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!

Walthers Extendable Container Chassis

1445 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Saturday, June 20, 2020 7:30 PM

Nice work there, L.

Container service is something relatively new on my narrowgauge. It didn't happen in real life here, but if policy and regulations had favored continuing operation of the narrowgauge in Colorado, then containerization would have happened there like everywhere else, in fact, _becausse_ of it happening everywhere else. Containerization would have largely taken away the economic negatives of operating the transfer operations between the two gauges.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • From: Sacramento, California
  • 98 posts
Posted by L. Zhou on Saturday, June 20, 2020 12:41 PM

Alright, here is a completed trailer on the flatcar. The containers are attached using Glue-Dots. Two 20' foot containers on the chassis.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang

-

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Saturday, June 20, 2020 11:18 AM

That is great glad you got it figured out. Now lets see some pics of this.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • From: Sacramento, California
  • 98 posts
Posted by L. Zhou on Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:32 AM

A quick update: I finished with one of the chassis a last night and installed the containers. The container chassis kingpin fits right into the trailer hitches. Thanks everyone.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang

-

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 11:15 AM

For my TOFC equipment I drill the "5th wheel" with a #50 drill bit and replace the "kingpin" with a longer piece of 0.047" brass wire.

The longer wire holds the trailer in place better, and cannot be seen when the equipment is on the flat car.

That way, everything is compatible.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Potomac Yard
  • 2,767 posts
Posted by NittanyLion on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 10:58 AM

Unless they changed the tooling from the mid-90s, they do have compatible hitches.  Back in my younger days, I had a Walthers Twin 45 89' footer with a pair of 40 foot containers on the Walthers chassis struggling around my 4x8.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 8:57 AM

I don't have those specific items, but my inclination is to say that they are compatible. Even years ago when things were mostly TOFC, the kingpin on Walthers trailers and hitches on the railcars fit each other. I'd see no reason why that would change that and lots of reasons for them to stay that way.

Rarely, where I have had the same situation but with different brands mixed so that things didn't fit, then using a properly sized drill carefully by hand and running it through the opening on the hitch plate will open things up just enough that everything fits.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • From: Sacramento, California
  • 98 posts
Walthers Extendable Container Chassis
Posted by L. Zhou on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 12:40 AM

Hi all,

I have a quick question about the Walthers Extendable Container Chassis in HO scale.

I am planning to put together a piggyback flatcar using the chassis with containers from China, on top of a WalthersProto 89' Bethlehem Flush Deck Flatcar. The flatcar has trailer hitches.

Is the chassis compatible with the hitches? Since they are both made Walthers it probably is, but I don't know for sure. Thanks in advance.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang

-

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!