Micro-Trains - 054 44 470 - Flatcar, Bulkhead - Transportation Technology Services - 35474

Prototype History: Among the earliest types of freight cars, flatcars continue to serve as a valuable part of railroading. Flatcars are used to move a wide variety of loads which do not require protection from weather. These cars, are constructed with steel underframes, wood floors and stake pockets on the sides and ends for fastening tie-downs that keep loads from shifting.

Bulkhead flat cars are a specialized type of flatcar designed which includes reinforced end-walls (bulkheads) to prevent loads from shifting past the ends of the car.

Road Name History: Founded in 2001, Transportation Technology Services, Inc. is an engineering and logistics company that specializes in handling all aspects of shipping by rail. We provide engineering design, distribution and wind and project cargo logistics services to railcar builders, manufacturers, shippers, railroads, energy companies and more.

Our clients typically need to move large items, such as turbines, generators and wind blades. We often manage the entire logistics process (from engineering design to transport planning to loading, shipping, unloading and storing). In other cases, we partner with clients to manage a segment of the logistics chain.

TTS manages a fleet of more than 1,200 leased railcars and is responsible for nearly 7,500 dimensional shipments per year. We have longstanding relationships with all U.S. Class 1 railroads as well as many shortlines to facilitate moving shipments as efficiently and effectively as possible. We also have relationships and experience operating in ports across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide