ExactRail wins a consumer choice award for best Ready-To-Run product!

January 24, 2016 38 Comments

ExactRail won a consumer choice award for best Ready-To-Run product! Thank you to contributors of Model Rail Radio for recognizing ExactRail!

Model Rail Radio is an open format Internet radio show about the model railroad hobby. Voting for the 2015 awards closes on March 16th, and we look forward to those results as well.

This consumer choice award has given us cause for reflection, and the purpose of this blog is to get feedback from you.  We are wondering:

What is your favorite product from ExactRail?

What do you think ExactRail does well?

What would you like to see from us in the future?

Are there any changes that you would like to see from us?

Let us know in the comments section of this blog!  Understanding the marketing place is key to serving it well.

Happy railroading!

 





38 Responses

Jim Hamlin
Jim Hamlin

February 28, 2016

Congrats on your award. My absolute favorite car you have produced is your 60’ center beam flat car. Finely detailed, and despite under weight, it tracks really well through turnouts. A first class product.

Mitchell Bugg
Mitchell Bugg

February 02, 2016

Congratulations on winning the award! You earned it by changing the face of HO model railroading. I also appreciate your solicitation of customer input on a number of subjects. First, you asked for my favorite ExactRail product. After much thought, I would have to say your 3737 cu. ft.open hoppers (BN, D&RGW), and your 3483 cu. ft. open hoppers (CEI,TP, MP, and CNW) are just like a shrunken version of the real thing. Absolutely beautiful! Next you wanted to know what you did well. Everything. I especially like the fact that you choose not to duplicate the efforts of others, by not giving us yet another F-7, GP-38-2, or SD-40-2. Truthfully, I hope you at ExactRail, collaborate with Tangent and Moloco to avoid duplicating each others offerings. There are enough prototypes to keep all three of you going great guns and profitable for a long, long time. With that in mind, I will offer what I would like to see in the future, by AAR car type: F. We need a 12 wheel depressed center flatcar. G. How about a corrugated side 50 gondola like MoPac’s 640000 series. H. A 100 ton triple hopper such as those widely used by the major eastern coal haulers(Conrail, CSX components, and NW). LO: There is a definite need for a 100 ton Thrall carbon black covered hopper, but not as much as an ACF 3510 and 5250 cu. ft. covered hopper. These cars were the billboard reefers of the 1960-1980s, being employed by plastics and chemical companies in a wide variety of colors and lettering schemes. The toys and outdated products on the market aren’t worth removing from the packaging R: Just like the ACF 3510 and 5250, we do not, and never had a 40 ft. plug door ice reefer. Prototypes to consider are the PFE R40-26, any of the later SFRD rebuilds or, a FGEX or WFEX car. X: The PRR X-51 is a car that was seen nation-wide, especially in auto parts hotshots in all parts of the country, up until the 1990s in the liveries of Pennsy, Penn Central, Conrail and even Lehigh Valley. You also asked about any changes you should make. I wish to see the code 88 nickel silver wheel become standard across the hobby. It is jarring to have a car as finely detailed as your 3483 hopper on wheels that look like they were stolen from Lionel. I know there is resistance to change but, we’ve relegated code 100 brass rail on fiber tie strip, X2f couplers, and pizza cutter wheel flanges to the scrap heap of the hobby and, it is way past departure time for the code 110 wheel. You notice I specifically mentioned nickel silver wheels. I know there are a number of manufacturers offering blackened brass code 88 wheels but, when the coating wears off and the naked brass shows, you are right back to square one. I have made ExactRail’s nickel silver code 88 wheels my standard and hope they become more readily available in 33 and 36 inch diameter. ExactRail is leading the quest for excellence in the hobby and I Iook to a future of quality products from you.
Raymond J. Schineis
Raymond J. Schineis

February 02, 2016

Congratulations!

Still patiently awaiting a rerun of the Greenville 60’ Double Plug Door Boxcar . Missed out on the Penn Central ones from the first run. I will purchase 3 or 4 of the PC cars from the next run.

Keep up the good work!

Frank Jonathan
Frank Jonathan

January 28, 2016

Congratulations on winning the award-it is well deserved.
My favorite model is the PS hopper- Lehigh Valley.
I would like to see you produce the Despatch Shops 50’ outside braced boxcars. NYC had many and 150 were built for the Lehigh Valley.
Keep up the great work.

