Tangent Scale Models HO 24061-12 PS4000 100-Ton Triple Coal Hopper, Chicago And North Western #135285

Chicago & North Western (C&NW) Phase 2 “Clinton Repaint 8-1985” PS4000 represents the 1980s CNW program repaint cars into Clinton green with yellow ends, which lasted well into the 2000s. CNW’s paint and lettering specification included yellow ends to designate the rotary end of the coal hopper. The scheme includes the classic “ball and bar” scheme with a red ball and black bar. Interestingly, this specific series of CNW cars did not have the distinctive trapezoids on the car sides but instead had flat panels, which forced us to tool a different body shell specifically for this CNW order in order to be correct! These cars were similar to the BN cars because they had the “short B end, long A end” body configuration with offset truck bolster spacing, although they had ladders on the left side of the car instead of grab irons. CNW ordered two groups of these Pullman 4000 cubic foot cars of equal numbers. This Tangent release focuses on the common green repaints that were in coal service, as well as coke, aggregate, and tie services as well later in life.

The mid-1970s brought about an urgent need for new coal hoppers based upon a combination of robust utility and export demand as well as an aging coal fleet composed of mostly smaller-capacity, 50 and 70-ton coal hoppers. Additionally, the opening of new low-sulfur coal mines in the Powder River Basin (PRB) region of Wyoming and Montana introduced a new supply of coal to the market, driving new coal hopper orders.

Pullman-Standard was one of several railcar manufacturers that addressed this urgent demand for modern “Triple” 100-ton hoppers with new designs produced in 1975-1976. While western and midwestern customers purchased Pullman’s 4000 cubic foot models, the eastern roads purchased Pullman’s 3526/3600 cubic foot hoppers, which effectively had shorter sides to accommodate higher density coal. We have produced both the “western” and “eastern” Pullman-Standard coal hoppers, and we offer models in multiple railroad-specific variations. The signature identifying feature for most of these cars? The distinctive Pullman “trapezoid” indentations on the flat panels (not all cars had flat panels, but most did).

Features:
Dimensional accuracy – designed from Pullman-Standard plans and verified with field measurements
Highly correct “true to life” colors
“Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
“Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail
Genuine Kadee scale couplers
Two different coal loads (one load is included with each model)
“See-through” brake platform
Full “lacy” AB brake detail and train air line
Rubber air hoses including “wrong side” mounting for rotary ends
Four dimensionally-correct coal hopper body variations with appropriate side panel arrangements (trapezoidal and flat), as well as offset and non-offset truck center arrangements
Five different assembly builds within our system, with more planned (Southern, for starters)
Road-specific details for each scheme, including different brake appliances and 2 different styles of unloading door mechanisms
Beautiful details – wire grab irons and coupler lift bars – no “molded on” plastic grab irons here!
Accurate interior bracing parts
All-New precision Tangent Scale Models 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with roadname-specific rotating bearing caps and separate brake beam part
CNC-machined 36″ wheels
Replacement 36″ semi-scale wheels are available separately from Tangent in either blackened or nickel-silver finish
Kadee “scale-head” couplers