HO scale autorack guide

[BurlingtonNorthern2264]

Hello all,

 

Recently I've been looking at ways to start adding autoracks to my freight car consists. I have some ideas of how to add several autoracks, such as the old Walthers kits which I can easily find on eBay as well as their later Goldline, Platinum Line/Proto stuff. 

 

I came across an odd selections of autoracks at my local hobby shop. I could not remember the name at first but after some online research they appear to be the kits made by Custom Rail back in the day. My hobby shop, while short on the Walthers autoracks, has a wide selection of these kits. At an excellent bargain price of around $20-$30, I've been wondering how they stack up to the Walthers kits and how both of these kit brands perform compared to modern-day counterparts.

 

Any info relating to this, such as an overview of HO scale autoracks in general, would be appreciated. For some context, I'm modeling the early 1980's to the BNSF merger so enclosed tri and bi level autoracks are my thing (no modern articulated or Auto-Max cars, no earlier cars that are made by Accurail, no Intermountain cars as they are too expensive :D)

[DSchmitt]

Custom Rail is not listed on HO Seeker

Internet search found this on Trains.com, Thread post by riogrande5761 dated May 5, 2012. Get error when I try to post link to thread.

"Custom Rail enclosed autoracks, both of which were fully enclosed autoracks which appeared to fit the early-mid 1980's."

"The Custom Rail cars were based on the old Custom Rail 89' flat car which the whole kit was not all that user friendly to build and in all my travels I've seen few assembled examples so they didn't seem to go over well."

Also found this; Custom Rail Flat Car; Auction ended

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Rail-HO-Scale-89-039-4-034-Utility-Flat-Car-Kit-TTWX-Yellow-3-NIB-/164610235161?nma=true&si=xBG%252FI%252Bodv3D94BJMqgZlndG47kM%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[SeeYou190]

DSchmitt

Get error when I try to post link to thread.

Doctor Wayne taught me how to do it.

2012 Autorack Thread

-Kevin

[dknelson]

In looking at my prototype slides there were still a few totally open auto rack cars in 1980 and beyond, and the ones with steel panels on the sides but open roofs were still seen into the 80s. Indeed on the BNSF racetrack between Chicago and Aurora I was seeing Canadian autoracks that had a sort of cyclone fence mesh on the sides and no roof.

The photos also suggest that the first really enclosed autoracks with ends and roof still had some gaps at the top of the ends that were later changed to be virtually and perhaps literally totally closed - evidently folks were still getting inside the racks through the small gaps.

Dave Nelson

[BigDaddy]

Mike Budde is a frequent guest on Ken Patterson's youtube What's Neat.   Budde has autoracks from every era and he populates them with autos and trucks, some of which he casts himself. 

If he brought something to talk about, it will be immediately visible on the table at the start of the show, so you don't have to watch each one.

[BurlingtonNorthern2264]

Interesting replies, but I was looking more on how the kits perform instead of prototype information. I already know what types I want to add, just want to know how the model counterparts compare between each other. I did read that 2010 autorack thread though.