VOSSING OLIVIER
VOSSING OLIVIER

January 26, 2016

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WINNING AWARD.

I AM IN MODELLING SINCE 5 YEARS NOW AND WILL SOON BE STARTING BUILDING MY LAY-OUT.

ERA 1975-1990

THEME: FROM WHEAT TO BEER, LANDSCAPING VASTE WHEATFIELDS AND ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWERY.

RAILROAD: SOUTHERN PACIFIC AND THE RAILROADS THAT PLAYED A GREAT ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SP, LIKE

SANTA FE AND DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN.

LOCATION: BELGIUM.

FAVORITE MODEL: SOUTHERN PACIFIC 62’ INSULATED BEER BOXCAR.

DOING FINE: WITH DETAILING YOUR FREIGHT CARS.

MORE BETHLEHEM 3483 HOPPERS FROM SOUTHERN PACIFIC WITH ROMAN LETTERING.

ANY CHANGES: NONE.

GREETINGS, OLIVIER BELGIUM.

Jim Conrad
Jim Conrad

January 25, 2016

The initial thing that drew me to ExactRail was the Southern 50’ Full Waffle Box Car. Amazing!

The Southern Big John Hopper is also impressive! What I’d like to see is a revised Big John with trough hatches instead of the round hatches. The round hatches are correct for the first batch of cars built but, the later cars had the trough hatches. Check with the Southern Railway Historical Association for details.

Joe
Joe

January 25, 2016

The thing that drew me to ExactRail was the modern rolling stock and great detailing. I’d like to see re-runs of past models more often. If you do decide to add the conspicuity stripes, the ones that are reflective would be way cool. I’d like to see ExactRail do a modern tilt-up warehouse.
Congratulations and keep up the great work.

Brien Wood
Brien Wood

January 24, 2016

Blaine,

I model the modern day in HO scale, and many of your freight cars fit my needs. My favorites are the Trinity reefers, and are a good balence between detail and price. I also have some of the 72’ bridges modern bridges. This is an area where there are not that many offerings in the market. Have you thought about some different bridge types – modern of coarse? Another area of interest I have is current day business cars. A car in plastic like NS’s Buena Vista or UP’s Idaho or Fox River would be nice to have.

Thanks for asking.
Brien

Kyle Brown
Kyle Brown

January 24, 2016

1. Favorite product? The Conrail CoilShields

2. What does ExactRail do well? Everything! What especially comes to mind are the world’s finest wheelsets and trucks

3. What would I like to see in the future? Your trucks are absolutely the best. I’d like to see ExactRail make them with spinning bearings.

4. What changes would I like to see? I’d like to see ExactRail install the world’s finest wheelsets on every Platinum series car

John Poeling
John Poeling

January 24, 2016

Can you take a look at Illinois Terminal cars?

Scott Arnold
Scott Arnold

January 24, 2016

Can’t say I have a favorite product because I have bought so many and love them all.
I’m with Mike Burke. I am trying to model a 40s-60s HO layout and would love to see some more vintage gear available.
I love the detail so much I hate to weather it but there in lies the rub.
Also, I would love to see additions from Texas & Pacific, Southern Pacific, ATSF, Rio Grande, and other vintage rolling stock that is seen in the south.
Thanks for the great work you do and I appreciate the time, detail, and effort put into your products. They are some of the best available.

Bob Zenk
Bob Zenk

January 24, 2016

• What is your favorite product from ExactRail?

I’d have to say that I particularly enjoyed the SP wood chip car. And a close second if not an equal are the superbly done wheel & axle sets.

• What do you think ExactRail does well?

Call me an ER groupie, but truly — anything ER touches is done to aspirational levels of quality and finesse. The product has a premium feeling, from ads to website to product and packaging. ER offers a premium product overall, and that’s not in any way restricted to the “model railroad product” qualifier or category.

• What would you like to see from us in the future?

Anything bridging the 1960s to 1980s gap, with paint schemes from the spread of eras. It feels like flatcars, tank cars, and covered hoppers are receiving due attention across a number of makers, so if there are more “house cars” left untouched (boxcars and refrigerators) — or ones that have been done by others but could stand an ER-quality upscaling — I’d be behind that.

