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Apr 6, 2015 - Periodical News

Reference Guide For National Steel Car Potash Service 4275 & 4300 cu. ft. Hoppers

The NSC Potash Service

3 Bay Covered Hopper

This reference guide is a living document and will be updated as new cars are produced and changes to the car design are made. It can be used as both a spotting guide for the real cars and as a guide to accurately operating these cars in model railroading. This guide was last updated on February 18, 2015.

Introduced in 1999 by National Steel Car, this car is seen in large numbers across Canada and the United States. It was developed specifically to address the need for additional rail transport capacity caused be the growing Potash market.

Previously, the majority of Canadian Potash rail transport was accomplished with the larger Hawker Siddeley 4550 cu ft Cylindrical Hoppers and similar cars from National Steel Car and Marine Industries.

Though the car is a newer design, it has less capacity than the Hawker Siddeley style cars. However it makes up for this in a shorter car length of only 47 feet versus the Hawker Siddeley style cars at 59 feet. This allows a train of these cars to carry more Potash then a train of comparable length made up of the Hawker Siddeley Cylindrical style hoppers.

These car operates at a gross rail load of 286,000 pounds, the current maximum limit. However, they are actually designed for a gross rail load of 315,000 pounds. They are currently produced with 100 ton nominal capacity trucks to suit present 286,000 lb. gross rail loading. If the maximum weight limit is increased, these cars can be upgraded with 125 ton trucks allowing for maximum cargo capacity going forward. 

These cars are currently operated in large numbers by both Canpotex and the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, and in smaller numbers by other operators. To date, over 8,000 have been produced in six versions. These cars are seen on a daily basis traveling across the Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, BNSF, CSX, NS and Union Pacific rail networks.

Versions Of These Cars

Although all cars were and continue to be built by National Steel Car, changes in the design and the manufacturing process have occurred. This has resulted in a total of 6 versions of this car in use currently, each with slightly different features outlined in the car descriptions below. Images used for illustrations include both prototype pictures and HO Scale final tooling samples for clarity.

Please note that while the models used for these illustrations were made from final tooling, they are not finished productions samples and some minor changes may occur before production.

Car Version 1

Operated by Canpotex (PTEX) & Agrium (NAHX)

The first version of this car was developed and built by National Steel Car beginning in 1999. These cars were operated by Canpotex and were originally owned by GE Rail Services and had PTEX reporting marks. Three groups of cars were produced.

  • 600 cars were built between March 1999 and June 1999 with road numbers PTEX 20000 to PTEX 20599
  • 1320 more cars were built between November 1999 and April 2000 and have road numbers PTEX 20600 to PTEX 21919
  • 95 additional cars were subsequently produced and have road numbers PTEX 21920 to PTEX 22015 

These were distinctive with their alternating white and red reflective tape along the entire length of the cars sill. This paint scheme of the car was seen from 1999 to 2004 when the last of these cars were updated with yellow visibility marks instead of the red and white reflective tape. (We were told by one of our customers who is an engineer on Canadian Pacific; There are still some of these cars with red and white reflective tape in use today).

Since that time, some of these PTEX cars have been sold to Agrium. These cars have been repainted in the current Agrium scheme and have NAHX reporting marks.

Modeling use for prototype accuracy:

  • The early Canpotex PTEX red and white reflective tape scheme was partially phased out by the end of 2004, so these cars are suitable for modeling from late 1999 to present day.
  • The post 2004 Canpotex PTEX and Agrium NASH scheme versions of this car remain in service at present.
    • The post 2004 Canpotex PTEX scheme can be mixed with the pre 2004 Canpotex PTEX scheme in the 2003-2004 time frame and then by itself after that.
    • The Agrium scheme can be modeled begining in 2014 plus time frame.

