steveNCB7754 Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 Hi, As a UK modeller intending to build a US switching layout, I am gradually accumulating various items of rolling stock, as and when I come across them (toy fairs, online, etc.). Each time I add an item to the collection, or find an item I might want to add, I usually go online to a favourite website (i.e. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net) to try and get an image or two of the actual prototype - occasionally I might get lucky and even find an image (or images) of the 1:1 version of the HO model. Either way, such images are then filed away for future reference, for possible weathering details, etc. My query concerns an Atlas HO tank car I have come across recently, namely; Atlas # 6237-3 = 17,600 Gallon (Trinity) Corn Syrup Tank Car in Minnesota Corn Processors (MNCX) livery, as 'MNCX 1010' According to the link on Atlas' website (http://www.atlasrr.com/HOFreight/hotrinity2.htm) these were scheduled for delivery in November 2005 and two 'MNCX' schemes were to be offered (6237-3 and 6237-4). My problem, is that when I visit a couple of online photo sources, 'MNCX' is not one of the reporting mark options available. So then I did an online search using two different search engines and if I put MNCX in, all I get is images of said models - no actual prototype images. By contrast, even if I just put GATX or TILX into the same searches, I instantly get prototype images, interspersed with the odd model image. So (finally), my question is; does the reporting mark 'MNCX' actually exist in the real world, or are the cars offered by Atlas in a fictitious livery? Seems unlikely to me, if it is a real mark, that no one has ever photographed any of these freight cars, whether tank cars or some other vehicle. My knowledge of US practise is kind of limited and I have probably missed something somewhere, so can anyone help? Thanks in advance Steve N Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 the ones I have all have DMIX, part of the ADM group like you can't find MNCX, could be early reporting marks, before ADM ownership. Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikjd Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 Hi, As a UK modeller intending to build a US switching layout, I am gradually accumulating various items of rolling stock, as and when I come across them (toy fairs, online, etc.). Each time I add an item to the collection, or find an item I might want to add, I usually go online to a favourite website (i.e. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net) to try and get an image or two of the actual prototype - occasionally I might get lucky and even find an image (or images) of the 1:1 version of the HO model. Either way, such images are then filed away for future reference, for possible weathering details, etc. My query concerns an Atlas HO tank car I have come across recently, namely; Atlas # 6237-3 = 17,600 Gallon (Trinity) Corn Syrup Tank Car in Minnesota Corn Processors (MNCX) livery, as 'MNCX 1010' According to the link on Atlas' website (http://www.atlasrr.com/HOFreight/hotrinity2.htm) these were scheduled for delivery in November 2005 and two 'MNCX' schemes were to be offered (6237-3 and 6237-4). My problem, is that when I visit a couple of online photo sources, 'MNCX' is not one of the reporting mark options available. So then I did an online search using two different search engines and if I put MNCX in, all I get is images of said models - no actual prototype images. By contrast, even if I just put GATX or TILX into the same searches, I instantly get prototype images, interspersed with the odd model image. So (finally), my question is; does the reporting mark 'MNCX' actually exist in the real world, or are the cars offered by Atlas in a fictitious livery? Seems unlikely to me, if it is a real mark, that no one has ever photographed any of these freight cars, whether tank cars or some other vehicle. My knowledge of US practise is kind of limited and I have probably missed something somewhere, so can anyone help? Thanks in advance Steve N MNCX is a valid reporting mark, as shown here http://www.railserve.com/aar_railroad_reporting_marks.html#M and here http://trn.trains.com/railroads/abcs-of-railroading/2006/05/railroad-reporting-marks I have struggled to find photos of many smaller US fleets, particularly those from the 70's/80's. Mick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveNCB7754 Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 the ones I have all have DMIX, part of the ADM group DSCN0016.JPG 3dmix190511-704x391.jpg like you can't find MNCX, could be early reporting marks, before ADM ownership. Ray Thanks Ray, nice looking tank car. Suppose if I was minded to be too pedantic about it, it would not be too hard to alter the number to one like yours (i.e. DMIX), for which prototype images were available - have found that there is a Microscale sheet for Minnesota Corn Processors 40' and 50' tank cars (#MC-4124), but they only offer GATX and AMIX numbers (though the online image is very blurred). Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveNCB7754 Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 MNCX is a valid reporting mark, as shown here http://www.railserve.com/aar_railroad_reporting_marks.html#M and here http://trn.trains.com/railroads/abcs-of-railroading/2006/05/railroad-reporting-marks I have struggled to find photos of many smaller US fleets, particularly those from the 70's/80's. Mick. Hi Mick, Thanks for those links - at least I now know they are 'for real' (numbers). MCP (Minnesota Corn Processors) became part of the ADM group, so perhaps the 'MNCX' mark was so shortlived, that no one got a chance to take many photos, before the reporting marks were replaced by others (DMIX, GATX, AMIX, etc.)? Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Martin Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 MNCX is a valid reporting mark, but is (or was) only carried by a small number of cars. If you do an UMLER search (https://shipcsx.com/pub_sx_trackingpublic_jct/sx.trackingpublic/UmlerSearch) on "MNCX1020" it returns "Car not on file", which suggests that this car (one of the ones available from Atlas) has either been withdrawn or recoded. UMLER is a database of all North American freight cars and can be tremendously useful to the modeller, if you're interested in building models based on photos, for example. Years ago, most major railroads provided online access, but I think that only CSX does nowadays. I have a 1996 edition of the Official Railway Equipment Register. At that time, Minnesota Corn Processors Inc. used three reporting marks. The Bulk Products Division used DMIX (888 tank cars and 135 covered hoppers) and SYRX (406 tank cars). The other bit, which just used the name of the corporation without any additional identifier, had a fleet of 45 tank cars numbered MNCX1000-1044. Unfortunately, the ORER is very light on tank car details (strange, because it has all sorts of dimensional data for other cars), which is why the UMLER search function is so useful in those cases. Jim <Edited to correct the number range for the MNCX cars> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveNCB7754 Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 MNCX is a valid reporting mark, but is (or was) only carried by a small number of cars. If you do an UMLER search (https://shipcsx.com/pub_sx_trackingpublic_jct/sx.trackingpublic/UmlerSearch) on "MNCX1020" it returns "Car not on file", which suggests that this car (one of the ones available from Atlas) has either been withdrawn or recoded. UMLER is a database of all North American freight cars and can be tremendously useful to the modeller, if you're interested in building models based on photos, for example. Years ago, most major railroads provided online access, but I think that only CSX does nowadays. I have a 1996 edition of the Official Railway Equipment Register. At that time, Minnesota Corn Processors Inc. used three reporting marks. The Bulk Products Division used DMIX (888 tank cars and 135 covered hoppers) and SYRX (406 tank cars). The other bit, which just used the name of the corporation without any additional identifier, had a fleet of 45 tank cars numbered MNCX1000-1034. Unfortunately, the ORER is very light on tank car details (strange, because it has all sorts of dimensional data for other cars), which is why the UMLER search function is so useful in those cases. Jim Hi Jim, That is all very useful info and certainly hints at why there are no 'hits'. All filed away for future reference - many thanks. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,1746073 suggests MNCX cars went to the TILX lease fleet in the mid 90s? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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