This unusual car was alternately called a "water tank car" or a "vinegar tank car" because of the private owners for which it was decorated. The prototype for this car can be found in a modeling article in the March 1955 issue of Model Railroader magazine. The car looks more like a big barrel in a cradle, in fact the "cradle" is open between supports, unlike the solid construction on the A1G and later cars. It's a "water tank car" in service for Hinkley and Schmidt. In the article, it's noted that these cars were used to ship spring water from a White Rock plant in Waukesha, Wisconsin down to Chicago. Another use was vinegar, and it and metal tanks don't necessarily play well together so it makes sense that it vingear would be shipped in wood.

Roco made this car for Atlas in Austria in N Scale, and it was only available as an A1G item for a long time. Atlas briefly re-ran the car in the 1980's-- I'm working on documenting those. Then E-R Models imported another run from Roco in the late 1990's (see below). AHM marketed the car in HO in some identical paint schemes including the Hinckley and Schmidt. By the way that company is still around at this writing marketing spring water in the Chicago area (last checked in March 2020).

Of the four cars, the 3013 Standard Brands (SBIX) and the 3014 Hinckley and Schmidt are fairly common, the 3011 Milwaukee Vinegar and 3012 Heinz less so. The last two are also more eye catching and so fetch a little more on the aftermarket. Be sure to check for the "Atlas Austria" imprint since the second run of Atlas cars and the E-R Models cars are similar and have been offered in the most of the same roadnames.

Key spotting features for this car are:
- underframe stamped "Atlas Austria"
- unusual large round tank with wood grain, on a frame base that is almost gondola like attached to a steel flat bottom. Aw, just look at the scans!
- four grab irons molded at each end, two on the upper frame and two on the flat bottom section
- original trucks with wheels pressed on seperate axles and Rapido couplers, attached with "foldover" metal strips

Note: The following information on conditions and "Approximate Value" prices are intended to be a guideline only and is presented with no warranties, express or implied. Caution: Definitions and prices can and do vary with collectors, buyers and sellers, and, of course, whether a person is buying or selling an item. That's the way a "free market" works...

A 3010 series car in "as manufactured" or "AM" condition has:
- all four stirrups intact
- brake wheel in place with no breakage or bending
- no weathering
- no abrasions, scratches or other damage to the paint
- the original trucks with the original metal wheels which were fitted to the axles
- "Rapido" type couplers, truck mounted (this is a case where changing to Micro-Trains® trucks and/or couplers is not a plus!).
Note that minor paint flaws on these cars were common and should not be considered especially "collectible"; in fact, I'd rather have a "perfect" paint job.

A 3010 series car in "mint in box" or "MIB," meets all "As Manufactured" criteria plus:
- no dust, dirt or wear on the car itself
- no wear on wheels (although discolored wheels are common)
- kept in the original Atlas box
- box itself is intact with no cracks, breakage or crazing, with original Atlas label (usually white with black printing), plastic liner (usually blue), and cover. Both inserts and labels vary as the A1G series was sold for years. Store price stickers may or may not detract depending on the placement, size and wear.

There are no approximate values for "runner" 3010 series cars.

Table of Releases: Where available, click on "Image" to popup an image of the actual car.
Approximate Values Updated July, 2024.

Catalog #	Popup Image	Reporting Marks	Description	AV AM	AV MIB
3011	Image	MVX 10	Silver and Brown/Blue and White, Milwaukee Vinegar	9-12	12-15
3012	Image	HJH Co 208	Yellow and Blue/Blue and White, Large "57" Center, Heinz Vinegars	10-12	12-15
3013	Image	SBIX 1594	Silver/Black, Reporting Marks Only L (Standard Brands)	8-10	10-12
3014	Image	HSTX 1007	Brown/White, Hinckley and Schmidt	7-9	10-12

AV = Approximate Value (US$ range)
AM = As Manufactured (see above)
MIB = Mint In Box (see above)
Abbreviations: Hld=Herald, R/N=Roadname, L/R=Left/Right Side of Car

The E-R Models/Roco Releases

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BONUS! Here are images of the E-R Models releases of this body style, added to my accumulation in August 2008. These were commissioned by E-R (now out of business) and were made by Roco as the liner label above clearly states! Also note that there's no ambiguity here; they are described on the label as "vinegar car".

As an excellent illustration of supply and demand, I don't think there were many of these made, but when I purchased all four of these from the same dealer at a train show, it was at a fraction of the original price-- for new in box cars! So needless to say, no estimates of value at this point. It could have been a function of the location of the show in the northeast where E-R Models was located, but I could have had several copies of each of the cars at this show. If this quartet is of interest, have patience, they'll probably turn up!