Tim O'Connor wrote:

If flat cars don't sell, then who do we have to thank for
Proto, Red Caboose, Walthers, Atlas, and Intermountain
flat cars? And Athearn recently spiffed up their TOFC cars
and is offering the old MDC cars with R-T-R loads.

I'm not convinced that (1) vendors know what they're talking
about or (2) even if they do, would they reveal what they are
really thinking to a consumer with access to email lists?

Some of what vendors tell you is to make your eyes glaze over and your legs take you away. Some of it is natural "protective coloration" to disguise actual intentions. And some of it is plain old hot air, which I have sometimes thought is devised on the spot to see how a modeler reacts. From Tim's list, I'd say I doubt (1) in most cases and would strongly vote for (2).

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history