RMT Atomic Energy Commission ore car

The history of ore cars dates back to around the time of the Civil War, when they were primarily made of wood. Body construction shifted to steel starting in the late 1880s to the early 1900s, allowing for increased strength and capacity.

maroon model ore car — Cody Grivno photo

Ready Made Toys (RMT) has released a new version of its ore car, and the company sent us a sample of the Atomic Energy Commission car. If the AEC is not your cup of tea, no worries. The car is available in 54 other roadnames, including custom runs for the Choo Choo Barn, Strasburg Rail Road, and many others. View the complete list on RMT’s website.

undersides of two model ore cars — The differences between the trucks can be seen in the photo above. The older style is in the top (yellow) car. Cody Grivno photo

I compared this car to one my husband purchased a couple of years ago. The carbodies seem identical, but flip the cars over and you’ll see the difference. The trucks have been modified. The truck sideframes seem the same (a general freight truck design), but the rest of the truck is different. Note the differences in the comparison photo.

I also weighed the two cars. The older car weighs 9.6 ounces, while the new car weighs 9.4 ounces.

Graphics are pad printed, except for the car number, which is a small decal. There is a bit of a glossiness to it. f the decal’s shine bothers you, a quick spray of Testor’s Dullcote should tone it down.

The body is attached to the frame with four tabs that snap into what could be called roping staples. One of the tabs was not fully snug against the frame, but it was easy to snap the tab into place by hand.

This car has some nice details. For instance, the model includes molded stirrup steps below the sill, which other manufacturers omit from their models. The wheels also have “Ready Made Trains” raised lettering on the faces.

The sticker on the clamshell packaging suggests O-31 operation, but RMT’s website states O-36. I emailed owner Walther Matuch to clarify and he confirmed that O-36 is the correct designation. He also stated that the stickers have been updated to reflect this change.

The trucks were very tight on this car. They were so tight that the car would not navigate any curves on our CT&T layout. Of the four cars I received for review, this was the only car affected. However, the fix is easy. I used a small putty knife to separate the frame from the body a bit. I could then lift the tabs away from the roping staples. Access the screws through the holes in the top of the frame. Loosen the screws a bit with a flat head screwdriver, and carefully snap the car back together.

The ore load is removable, easily released with a small putty knife or flat head screwdriver. This inspired a future project. Wouldn’t it be fun to spraypaint this load with glow-in-the-dark paint? It would be a crowd-pleaser to see a string of these cars with glowing loads.

This is a solid piece of rolling stock. There are also limitless opportunities to customize the cars to suit your needs without breaking the bank.

Note: If you’re interested in any of RMT’s products, contact your local hobby shop or retailer. RMT does not sell direct to the customer.