Version 1 Car Prototype Features:

  • Car length of 47 feet
  • Car capacity of 4275 cu. ft.
  • Diamond roofwalk tread pattern
  • Short cross roofwalk panels between full length side roofwalk panels
  • Flat roof hatches
  • 11 running board supports
  • 6 side panel sheets
  • Full length side sills
  • Oval shaped opening in sill floor plate over outer end of trucks
  • A car end configuration 1
  • B car end configuration 1
  • Wraparound ladder rungs
  • Rounded shape gaps between hopper bays
  • Barber S2 DH braced trucks


Car Version 2

Operated by Canpotex (CGLX)

The second production run of this car type began in August 2004 with Version 2 of the car. These cars were produced in two groups for GATX Rail Canada.

  • 900 cars were produced between August 2004 and April 2005 with road numbers CGLX 3000 to CGLX 3899
  • 665 more cars were built between May 2005 and January 2006 with road numbers CGLX 4300 to CGLX 4964

Modeling use for prototype accuracy:

  • The Canpotex CGLX scheme can be modeled from late 2004 to present and can be mixed with all paint schemes with the exclusion of the early Canpotex PTEX scheme which had be phased out by the introduction of these cars

Version 2 Car Prototype Features:

  • Car length of 47 feet
  • Car capacity of 4275 cu. ft.
  • Circular roofwalk tread pattern
  • Long cross roofwalk panels running the full width of the car between short side roofwalk panels
  • Raised roof hatches
  • 12 running board supports
  • 8 side panel sheets
  • Full length side sills
  • A car end configuration 1
  • B car end configuration 1
  • Wraparound ladder rungs
  • Rounded shape gaps between hopper bays
  • Barber S2 DH trucks

Design changes in Version 2 cars:

  • Circular roofwalk tread pattern in place of the diamond pattern from Version 1
  • Raised roof hatches in place of flat hatches found on Version 1
  • 12 running board supports instead of 11 found on Version 1
  • 8 side sheet panels instead of 6 on Version 1
  • No oval shaped opening in sill floor plate over outer end of trucks as found on Version 1
  • Non-braced trucks instead of the cross braced trucks found on Version 1


Car Version 3

Operated by Canpotex (CITX)

The third production run of these cars was produced for CIT Group/Capital Finance Inc. and included 1000 cars. These are Version 3 cars and introduced non-wraparound ladder rungs

  • These care were produced between October 2007 and June 2008 and include road numbers CITX 151000 to CITX 151999

Modeling use for prototype accuracy:

  • The Canpotex CITX scheme can be modeled from late 2007 to present and can be mixed with all paint schemes with the exclusion of the early Canpotex PTEX scheme which had be phased out by the introduction of these cars

Version 3 Car Prototype Features:

  • Car length of 47 feet
  • Car capacity of 4275 cu. ft.
  • Circular roofwalk tread pattern
  • Long cross roofwalk panels running the full width of the car between short side roofwalk panels
  • Raised roof hatches
  • 12 running board supports
  • 8 side panel sheets
  • Full length side sills
  • A car end configuration 1
  • B car end configuration 1
  • No wraparound ladder rungs
  • Rounded shape gaps between hopper bays
  • Barber S2 DH trucks

Design changes in Version 3 cars:

  • No wraparound ladder rungs in place of wraparound ladder rungs found on Versions 1 & 2


Car Version 4

Operated by Canpotex (CEFX) & PotashCorp (POTX)


National Steel Car produced Version 4 of the car with internal modifications to the car design to increase capacity to 4300 cu. ft. These modifications are not visible from the outside of the car. These cars also introduced a redesigned flat sided chute design and revised A End configuration.

The fourth production run of these cars was  produced for CIT Group/Capital Finance Inc. and included 1000 cars with CEFX reporting marks. These care were produced in two 500 car groups.

  • The first 500 cars were produced between August 2008 and October 2008 and include road numbers CEFX 302000 to CEFX 302499
  • The second 500 cars were produced between December 2008 and March 2009 and include road numbers CEFX 302500 to CEFX 302999

The first production run for PotashCorp, which was the fifth production run of these cars was of 1000 cars.

