Trinity RD-4 Hopper
Prototype Information
Trinity Industries introduced the RD-4 coal hopper in the mid-1990s to meet the growing demand for high-capacity, lightweight cars in unit coal train service. Built from aluminum, the RD-4 holds 4,200 cubic feet of coal and cuts down on tare weight, allowing railroads to move more product per trip.
The “RD” stands for “Rapid Discharge,” and the car lives up to the name. It uses five bottom hopper bays for fast, efficient unloading. Many versions also come with rotary couplers, so railroads can unload entire trains using rotary dumpers without uncoupling the cars.
Major carriers like BNSF, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern added thousands of RD-4s to their fleets. You’ll often see them rolling out of places like the Powder River Basin, forming mile-long coal drags heading to power plants across the country.
The RD-4 still plays a key role in coal transportation today. Despite a shift toward renewable energy, these hoppers remain a common sight on Class I railroads and at utility plants.
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Scale Trains N ExactRail 4427 Covered Hopper Northern Pacific
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Scale Trains N Fox Valley Models Trinity RD-4 Hopper BNSF
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Scale Trains N Fox Valley Models Trinity RD-4 Hopper Chicago Northwestern
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Scale Trains N Fox Valley Models Trinity RD-4 Hopper Norfolk Southern
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Scale Trains N Fox Valley Models Trinity RD-4 Hopper TILX
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Scale Trains N Fox Valley Models Trinity RD-4 Hopper Union Pacific “CMO”
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