Beer and waffles anyone?

American Z Line has announced the immediate availability of two new body styles! The first release is 2420 cu ft waffle side gondolas. These cars feature intricate pad on printing, AZL roller bearing trucks, and separately applied photo etched placards when applicable. The first road name is CSXT.



A runner pack of four gondolas and a single has been released. The set is item #90246-1. The road numbers are: 363149, 363164, 363159, 363184. The MSRP is $117.00.

The single car is item #91246-1. The road number is 363185. The MSRP is $32.00.



The second all new body style is PC&F beer cars. These cars feature intricate pad printing, excellent undercarriage detail and AZL's roller bearing trucks. The first release is D&RGW (Golden West Service). A runner pack and single have been released.

The runner pack is item #90266-1. The road numbers are: 50841, 50803, 50848, 50831. The MSRP is $120.00.

The single car is item #91266-1. The road number is: 50815. The MSRP is $34.00.

Dealers orders are in transit and will be arriving soon!

Rob Kluz

Anyone found prototype pictures of these gondolas? I found some in SP and a BUNCH in all different roads in HO an N. So someone please make it clear to me, why I should not ask for new styles of cars to be made that existed by the thousands, and used by dozens of railroads, because it would cost too much and they won´t sell, but cars that either did not exist or were really, really rare, would be a great investment for a Z company?

Good point, Kelley. Those 2420 Gondolas, as far as I know, were built by Gunderson in the '60 exclusively for SP. Total of 900 built. They were seen up into the '90 and than scrapped. So I have doubts that CSX has used that particular prototype at all. There a lots of discussions in other forums when ExactRails released the same prototype in 8? different paint schemes like CSXT, PC, CNW, GN, SCL, etc. with the result that's all not prototypical. My guess is AZL is just copying ExactRails fantasy...

Gerd,
Today, on my way to the NZSC in Denver, I passed a number of these cars on a spur in Utah near Grantsville. While definitely well weathered, these certainly weren't physically scrapped. And while most of the cars that I could read (going 75 MPH or so) were SP, there was at least one marked "MP". On my way back I'll try to snap some images if I can find a good place to get them.

Mark

markm wrote: And while most of the cars that I could read (going 75 MPH or so) were SP, there was at least one marked "MP". On my way back I'll try to snap some images if I can find a good place to get them.

Mark... I will be interested in viewing any photos you might be able to catch. I have yet to find any proto-photos to back-up the MP release. All of the MP proto-photos show a 13 panel gondola, not 10 panels.

Hi Mark,
good to see some have of them survived. 900 were built, so are chances same escaped the blow torch. In general gondolas are hard working, badly maintained cars that are well and true done after 30+ service, that's the reason most a only worth the kg price of scrapmetal. Alex is right, there a lots of designs with waffle sides, but AZL's particular prototype was SP exclusive.

Alex,
Thanks for the heads-up on counting the panels, even if I can't snap a picture, I should be able to count panels from the highway.
Frankly I was surprised at all the unusual rolling stock UP has sitting on sidings in Nevada and Utah. I hope to add an extra day on my drive home to try to photograph some as there are a lot of interesting cars and weathering patterns and not a great deal of grafitti. Unfortunately, many are on mine sidings with no apparent public access.

Mark