Are there any changes that you would like to see from us?

• Frankly, no. The website moves faster now, and that was the only bump in an otherwise smooth roadbed. Keep up your customarily high standards of research, execution, and presentation, and keep coming to as many shows as you can!

Russell Hoyle
Russell Hoyle

January 24, 2016

You guys are my favorite keep up the modern stuff will like to see more Mexican rolling stock.

Paul Brown
Paul Brown

January 24, 2016

Congratulations!

Love your product line … just give us more 40’ cars in HO. In my community, 40’ covered hoppers are still very common in bulk chemical service today, and they have been around for years alongside their 50’ counterparts (which you have several of). We also see 40’ tank cars carrying liquid chemicals, many of which have also been around for a long time. Actually, now that I’m typing this, I don’t see any tank cars at all in your current HO offerings.

Greg
Greg

January 24, 2016

First of all Congratulations. Would like to see NYC and PC cabooses. Thanks Greg

DOUGLASJOSEPHGIBSON
DOUGLASJOSEPHGIBSON

January 24, 2016

MAKE AN INDIANA & OHIO RAILROAD FREIGHT CAR

Steve Moore
Steve Moore

January 24, 2016

What is your favorite product from ExactRail? D&RGW quad hoppers

What do you think ExactRail does well? Accuracy and detail

What would you like to see from us in the future? Participate at the 2016 Intermountain Train Expo. at the SouthTowne Expo. Center Nov. 5,6, 2016. Love to see you there as an exhibitor/vender. It’s gong to be great!

Are there any changes that you would like to see from us? No, just keep up the great products.

Gerhard Anderson
Gerhard Anderson

January 24, 2016

1. HO PS2CD 4427
2. Pays great attention to Details even those which are small but are very important.
3. HO GSC Bulkhead Flat Cars.
4. I don’t think this is a change, because I believe you are already. Continue to be strong and be a force within the Hobby. Continue to be Top Notch with your offerings.

Walt Huston
Walt Huston

January 24, 2016

My favorite products from ExactRail are the N scale modern boxcars. They have excellent details and run well. ExactRail does an excellent job on the fine details. In addition, the paint/lettering are top notch. I’d like to see ExactRail extend their lineup to Cabooses and logging cars. The one thing I would like to see you change, is for you to advertise in N-Scale Magazine so that I can see your new products sooner. Thanks for doing such a great job on the models you have done so far in your N scale line.

Steven Berg
Steven Berg

January 24, 2016

I model N scale, 1970 era. I have four different ExactRail hoppers. I love them. I really would like to see you manufacture some older style N scale gondola’s. Some 40 foot box cars would be nice too. Thanks.

Glen Bole
Glen Bole

January 24, 2016

Congratulations and keep up the good work.

gary wise
gary wise

January 24, 2016

you all have great products would like to see more ROCK ISLAND rolling stock in HO

John White
John White

January 24, 2016

Excellent products, award well deserved. Would love to see an N scale 90 ton, 4 wheel truck, GSC depressed center flat car (Walther’s 932-78xx series in HO), and an N scale Canadian 50’ Bulkhead flat car (Walther’s 932-400xx series).

Fred Williams
Fred Williams

January 24, 2016

The ExactRail Johnstown coal hoppers are the best coal cars on the market; they do, however, need conspicuity stripes for your modern schemes like MAXX, NRLX, and CEFX. Your other modern scheme rolling stock also needs those safety stripes. Next run on the FBOX, make more. I didn’t even get a chance to order any. You offer a good spread in your products with several different eras represented. I was concerned when you went off the normal distribution grid, but it seems to have worked. All the best! — Fred

Keith McGee
Keith McGee

January 24, 2016

Congratulations on the award! Certainly well-deserved.

I have admired your products since they first came on the market. Your wheelsets are amazing!

As to what I’d like to see from you, well, I model the transition era. This means that all you make for me are your excellent wheelsets. How about producing a few pieces of rolling stock from the late 40s to the early 60s? I know that’s a pretty competitive era with a lot of manufacturer’s providing product for us. But according to Model Railroader’s annual surveys it is also the most modeled era, so I’d say there is room for more selection. Bottom line: if ExactRail made revenue cars for the transition era, I’d buy ’em!