  • These cars were built between July 2010 and February 2011, the 1000 Series cars are owned by General American Marks and include road numbers POTX 1000 to POTX 1999

Modeling use for prototype accuracy:

  • The Canpotex CEFX scheme can be modeled from late 2008 to present and can be mixed with all paint schemes with the exclusion of the early Canpotex PTEX scheme which had be phased out by the introduction of these cars.
  • The 1000 Series PotashCorp POTX (Version 4, road numbers 1000-1999) can be modeled from late 2010.
    • They generally only run in unit train operations, initially by themselves, but  mixed with 2000 Series PotashCorp POTX (Version 5, road numbers 2000-2999) cars begining in late 2012.
    • They can also be seen in small cuts or single cars going to various industires on mixed freights or local transfers.
    • They do on occassion also run in Canpotex unit trains, so they can be mixed with all paint schemes with the exclusion of the early Canpotex PTEX scheme which had be phased out by the introduction of these cars.

Version 4 Car Prototype Features:

  • Car length of 47 feet
  • Car capacity of 4300 cu. ft.
  • Circular roofwalk tread pattern
  • Long cross roofwalk panels running the full width of the car between short side roofwalk panels
  • Raised roof hatches
  • 12 running board supports
  • 8 side panel sheets
  • Full length side sills
  • A car end configuration 2
  • B car end configuration 1
  • No wraparound ladder rungs
  • Angular shape gaps between hopper bays
  • Barber S2 DH trucks

Design changes in Version 4 cars:

  • Capacity increase of 25 cu. ft. from 4275 on all previous versions of the car to 4300 cu. ft. - internal changes only, no exterior difference in car appearence
  • A car end configuration 2 in place of A car end configuration 1 found on Versions 1, 2 & 3
  • Angular shape gaps between hopper bays instead of the rounded shape gaps found on Versions 1, 2 & 3


Car Version 5

Potash Corp (POTX)

The second production run for PotashCorp, the sixth overall, was also 1000 cars, built between September 2012 and December 2012. They are also owned by General American Marks and include road numbers POTX 2000 to POTX 2999.  

The 2000 Series cars are the fifth version of the car type to be produced by National Steel Car. Design revisions include redesigned A & B car ends, modified ladder rungs, shortened length side sills and 2 diagonal rounded rectangle shaped openings in floor plate over end wheels of trucks

Modeling use for prototype accuracy:

  • The 2000 Series PotashCorp POTX (Version 5, road numbers 2000-2999) can be modeled from late 2012. They generally only run in unit train operations mixed with 1000 Series PotashCorp POTX (Version 4, road numbers 1000-1999).
  • They can also be seen in small cuts or single cars going to various industires on mixed freights or local transfers.
  • They do on occassion also run in Canpotex unit trains, so they can be mixed with all paint schemes with the exclusion of the early Canpotex PTEX scheme which had be phased out by the introduction of these cars.

Version 5 Car Prototype Features:

  • Car length of 47 feet
  • Car capacity of 4300 cu. ft.
  • Circular roofwalk tread pattern
  • Long cross roofwalk panels running the full width of the car between short side roofwalk panels
  • Raised roof hatches
  • 12 running board supports
  • 8 side panel sheets
  • Shortend length side sills
  • A car end configuration 3
  • B car end configuration 2
  • Modified ladder rungs
  • 2 diagonal rounded rectangle shaped openings in floor plate over end wheels of trucks
  • Angular shape gaps between hopper bays
  • Barber S2 DH trucks

Design changes in Version 5 cars:

  • Shortend length side sills compared to all previous versions of the car
  • A car end configuration 3 in place of A car end configuration 2 found on Version 4
  • B car end configuration 2 in place of B car end configuration 1 found on all previous versions of the car
  • Modified ladder rungs replace the non-wraparound ladder rungs found on Version 4 of the car
  • 2 diagonal rounded rectangle shaped openings in floor plate over end wheels of trucks added, not present on Versions 2, 3 & 4 of the car, smaller and different shape to those generally in the same location on Version 1 of the car


Car Version 6

Canpotex (CNPX)

Photo courtesy of Darrell W. Sawyer

The seventh production run of the NSC Potash Service 3 Bay Covered Hopper has been for Canpotex. These cars have been produced since 2013 and feature CNPX reporting marks, but in other regards have similar schemes to previously produced Canpotex cars with the exception of the original scheme used on the PTEX cars.

