TRAIN TIME: Menards #275-9053 Pennsy Flats with 1/50 Scale '56 Ford C-600 Hershey's Tractor & Trailler

Although Menards has issues with the design, production, and quality control of their rolling stock trucks and couplers (as well as a couple of other things), they ultimately produce some of the nicest rolling stock in the 3-rail O-gauge world. They offer paint schemes that no one else does and have offered a line of flatcars with tractor-trailer loads that are unmatched, and all of this in a very budget friendly way. Their vehicles tend to be 1/50 scale - which means a slightly smaller size than the 1/43 scale often preferred. In addition, their vehicles are plastic, not diecast, saving on production costs as well as shipping costs as diecast is heavier, thus more costly to ship. This particular tractor-trailer set came in a four-pack with the other three decorated for different products. The tractor and trailer can be removed from their flatcars and used in a city scene if I wanted, but for now I'm okay with them staying on the flats. Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

The trailers used on Menards flatcars are a style referred to as 'pup trailers'. These shorter trailers are 26' to anywhere from 28' or 32' long depending on what source you read.

Menard's #279-4601 1/48 Scale Plastic Menard Stake Truck (Lighted)

I've posted a bunch of Menard's trucks here before: one fire truck and several M&M's trucks but this is the first time for a general, run-of-the mill utility truck. This stakebed was actually a freebie I received when ordering Menard's York Hotel a couple of years back and it sat in the box until recently. It's one of their lighted vehicles, done in the same vein as Woodland Scenics Just Plug line of vehicles. The Menard's truck has this big cable sticking down below the frame and plugs into a transformer lead supplied separately by Menard's. I have mixed feelings about all these lighted vehicles. On the one hand they are really cool looking on the layout. On the other hand, one has to drill a 1/2"hole in the board wherever yo want to place one of these things and I am not down to do that! My truck is situated right at the edge of the layout and the cable is simply draped over the side of the layout for the time being so that moving it won't cause any mess or distress to the table top when removed. The truck scales out to 1/48 scale - typical for Menard's - and is made from plastic. You'll notice the printing on the side says "MENARD" not "MENARD'S" - maybe that's why it was free! Enjoy! Opa Fritz