Thanks for listening and congrats once again!

Keith

C E Hunt
C E Hunt

January 24, 2016

Congrats on this well deserved award! You guys do a fabulous job!

John Alaniva
John Alaniva

January 24, 2016

I really liked the P-S 7315 cars. Being from around the metro Detroit area these were pretty common in auto parts traffic.

I would like to see a quality, but not high-end detail, version of a P-S 4000 gon. RMC did a two-part series on these in February and March 2015. DEEX is a clear favorite. Besides the original road names they could also be offered for second hand users like David J Joseph and HERZOG in scrap service. There’s a model on the market now, but it falls well short of what current tooling is capable of.

Jim Herring
Jim Herring

January 24, 2016

Congratulations n the Model Rail Radio award. I have purchased many of your models over the last few years, and honestly like them all due to their fine detail and quality. Favorites are probably your Conrail & NS steel coil cars. The HO cars I would like to see you produce are the Portec 2 Bay covered hoppers, which are no longer being built. I especially like the dark blue Boston and Maine cars which still run with the blue B & M paint scheme although now operated by a new owner (patched).

Harry Castroman
Harry Castroman

January 24, 2016

There are many boxcars that I like but non as the FMC 5277 “Combo Door” that you manufacture in HO scale. You have done a really great piece of rolling stock with this “Combo Door”!
But I would like to see this car in N scale which is scale I am in. Hope that if you do it in N, it is going to be as great a rolling stock as the HO one!
Thanks.
Harry

Sean L McCarthy
Sean L McCarthy

January 24, 2016

I especially like all the HO open hoppers & flat cars. Would really like to see ATSF wide vision caboose, all three version are basically identical as well a half dozen various paint schemes. Just so trains of thought for all at Exactrail.

John Huey
John Huey

January 24, 2016

I’d still like to see a true Carbon Black car from you guys. If you need a start in research you can begin here: http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/other_cars/carbon_black.htm

I’m thinking a car that would be new in the mid to late 60’s, and would still be around in the 90’s and beyond.
If you’d like a suggestion, this style had a very long shelf life, first built in 1968, still in service into 21st century:
http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/other_cars/ccx_cars/ccx000495-000544.htm
More than one company used the same or very similar cars; I’m just saying.

Best wishes,
John H.

Mike Burke
Mike Burke

January 24, 2016

I’d like to see 40’s & 50’s vintage equipment produced.

Lamberto Raccanello
Lamberto Raccanello

January 24, 2016

Hard to say a favorite model: all.
I liked very GSC 53’6 "flatcar, Johnstown America AutoFlood II Coal Hopper, Thrall 54 ‘Coil Cars.
I’d like models of the period 1900 – 1930
Keep it up.
As soon as possible I will buy your other models.

Lamberto Raccanello
Lamberto Raccanello

January 24, 2016

certainly well deserved

Mooch
Mooch

January 24, 2016

I already sent one comment, but to answer your questions from above, I like tank cars and the old Southern RR, so smoke engines like the 4-8-8-4, any thing Southern, like the Kingsland RR line, Georgia, that still operates but on a much smaller scale now. Your displays are well done and informant and detail of your cars are really good, I’m sorry to say that I like every thing about your site, if this is too much, than oh well, my bag, RR bag that is.

Mooch
Mooch

January 24, 2016

you should get this award every year, all the model cars that are sold bye your company are superb in every detail. Thanks for being there for us model railroaders.

Thomas Austin
Thomas Austin

January 24, 2016

What is your favorite product from ExactRail? Bethlehem 3737/3716 Quad Hoppers-MP; TP; C&EI

What do you think ExactRail does well? Everything. Prototypical looking models…excellent details…superb shipping.

What would you like to see from us in the future? Bethlehem 3209 Quad hoppers; MP EV caboose; MP 3 Bay Cylindrical Hopper with shortened walkways;

Are there any changes that you would like to see from us? Nope. Just keep up the great work.

Paul Rathkamp
Paul Rathkamp

January 24, 2016

Congratulations ExactRail!!

This is a well deserved award! Thanks for all you do..

Paul

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