HO Scale 53' Spine Car Comparison

[@jlwii2000]

Hey man, your comparison videos have been very helpful to me. I know first hand how long it takes to do a video so thanks so much for your time invested in giving everyone information to make better purchasing decisions.

[@RWTX]

Hey. I appreciate the words of encouragement. Given your status and expertise within the model railroad/ KZbin realm, it means a lot. 😃🚂

[@YourLocalRailfan]

I’m looking for some, along with 53’ intermodal cars and some 89’ trailer train flats to complete my intermodal train

[@thomasboese3793]

You're comparing an apple to an orange. At the 0:32 time stamp the Athearn car is clearly lettered for 2-28'/1-57' trailers. The Bowser car is the shorter 53' car that can only carry one trailer per platform, 28' to 53'. So, if you're going to model a large fleet of 28' trailers, you will need either the 57' spline car or the 3-hitch RTTX 89'-4" flat.

[@pashon4percushon]

Hello thanks for the video. Are these the only two 53ft spine cars? I'm primarily an Amtraker but i decided to invest in some intermodal to run and started buying spine cars on a whim only to find out that none of them hold 53ft trailers.

[@travisbull1969]

I am always amused why so many manufacturers produce models of variations of 40 foot box cars. There would not be many modellers around today who would remember them as being the common life form on US Rails. I think it is commendable that Bowser and Athearn have chosen to make two similar but different types of spine car. The Bowser car represents an earlier model designed to include carrying the new standard 53 foot trailers as well as the 40, 45, 48 and 53 foot containers with the end units being able to handle two 20 containers. These cars came in 5 unit and 3 unit versions. The Athearn cars represent a slightly later version that came only as a three unit car. Importantly each unit is longer so it can accommodate two 28 foot trailers on one unit as well as containers and trailers ranging from 40 to 53 feet in length (no 20 containers though). These cars are very much a common life form on today's US rails and Athearn and Bowser's efforts are great for those who like to model what they can see in front of them. You have provided a good and informative video regarding both models.

[@crsrdash-840b5]

Great video. When you do the scale weights, can you 'slow' down and let us see the results for a bit longer than 1.5 seconds. Thanks.

[@starlinggibson4117]

😊Thank for the content, I have the Bower version and the have to be SUPER careful not to break the end handrails when handling

[@randallellison6421]

Excellent video Dillon! Any plans on doing a video on the Scaletrains Rivet Counter steel coil cars when they come out? I've got 2 on pre order!

[@RWTX]

I have been collecting coil cars of late. Don’t quite have all of them yet but those will probably be in one of the next five videos.

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

Walthers will probably come out with a 53' 5 unit car since they already have the 48' 5 units. The NSC 3 unit 53' and 5 unit 40' articulated well cars could be offered from them to since they made the 3 unit drawbar 53's and singles.

[@everettrailfan]

53' wellcars don't come in 5-packs, unless you mean the spine cars.

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

@@everettrailfan I meant to say 53' 5 unit spine car sets. I put together several of the 48' 5 unit kits they had.

[@bnsfwarbonnet]

I don't like the athearn cars it's way too much work to assemble the hitches and container pedestals on a ready to roll $100 car. The pins on the end of the athearn car are a plastic part that do come out to reveal holes but they're in there so good you'll probably break something trying. I drill them out on my cars.

[@RWTX]

I do agree. The athearn cars require a bit more work to get them “ready to roll”. I don’t recall having much problem getting the small pieces out of the hole though. Either way. Hope you gathered some good info from the video. Thanks for watching 😃