Large Scale Central

USA Trains Aluminum Passenger Cars

General Discussion
#1

I see that USA Trains has brought back aluminum passenger cars and offering them in various road names. They look very nice with good detail. I missed the first round when they stopped producing the cars a few years ago. The product they no longer carry is the Western Pacific F3-AB set to accompany the new Western Pacific California Zephyr cars. They carry the F3-A unit separately, but not the “B” unit! The “B” unit was an integral part of the Zephyr train; sometimes two of these were employed on the prototype WP passenger trains, so I’m not sure why USAT discontinued this item.

Anyway, I was thinking about putting together a California Zephyr train over time. The cars ain’t cheap - that’s what prevented me from buying the 12-13 cars the first time. This time, there are 10 cars and they are less expensive and more enticing. Maybe USAT will bring back the WP F3-AB set so I don’t have to search down an older “B” unit when I decide it’s a go!

#2

They are less expensive?

The list price per car is $480, and $500 for the obs, and dome cars.

They were $330 and $350 in 2006.

Not sure you saved money by waiting.

Greg

#3

From the horse’s mouth a few days ago:

“Depending on which dealer you buy them from, the Observation and Dome cars are $296 each. All other passenger cars are $282”.

#4

Yep, street prices are lower than list.

charles ro in 2006, $209 and $225

charles ro today: $289 and $299

again about $75-100 more in 10 years…

Greg

#5

Here’ an old add. It’s still on their website, but I’m sure will be modified soon. List price of between $479 and $499, which was pretty much the ONLY price because nobody else in my area stocked them!

www.usatrains.com/usatrainspassalum.html

#6

Last month I saw someone had a 13 car set for sale on the FB page “G scale swap and shop.” Included was a custom domed observation, and 2 CB&Q E units. Also available was an ABB set of F units in Western Pacific. $5,000 for the E units and train. Didn’t say how much the F’s were.

#7

Yes, you have the same numbers as in my post 5 above here. Are you getting confused as to the list price vs. street price?

I’m not trying to give you a hard time, but the price of these cars has always gone up never down.

List price has gone up, street price has gone up.

Greg

Michael Kirrene said:

Here’ an old add. It’s still on their website, but I’m sure will be modified soon. List price of between $479 and $499, which was pretty much the ONLY price because nobody else in my area stocked them!

www.usatrains.com/usatrainspassalum.html

#8

Yeah, I figure you’re giving me a hard time. And I’ve seen that picture of the Santa Fe train a hunderd times so I know who you are!

No, of course I would expect the prices to be more or about the same. I’m not sure everyone shops around and instead gets them from the manufacturer direct, as in this case. I just remember the prices on their website reflected a cost of almost $500 each! Way back when, they were cost prohibitive to me. The only mail-order guys on the internet that I ever dealt with were Watts Train Shop, Upland Trains, Depot G, The Train Shop in S.C., and a place called “Trains” or “Just Trains.” on the East Coast. They didn’t stock these cars. “Street” prices were about the same as the manufacturer’s price and some of my stuff was only single sourced - no street price or discount. I figured this time that maybe USA Trains are manufacturing these cars in China so the price dropped a little bit.

This is the train I’m talkin’ about. It’s beautiful. Like your Santa Fe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsYBLVuXaRA

That’s electric, not battery, right Greg? Which sound system to you have in there? Where do you put the electronics?

#9

Ahh, I’m beginning to understand.

No one I associate with pays list prices, they are just sort of a reference, sometimes crazy reference, like locos with a list price of $1,300 but sell for $600.

The reason I came back to you is that you posted in 2 places that the prices had dropped on the passenger cars.

I cannot find any evidence of this anywhere, in either the list price or street price.

For clarification, “street price” means to most people the discounted prices available on the Internet. Brick and mortar shops are usually full list, or only a slight discount.

So “street prices” in the definition I have used over the years are NEVER the same as list, always lower.

