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LGB Modern ACF Tank Car
Apr 21, 2004
By Jon C.A. DeKeles |
Author
Bio
After the ECLSTS I came home and found several boxes had arrived at the office. I had lots of work to finish after the show so I had to wait to open them.
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After the ECLSTS I came home and found several boxes had arrived at the office. I had lots of work to finish after the show so I had to wait to open them. The first box I opened was from LGB. They had sent me one of their new ACFX Modern Tank Cars. The model was LGB40870. The LGB web site says, "Over its 100-year history, American Car and Foundry better known as ACF has been America's leading maker of rolling stock, and you'll find its leased ACFX freight cars on railroads across the continent. Just look and you'll see these modern tank cars carrying liquefied gases to industries everywhere." 
This unit comes in the standard red box you have come to know and love. Once inside you will find your new tank car fully assembled and ready to go. The unit comes with hook and loop couplers installed. As with most LGB rolling stock it does not include an optional set of knuckle couplers so you will have to purchase these separately -- if needed.
So what about the specifics? | Size | Actual | Scale 1:20.3 | Scale 1:29 | Scale 1:32 | Length
(handrail to handrail) | ~20 3/16" | 34.15' | 48.78' | 53.83' | Length
(coupler to coupler) | ~21 15/16" | 37.11' | 53.01' | 58.50' | Height
(wheels to handrail) | ~6 3/4" | 11.41' | 16.31' | 18 | Width
(handrail to handrail) | ~4 9/16" | 7.72' | 11.02' | 12.16' | Tank Diam
(end) | ~3 15/16" | 6.66' | 9.51 | 10.5' | The specifications from the ACF site provides these specs:
Max Length is 47' 4"
Max Height is 14' 8"
Max width is 10' 9/16" A search of the Internet found the price on this unit from a low of $64.99 to a high of $89.99. Pros/Cons you decide: Painting and Lettering:
 I thought that the painting and lettering of the unit was very well done. The lettering is very sharp and as far as I could see the information was very accurate. Hey, even the DOT 105-J-500-W number was correct for the model. This should make some of you very happy, others at this point are yawning I am sure. LGB worked very closely with ACF to make sure the markings on this tank car are accurate. Everything I own does not have to be perfectly prototypical, but I like it when a manufacturer makes the effort.
It really holds liquid:
 It really holds water and has a exit drain at the bottom of the tank. Experiments by Bryan and me show that the tank holds about 5 cups of water. When full of water the car weighs about 4.8 pounds. To drain you just remove the cap at the bottom, and you of course have to open up the top and remove the plug. A good science experiment for my son. I removed the cap from the bottom and nothing came out until I let air into the tank from the top. We found that the water drained at the rate of about one cup per 45 seconds and took about 5 1/2 minutes to drain. This does not have any kind of flow control or tubing, but looks more prototypical. So what can you use it for? I suppose you could put some type of drink inside, but then it could be hard to clean in the future. You might put some type of weed killer and run it around the track to keep them from growing in your ballast. Of course don't try this unless you know for 100% sure that the chemicals you use will NOT eat away at the plastic. You could end up with a real life Hazmat spill on your hands.
Trucks and Wheels:
 The trucks are solid molded plastic. These are the standard trucks that are used on many of the LGB rolling stock. They are molded in a lighter gray plastic. I was getting used to real springs in my trucks from other manufacturers. Of course from 10 feet away I doubt anyone can see if there are real springs or not. Of course from even 1 foot away I cannot find them little springs in the carpet. The wheels are plastic and not metal. Handrails:
 The lower hand rails at the ends and bottom are made of metal, but the upper hand rail assembly is molded plastic. The plastic that it is made out of is a more bendable type. The top handrails are not round, but flat on the back side due to the molding process. One advantage I see is this plastic is bendable, so it would be very hard to break when carrying. I like many of you am not a 100% expert on every engine or rolling stock ever made. I like to research new pieces on the Internet and see if the model looks like the real thing. One thing that I like to do when I get a new piece of rolling stock is to turn it into a learning experience for me and my son. In my studies I found a few web site about tank cars that you might find interesting too.
Product Line - Tank Car Specifications
Click Here
ACF Industries, Incorporated has provided over 100 years of quality, innovation and stability in the design of railcars for railroads and major industrial companies worldwide. Here you can find "real" specifications on covered hopper cars as well as tank cars. Just enter in the type of tank car and they will provide you the specifications of the tank car in question. The Chlorine Institute
Click Here
As this tank car is manufactured to carry chlorine I did some research on this topic. "The Chlorine Institute, Inc., founded in 1924, is a trade association of companies and other entities that are involved or interested in the safe production, distribution and use of chlorine, sodium and potassium hydroxides, and sodium hypochlorite, and the distribution." Institute members account for 98 percent of the U.S. production of chlorine and related alkali chemicals; nearly 30 million tons of material annually. The group was founded in 1924. The standards they have created mean that chlorine tank cars all look very much alike. Modern Tank Car Homepage
Click Here
Although there are no pictures of Large Scale Trains, there are great prototype photos of tank cars. Olin Corporation
Click Here -- Corporation
Click Here -- Chlor Alkali Products
Their name was on the car so I thought I should know about them too. Olin Corporation is one of the world's best basic materials companies and a leading North American producer of copper alloys, ammunition and chlorine and caustic soda. Their Chlor Alkali Products web site has some very interesting information on what they do. What do I think?
Well if it really matters... I liked the look of this tank car and could invasion a dozen of these being pulled by my new Dash-9, or maybe even two dozen. LGB also makes a model 41870 tank car. It is the same tank car but in solid black with yellow Santa Fe lettering. Although maybe not as prototypical in the painting, a string of these sure would look nice on your railroad too. Maybe LGB will send me a few more of each to test. :-) Top of Page
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