put it on.  Then I found an old Athearn model at a train show.  I want to build a facility with vats.

And I really don't like pickles.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, August 6, 2018 5:20 PM

7j43k

doctorwayne

I'm currently in the midst of scratchbuilding pickles.

Wayne

 

 Both sweet and dill, I hope.

 Ed

 

 
The dills are done, bread & butter pickles tomorrow. Dinner
 
Wayne
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Monday, August 6, 2018 2:54 PM

Close, but I'm in a pickle to find the exact car.

 9064 003 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr

Still, it is good to have some detail shots.

 9064 002 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr

 9064 001 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr

Sorry it wasn't the correct owner, but maybe it will help someone looking for pickle car details. Atkins began production in 1946 so, if they even had rail cars, they would certainly be a newer design.

 

https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2002/03-03/0076_read_all_about_it__arkansas_town_.html

 

AMB Laserkit makes a conversion kit to add to your own 40' flat car.

https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/american-model-builders-ho-391-laser-cut-pickle-car-conversion-kit-for-40-flatcars/

 

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, August 6, 2018 11:40 AM

doctorwayne

 

I'm currently in the midst of scratchbuilding pickles.

Wayne

 

 

Both sweet and dill, I hope.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, August 6, 2018 11:33 AM

While a quick search turned up a fair bit of info on the Atkins Pickle Company, no photos of their pickle cars or of models of Atkins' pickle cars.
There seemed to be two styles of pickle cars, one with exposed vats, the other with enclosed ones. 
Westerfield offers craftsman-type kits for the coffin-style (enclosed) ones, and Athearn has both the open and enclosed versions, although none come lettered for Atkins.

I have Athearn's open version, but I've added truss rods to the underframe and upgraded some of the other details...

If you know of Atkins' colour scheme and the style of cars which they used, you could purchase the most appropriate of the models mentioned, then re-paint it as necessary and use alphabet decal sets to add the lettering. 
If you can't find prototype info regarding car style, colour scheme, or lettering, build the car to suit your own tastes or what you think might be prototypical, then post a photo of the finished car.  If there are photos of the real cars, it won't take long for someone to post them, if only to show you the error of your ways.  You can then, if you wish, redo the car to better match the prototype, or simply stay with what you've done.

I'm currently in the midst of scratchbuilding pickles.

Wayne

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • 58 posts
Atkins Co. Pickle Car?
Posted by Scale Hogger on Monday, August 6, 2018 8:16 AM

I seem to remember an Atkins Pickle Car in HO scale once upon a time. Atkins Pickle Company of Atkins, Arkansas. Am I hallucinating? I’m aware of the Heinz cars. Can’t seem to find any trace of one for Atkins and would like to find — if they exist.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!