Your last few sentences seem to imply that you interpret “street prices” as in brick and mortar stores…

By the way, USAT manufactures everything in China and has for years except the 1:24 “American Series”. Most everything was manufactured by Sanda Kan, which was recently (sort of recently) bought by Kader, who also owns Bachmann.

There is nothing new about these cars, over the years the 1:29 stuff is in and out of production, all the line, not just the aluminum passenger cars, bur F units, PA-1, etc, this is typical. USAT is pretty smart, making a run every so often, rather than trying to keep everything in production at the same time.

Greg

#10

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation and clarification. Yeah, I’m not dumb - I know street prices are lower than the manufacturing list, but I associated your definition of “street prices” here as being the same thing as prices in brick and mortar stores, which were my primary sources back when. All but one of those stores is now defunct; one under a different name.

Sounds like I might have to contact you for your source(s) if/when I start buying the cars! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

#11

Michael Kirrene said:

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation and clarification. Yeah, I’m not dumb - I know street prices are lower than the manufacturing list, but I associated your definition of “street prices” here as being the same thing as prices in brick and mortar stores, which were my primary sources back when. All but one of those stores is now defunct; one under a different name.

Sounds like I might have to contact you for your source(s) if/when I start buying the cars! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

Michael,

It sounds as if you are not conversant with the brick-and-mortar Charles Ro store in Malden, Mass. (Real brick - I visit every time I go to see my daughter, who lives 20 mins away.) Charles Ro is owned by the guy who owns USA Trains, so it serves as their retail outlet. If you want to buy some, you can’t do it on the USA Trains website - you have to use the Charles Ro website, which has the $299 price (or a similar retail outlet.)

I have no idea why they (USAT) do this weird pricing, or why Greg didn’t explain his ‘street price’ in a bit more detail. As far as I can tell, it is so that dealers can advertise that they sell the cars at 40% off ?

#12

Pete, thanks. I’m aware of who Charles Ro is. During the past year, I’ve collected quite a few of the USA Trains old (and new) reefers. I’ve talked with guys in their Parts department for detailed parts for the older reefers, which I’ve procured from Ebay and local swap meets. I’ve also ordered a few cars from them over the phone, so I guess they must be located in the store that you’re referring to. When I asked about pricing of the Zephyr cars on their Facebook page, the answer was “Depending on which dealer you buy them from”, so I think you may be right about that dealer 40% discount thing.

#13

Pete, I think you are right, the list price is inflated so dealers can claim they are selling discounted. No way a plastic steam loco should cost $1300…

By the way, maybe you missed my street price explanation above? I thought it was my typical too much detail. Everyone I know uses “street price” to mean the typical discounted price.

Last time I bought in a brick and mortar to try to “help support the LHS”, it just left a hole on the shelf where the car was, for months.

Greg

#14

Greg Elmassian said:

Everyone I know uses “street price” to mean the typical discounted price.

#15

I guess I’m a Dufus then. Of course you don’t know me, so…

#16

Greg said: “Last time I bought from a brick and mortar it just left a hole on the shelf where it was, for months”.

That’s why more and more brick and mortar stores are throwing in the towel - even as we speak. I noted a few above, stores I use to buy from in the 90’s. Goneski.

#17

Chucks got the best stuff on the East Coast and has the West coast dialed in on it as well!

Trust me I have tried it and it’s good stuff!

#18

Greg Elmassian said:

. . .

By the way, maybe you missed my street price explanation above? I thought it was my typical too much detail. Everyone I know uses “street price” to mean the typical discounted price.

. . .

Greg

I’d have to admit it was too much detail. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)But the issue that Michael missed is that you can’t buy USAT stuff off the USAT website at the price they quote.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)

#19

But you reminded me that I still have “Wingate Brook” on my shelf. See
http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/24234/usat-r31000-santa-fe-observation-nyc-quot-wingate-brook-quot

#20

Looks like all the pictures are gone pete, here and the original thread.

Greg