Model Railroading > Atlas double door RBL's Athearn double door RBL'S Boxcars

Does anybody out there know why Atlas car is longer then the Athearn car, I know Athearn picked up the Detail West boxcar tooling  a few years ago, Trying to figure out who is more correct compare them next to each other the Atlas car seems much larger car ,  any info who has more correct car would be great.

The Atlas car is correct, with the later runs having better detail (separate ladders) the DW/Athearn car is too narrow.

Edit: the DW car also has the incorrect diagonal roof panels, and is only about 50' on interior dimension vs the Atlas car being closer to the 52' 6"  length of the prototype car.

Burlington67 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anybody out there know why Atlas car is
> longer then the Athearn car, I know Athearn picked
> up the Detail West boxcar tooling  a few years
> ago, Trying to figure out who is more correct
> compare them next to each other the Atlas car
> seems much larger car ,  any info who has more
> correct car would be great.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/20 12:18 by tmurray.

Do you mean the Atlas 50' Evan's double door box cars?  Some have reported the Atlas Evans box cars are too short.in height.

Details West shortened the car so it would fit in their standard kit box. Athearn used the same tooling.

As someone who grew up on Varney cars with paper sides I love these kinds of debates...
They also made a Zamac F-3 diesel loco shell heavy enough to be considered a dangerous weapon empty.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA