Trinity 5660 Covered Hopper

Prototype Information

Thrall Car Manufacturing introduced the 5660 pressure differential covered hopper in the 1990s to transport lightweight, powdered commodities like plastic pellets, flour, starch, and fly ash that require pneumatic unloading. With a capacity of 5,660 cubic feet, this car provided high-volume shippers with an efficient, sealed system for air-assisted unloading, ideal for facilities without gravity-discharge setups. Thrall equipped the car with reinforced pressure vessels, internal piping, and sealed loading hatches to safely handle fine, flow-resistant materials. After Trinity Industries acquired Thrall in 2001, the design continued under Trinity’s production. These cars remain in widespread service across North America, particularly in plastics and industrial bulk transport.