Re: [CBQ] [BRHSlist] NPRHA 2020 Freight Car Survey

["William Hirt" <whirt@fastmail.com>]

    Tooling is an expensive proposition. Rapido Trains has told us that
    they estimate it is up to $75,000 to currently tool one plastic
    freight car to current modeler and market expected standards. The
    cost to tool is reflected in unit pricing. Atlas has announced a
    freight car (covered hopper) that will sell for $73 retail. I wonder
    how many they will realistically sell.

I have a friend who is an officer in the the Santa Fe society (which is a bigger and more wealthy society than the BRHS). They were asked in the last year to fund a major freight car project that was estimated to be upward of $200,000. They declined. They did stake money to buying cars at a discount if the project was done, but that was only a few thousand dollars. The project failed because of insufficient interest and lack of other stakeholders putting in funding. No money from the society was actually spent.

The NP wood sheathed boxcars that Rapido Trains did had some that were exclusive to the NP society. Maybe investigating with the NP society what kind of deal they made with Rapido Trains on these would be a first step to making a presentation to the BRHS on this issue.

Bill Hirt

On 12/12/2020 7:59 AM, Tom Mack via groups.io wrote:

>       
>       The following was posted on the NPModelers IO group. I am reposting it for two important reasons:
>
> 1. A lot of Q modelers need/want prototypical NP cars. I, for example, can use just about every car on the NPRHA survey!
>
> 2. At least two of the cars are CB&Q crossover models!! Candidate #1, the 52ft Straight Sill Flatcar, was already done in resin by Spedwitch Media. This same car was also sold as a CB&Q FM-12 and the SP&S 34000-34199 series flatcars. Speedwitch seems to do their homework, so I am assuming these three flatcars are all the same. Candidate #9, 40' Steel Combo Door Boxcar, Brainerd, is noted a being very similar to a Q car. The NP cars are almost identical to the CB&Q XM-2/2A's 41000-41899 (900 cars). From photos, it looks like the side panels are spot on, including the number of panels and diagonal rivet lines next to the doors. There may be a bit of a difference on the frame channels. 
>
> I was thinking that this would be a very good time for a possible joint project between the BRHS and the NPRHA. If the flatcars are indeed identical, then perhaps the BRHS could contribute to or split tooling costs, and then the cars could be run in both NP and CB&Q paint schemes. If the SP&S folks got in on this, the tooling could be split three ways, we would get a third RR scheme, and money would be saved by all involved. This "savings" could be used to perhaps do the 40' DD box as both the NP model and a Q XM-2/2A. Not counting paint tooling costs (which I assume are not nearly as intensive as the actual car tooling), basically Q modelers would get five cars for the price of one - CB&Q, NP, and SP&S 50ft flatcars, NP and CB&Q 40' DD boxcars. The SP&S folks would get a nice flatcar as well. This would also save money for the NPRHA so they can do some of the other cars on their list!
>
> Tom Mack
> Cincinnati, OH
>
> Here is the post from the NPModelers Group:
>
> NP Modelers,
> The NPRHA Modeling Committee has developed a survey to gauge preferences for HO models to be developed in the conjunction with manufacturers. Your input will influence which models could be released over the next several years.
> No guarantees of course, but we have plans to get VERY serious about developing NP specific models, following the lead of other RR historical societies.
>
> The process to take the survey is pretty straight forward, but does involve two elements - "pictures of the 12 options" in a PDF file, and the actual survey on the SurveyMonkey site. Responding should take less than 10 minutes. The survey will close at the end of December.
> Your responses should indicate your preference from the 12 offered, you get three votes in 1-2-3 priority.
> Steps to take the survey:
>
> 1. Open this reference PDF file:
> http://www.nprha.org/2020_Survey/Freight_Car_Survey.pdf
>
> 2. Now open the survey
> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N6C9CZD
> 3. Answer all applicable questions in the survey, using the PDF file to view data and pictures for the options, clicking Done to save your responses when you're done.
> Some details:
>
> * Dollar costs are rough projections to help in contrasting options. Don't get too hung up on the dollar amounts.
>
> * You might want to review the full PDF listing before starting to cast selections.
>
> * There is one required response - your last name.
>
> THANK YOU!
> NPRHA Modeling Committee
>       
>

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