The gon, like the northeast cabooses Bachmann released a while back are re-hashes of the old P2K diework they acquired when Kader got the company that made the first runs of these- prior to Walthers' acquisition of P2K/Lifelike.

Mitch I don't think these are re-releases of the old P2000 gons. These Bachmann gons have 13 side panels and the P2000 have 15 panels.

Bachmmann's gon has molded on detail while the P2000 are all added on detail.

The Bachmanns are totally cast from new diework. They aren't even close to the P2000 gons.
John Caples

The Bachmann caboose is not a former P2K

I sit corrected!!!-just at a glance, the drop ends made me suspicious! I thought on the late, great Atlas Forum a few years back,someone mentioned Kader had picked up die work (or were rumored to ) from the company that made some P2K stuff prior to the Walthers purchase of LL....ah, the model rumor mill! I will resolve this year not to comment based on old rumors! BTW, happy New Years to you all!

For those still searching for the Tangent gondola in Reading, Mainline Hobby Supply in Blue Ridge Summit, PA shows some in stock.

As was mentioned above, when comparing price and overall quality between Bachmann and Tangent, it should be obvious which model is the better value.

Actually, I shelved my Con Cor GHm project indefinitely after seen the Tangent model up close. The Con Cor model has nice lettering, but requires a completely scratch built frame and there is no practical way to add weight to the car. That, and after I tallied all the costs for parts I had accumulated for the project so far (trucks, couplers, stirrups, etc.), I was close to the cost of the Tangent model. Maybe I’ll revisit the project someday.

Thanks, Mark

a lot of kit-bash projects from older die work seems to be rendered obsolete by the new stuff, huh? The only problem is the new stuff makes your older upgrades look pale in comparison-the ones I sweated bullets over years ago.. but never dreamed the stuff of the last 5-10 years would be so detailed... so I either ignore the new stuff, or get tempted to chuck it all and go with G scale so I can see what I'm working on!