5820 Covered Hopper

Prototype Information

Introduced in late 1971, the Pullman-Standard 5820cf covered hopper was designed specifically for plastic pellet service. The car addressed the low density of plastics while maximizing 100-ton capacity.

The 5820 used a four-bay, exterior-post body nearly 70 feet long over the couplers. Early cars featured a peaked roof and 17 exterior posts per side. Later versions adopted Pullman-Standard’s clerestory roof and revised side sheets with 19 posts. All versions used small round loading hatches and pneumatic outlets to protect and unload plastic pellets.

Pullman-Standard built the 5820 mainly for private owners and lease fleets between 1971 and 1982. The cars operated nationwide, moving plastic pellets from petrochemical plants to manufacturing facilities. Their size and specialized design made the 5820 a hallmark plastics hopper for decades.