Description
Railroad Short Name: BN
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). Here is a shot of a Burlington Northern PS4000 car, where we have highlighted the trapezoid on the side of one of the panels:
These Pullman-Standard cars stand out and look visually different from other “triple” 100-ton coal hoppers from that era. Besides the “trapezoid” on the panels, each car also has shaker bracket parts applied to the top chord in eight locations.
Additionally, some phases of “western” Pullman-Standard cars have one “offset” truck bolster to accommodate the longer slope sheet found on the rotary end of the car. This means that on the B-end of the car, the axle “sticks out” past the end of the car! It also means that the slope sheet angles are different on each end of the car.
The largest buyer of the Pullman-Standard PS4000 HT coal hoppers was Burlington Northern (BN). BN bought these cars for the new railroad that was built into the Powder River Basin. The BN (and subsidiary Colorado and Southern) cars were delivered in four total orders in 1975-1976. The BN scheme is easily one of the sharpest schemes applied to these Pullman cars. The classic Burlington Northern billboard scheme was applied with white stencil lettering on a black car, with white rectangles on the end and slope sheets to designate the rotary end. Some of the car fleet was repainted in the 1980s with full white ends and we will offer those down the road, but these samples from BN’s massive fleet of almost 1,200 cars are the statistically relevant scheme for BN’s largest coal hopper fleet. These models have the distinctive Pullman “trapezoid” indentations on the side panels, and the “short B end, long A end” body configuration with offset truck bolster spacing. This 1975+ scheme lasted into the BNSF era so is relevant for all modelers.
Our system of 3526/3600/4000 models being released today build up to represent five major prototype variations. Starting with the “western” or PS4000 HT variations (not to be confused with our “LO” covered hopper models), our system of models includes three different body shells and their corresponding production details, reflecting the most significant designs Pullman-Standard produced from 1975-1976. Our model is a dimensionally-accurate replica of the real car, and includes build details such as brake housings, brake wheels, and truck bearings. This replica includes our “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail. Our ready-to-operate replica is finished with coupler lift bars, rubber air hoses, Kadee® scale couplers, CNC-machined wheels, and sufficient hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. Finally, our model includes a realistic “flood load” exactly modeled from example PRB load practices in these Pullman-Standard cars.
The Tangent Scale Models “eastern” or PS3526/3600 HT includes two primary build variations to reflect the significant production details found on the cars purchased by Chessie/B&O, Chessie/WM, and Southern. The engineering and appearance of our PS3526/3600 HT models are identical to the aforementioned PS4000 HT model, including the “trapezoidal” indentations in the car sides, however they have lower car sides than the PS4000 HT. A key difference in the Eastern car design is the lack of rotary equipment, so the bolsters are symmetrical like typical freight cars. Finally, our PS3526/3600 models include a realistic “tipple load” modeled after typical eastern mine load practices.
In addition for tooling of multiple phases of bodies as part of this system, our new PS3526/3600/4000 coal hopper models feature our new 100-ton Barber S-2 truck, complete with “rotating” roller bearing caps, plus separate brake beam parts.
The Tangent PS3526/3600 and PS4000 system of coal hoppers offer a multitude of detail variations and phases to replicate the many different Pullman-Standard offerings.
BN Ph 3 “Black Double Rotary Delivery 1976+” PS4000 illustrates a similar scheme to the BN Phase 1 1975 car, which was the 1970s “standard” scheme applied to BN coal hoppers. These double rotary cars were the exception to the rule but are necessary as a “one-off” for many BN coal trains that had to go through a rotary dumper (otherwise the caboose or locomotives had to be uncoupled from the consist). This scheme is a “Phase 3” car that includes the “Short B and Short A” configuration designated for the BN double rotary cars, and a slightly shorter carbody believe it or not! Yes, we tooled this version. These cars also have the “trapezoid” indentations on the carbody side panels typical of all 1975-1976 BN-ordered Pullman coal hoppers. Available in 2 numbers!
Product Highlights for the BN PS4000HT Phase 3 Body:
- “Short A/Short B” Phase 3 carbody where the A End final side panel and B End final side panels are the same shorter length
- Slightly shorter carbody, per Pullman Standard design
- Matching long end horizontal posts at both ends of car
- Distinctive yet subtle vertical side panel creases, as executed by Pullman Standard
- A-End trainline rubber airhose on “wrong” side of draft gear per prototype practice for rotary dumping.
- Low handbrake details
- “Western Style” Flood coal load
- Rotating “Timken” Roller Bearing Caps on Tangent’s New 100T Barber S-2 Trucks
- Genuine Kadee® “scale-head” couplers
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
- Multiple road numbers for each scheme
- 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
- Recommended age 14 years and older
- Kadee® “scale-head” couplers
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