Version 6 cars are nearly identical to Version 5 cars, but have 9 side panel sheets instead of the 8 found on the Version 5 cars.

Modeling use for prototype accuracy:

  • The Canpotex CNPX scheme can be modeled from  2013 to present and can be mixed with all paint schemes with the exclusion of the early Canpotex PTEX scheme which had be phased out by the introduction of these cars.

Version 6 Car Prototype Features:

  • Car length of 47 feet
  • Car capacity of 4300 cu. ft.
  • Circular roofwalk tread pattern
  • Long cross roofwalk panels running the full width of the car between short side roofwalk panels
  • Raised roof hatches
  • 12 running board supports
  • 9 side panel sheets
  • Shortend length side sills
  • A car end Configuration 3
  • B car end Configuration 2
  • Modified ladder rungs
  • 2 diagonal rounded rectangle shaped openings in floor plate over end wheels of trucks
  • Angular shape gaps between hopper bays
  • Barber S2 DH trucks

Design changes in Version 6 cars:

  • 9 side panel sheets instead of 8 on Version 5 cars


See HO & N Scale Listings Below

new guk
refer


JMP

Product Details

NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - Canpotex (PTEX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Red/White Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available In 4 Different 6 Car Sets (A-D) - 2 Complete Sets Left! - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12001001
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - Canpotex (PTEX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available In 4 Different 6 Car Sets (A-D) - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12001002
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - Agrium (NAHX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 12 Road Numbers Available in 2 different 6 car sets (A-B) - Expected Release Date: 2019-01-01
11-12001003
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - Great River Valley System (GRVS) N-Trak Club Car - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - GRVS (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green/Black/White Logo, Red/White Visibility Stripes) - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12001004
$30.00
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 2 - Canpotex (CGLX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available in 4 different 6 car sets (A-D) - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12002001
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 3 - Canpotex (CITX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available In 4 Different 6 Car Sets (A-D) - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12003001
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 4 - Canpotex (CEFX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available In 4 Different 6 Car Sets (A-D) - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12004001
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4300 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 4 - PotashCorp (POTX) (Light Salmon w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 12 Road Numbers Available In 2 Different 6 Car Sets (A-B) - ONLY 2 Complete Sets Left - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12004002
$179.98
NARC - N Scale - NSC Potash Service 4300 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 5 - PotashCorp (POTX) (Dark Salmon w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 12 Road Numbers Available In 2 Different 6 Car Sets (A-B) - Expected Release Date: 2016-02-01
11-12005001
$179.98
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - Canpotex (PTEX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Red/White Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available in 4 different 6 Car Sets (A-D) - 1 Complete Set Left! - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32001001
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - Canpotex (PTEX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available in 4 different 6 car sets (A-D) - 1 Complete Set Left! - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32001002
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 1 - Agrium (NAHX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes)12 Road Numbers Available in 2 different 6 Car Sets (A-B) - Expected Release Date: 2017-09-01
11-32001003
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 2 - Canpotex (CGLX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available In 4 different 6 Car Sets (A-D) - 1 Complete Set Left! - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32002001
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 3 - Canpotex (CITX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available in 4 different 6 car sets (A-D) - 1 Complete Set Left! - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32003001
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4275 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 4 - Canpotex (CEFX) (Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 24 Road Numbers Available in 4 different 6 car sets (A-D) - 1 Complete Set Left! - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32004001
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4300 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 4 - PotashCorp (POTX) (Light Salmon w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 12 Road Numbers Available In 2 Different 6 Car Sets (A-B) - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32004002
$264.00
NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4300 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 5 - PotashCorp (POTX) (Dark Salmon w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 12 Road Numbers Available In 2 Different 6 Car Sets (A-B) - Expected Release Date: 2015-12-01
11-32005001
$264.00

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