Trailer Train Front Runners

[midwestfan]

Does TTX have any front runners still in service? Haven't seen one in a train for quite some time and was curious if any were stiil on the rails>

[PBenham]

The front runners were, for those of you that aren't familar with them were 4 wheel intermodal skeleton cars. They had an irritating tenancy to derail on curves espically when running empty or when being pushed through a facing point switch tighter than a #12 frog or being in a train with distributed power, or helpers on the rear,pushing harder than the power on the point was pulling. If that wasn't enough they only held 40,45 or 48 foot trailers,loaded only. An empty (or lightly loaded) trailer or container on a front runner was an invitation to trouble. They are being, or have been,scrapped. No railroader that ever had to fight one of those rolling headaches will miss them.

[tjsmrinfo]

TTX came out with a new front runner several years back its a 4 axle aticulated car and can carry up to 57 ft trailers. model railroader did an article on these new cars some time back


tom

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tjsmrinfo

TTX came out with a new front runner several years back its a 4 axle aticulated car and can carry up to 57 ft trailers. model railroader did an article on these new cars some time back


tom

I asked about them and learned that all the headaches of the earlier front runners were worsened by the extra length of this group of cars. They are not missed by railroaders that had to deal with them.

[tjsmrinfo]

ok Pbenham wasnt aware they are now out of service.

tom

[PBenham]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tjsmrinfo

ok Pbenham wasnt aware they are now out of service.

tom

Quite the opposite. Please read both of my comments. Both indicated that they were out of service and were not coming back on line. They are not going to be missed!

[tjsmrinfo]

pbenham i was agreeing with ya. i just want aware they were out of service and not coming back on line

tom

[Anonymous]

so the front runner isn't found in a present-day setup?

[chad thomas]

The HO version sucked too. They have been permanantly retired from my collection and will not be missed either.

[Anonymous]

so the models are as bad as the prototype? cool. (I'm not getting any- I use flatcars and well cars for my trailers)

[Anonymous]

The Walthers HO frontrunner wasn't too shabby - it looks the part and runs well enough with a little attention. The problem I found was that the axle at the "hitch" end of the car is supposed to be able to rock from side to side to keep all wheels on the rails. If the people who put the parts together weren't careful it could get jammed. Mine needed a little attention with a file to give it more clearance to move, I think it was mostly around the top of the "truck" (I mean the moulding that holds the axle) where the bevelled edge that goes against the end platform needed to be made a little more pronounced. The axle can now rock freely and the car doesn't derail on Peco Medium-Radius switches.

I'm not surprised the prototype was a disaster - long lightweight 4-wheel vehicles are never a good idea!