Model Train Production News

[Sumpter250]

From the point of view of a modular railroader, whose focus is on operations...
I would not run many of the RTR offerings at the club set-ups. At $40+ each, I am not prepared to have others handle them, transport them multiple times per year, and do some "quick and dirty" (although still decent ) weathering on them. For the same reasons, I am not prepared to invest a lot of time to scratch-build all the required cars either.
So the "shake the box" or BB or whatever kits fit the bill. I can bring the requisite cars (the call is different every set-up, but between the members, we generally need 100 - 150 cars) and at ~$10 each, they are fine. The detail is decent from 3+ feet, they run well, are easy to repair, and stand up to repeated handling and transport.
I always look at the Accurail or Athearn kits over RTR when I visit the LTS. Either that, or the consignment shelves...
Andrew

For the modular shows, including Trainfest, I usually bring the relatively unmodified - completely unmodified, "Shake-the-Box" cars to run. I finally reached the point where I was repairing damage, more than building new. " A place for everything, and everything in its place " isn't totally about "organizing". The concept can be applied to the use of something as well.