Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

ACF PRECISION DESIGN, 50’ BOXCAR: H0 AND N SCALES

RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN – August 2004

Mfd. by: Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205

Atlas is offering excellent modern freight car models in N and HO scales in its fully-assembled and ready-to-run line. The ACF Precision Design boxcar is a 50’, outside-post boxcar with
10’-0”-wide sliding doors. It was manufactured by American Car & Foundry (ACF) from 1965 to 1974 and was built for a number of major railroads.

The list of Class 1 lines includes Penn Central (class X71 PCA 166000-166999); St. Louis-San Francisco (SL-SF 42100-42499); Canadian Pacific (CPAA 207125-207174); Chicago & North Western (CNW 155000-155599); Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (RI 36000-36299) and Norfolk Southern (NS 2100-2249). Almost identical cars but with different doors were built for Chicago & Eastern Illinois (CEI 252850-253199); Illinois Terminal (ITC 7240-7389) and Burlington Northern.

Other railroads that subsequently inherited or acquired cars from their original purchaser include Southern (527700-527849); Conrail; Burlington Northern; Montana Rail Link; Canadian National and various short lines.

This boxcar is used for carrying general lading. The basic car dimensions are: inside length
50’-6”, inside height 10’-7”, exterior width 10’0”, exterior height 14’-5”. The features of the cars include all-welded construction, twelve posts per side, overhanging-eave diagonal panel roof, fishbelly side sill, improved Dreadnaught ends, 10’-0” wide sliding doors, and roller bearing trucks with 33” wheels. These cars, with a capacity of 5,095 cubic feet, are rated for 70 tons. Most of the cars continue in revenue service in 2004.

The Atlas HO scale model come fully assembled and accurately represents the prototype car. The body sides are molded to realistically represent the exterior-post steel sheets. It has stand-alone detail parts for grab irons, end ladders, stirrups, brake rigging and brake wheel. Coupler cut levers and air hoses are not included.

The pre-applied end walks are see-through plastic pieces. Because the doors slide open and closed, the door tracks are somewhat oversized. The roof accurately represents the prototype. The roller bearing 70-ton trucks have machined metal RP25 profiles wheels.

Magnetically operated Accumate knuckle couplers are installed on the car. The coupler box covers are attached by screws for easy removal. The model, pre-weighted with a flat steel weight, weighs four ounces. The NMRA recommended weight for a car of this size is 4.5 ounces.

The painting and lettering is excellent. The roof is painted an aluminum color. The printing is sharp and prototypically accurate with the smallest lettering legible. The ready-to-run model is packaged securely in a clear view box.

The Atlas N scale model is quite similar in detail to the HO model. The side grab irons are molded on while the end ladders, end walks, brake piping and brake wheel are separately pre-applied pieces. However the N scale doors do not operate. The N model weighs about one ounce.

Atlas offers the HO and N models in the following paint schemes: Conrail (brown with silver roof, yellow door indicating high-grade loading service); Burlington Northern (green); Canadian Pacific (brown with silver roof), Montana Rail Link (blue with silver roof); Southern (brown with silver roof), Chicago & North Western (brown with silver roof); Frisco (brown with silver roof), Illinois Terminal (yellow with silver roof); Norfolk Southern (brown with yellow door, silver roof); Penn Central (green with silver roof) and Rock island (brown with silver roof). Each scheme is offered with two road numbers. An undecorated model is also offered.

This is a highly realistic, ready-to-run model and is appropriate for 1965 to the present time. The N scale models are pried at $16.95 decorated, $12.95 undecorated. The HO scale models are $22.95, undecorated, and $19.95 undecorated. - John Riddell