As many modelers are aware, we have been processing and shipping out orders for our newly released North American Railcar Corporation NSC 4275 & 4300 cu ft Potash Service 3 Bay Covered Hoppers in both HO Scale & N Scale. We are getting these out as fast as we can, so some customers may not have received their orders yet, but will soon.

As modelers are starting to receive these cars, we are starting to recieve comments about the cars. Here are two of the early notes about these cars we have received:

Dear PWRS, 

“...In the modern day economy, where everyone is looking for the cheapest price and lowest cost provider to buy a mediocre model, it is awesome to see PWRS / NARC produce and distribute a model where the true value is in the product. Not only in terms of collectability, but in the seriousness of the accuracy and quality of construction that the model takes on. It is really hard to put a price tag on all of that value.  

I thought the Hawker Siddeley Cylindrical grain car and the 4000 cu ft Coal Sulphur Gons were excellent, but PWRS has out done themselves with the new Potash Car. Even the grab iron on the top were painted red, and the brake wheels were correctly painted black. I can’t wait to see what you produce next...” 

I am glad I ordered my cars in advance through Porters and shipped direct upon arrival with zero delay. 

Byron Ellett
Director of Finance
Tower Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Trucks

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The following comment is from an employee at Potash Corp. (They operated the Salmon colored cars)

Dear PWRS

One of the staff at the office, Brian received his box of (NSC Potash) railcars from you today. I have grabbed my two cars and wanted to let know how impressive they (the staff) are with all the detail. They have correct silver walkways, red handholds (grab irons) on the top of the cars, the handbrake, all the draft gear on the ends of the car are correct - all the decaling (printing) is where it should be. You had told me the detailing was going to be exact, but until I actual saw the actual model cars, I didn't get the full impact of the detail PWRS put on their models. I pulled out a (prototype) picture of the POTX1000 cars and nothing was out of place or missing on the models.  

Great cars PWRS!!!!

Now if someone at Potash Corp thinks the cars are this good, do you think they are good enough for your layout?

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Another customer of ours BArailsystem on YouTube, has posted a video of his new cars on his layout. So, if you have not seen the cars in person, check them out:

One of our customers pointed out that as of two weeks ago Canpotex now sends Potash trains from Saskatchewan to St John, New Brunswick. So if you model east of Manitoba, thru Ontario and Quebec, you can now run Canpotex on your layout.

We were asked at the Saskatoon Train Show if it was prototypical to run a mixed train of Canpotex and Potash Corp cars? This does occur in the prototype when Canpotex needs additional cars, and occasionally when PotashCorp needs cars, as seen in this video:

Protoype Information

Introduced in 1999, this car is seen in large numbers across Canada and the United States. It is often seen in combination with the larger Hawker Siddeley 4550 cu ft Cylindrical Hopper. Though it has less capacity than the Hawker Siddeley car, it makes up for it in shorter car length of only 47 feet versus the Hawker Siddeley 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 hoppers.

This car operates at a gross rail load of 286,000 pounds, the current maximum limit. However, it is actually designed for a gross rail load of 315,000 pounds. It is currently produced and equipped 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 produced and 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 7,000 have been produced in five versions. These cars are seen on a daily basis traveling across the Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, BNSF, CSX, NS and Union Pacific rail networks.

About The Models

The first release of these North American Railcar Corporation HO Scale NSC Potash Service 3 Bay Covered Hoppers includes cars for Canpotex and Potash Corporation.

Feature:

• Modern model accuracy of this modern prototype, fully researched and featuring prototypically accurate details
• 5 different versions of the model consistent with road name and road number of prototype car
• Accurate painting including variations in shade consistent with production date and owner of prototype car
  
• Accurate lettering, including correct graphics, fonts and locations per prototype scheme
  
• Many separately applied detail parts, including photo etched brass and lost wax metal castings
• Body mounted Kadee couplers
  
• NARC High Performance Low Friction trucks and metal wheelsets for reliable operation
• Properly weighted for smooth tracking and superior performance

Painted samples of each scheme in this release:

Version 1 - Canpotex (PTEX) - Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Red/White Visibility Stripes

Version 1 - Canpotex (PTEX) - Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes

Version 2 - Canpotex (CGLX) - Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes

Version 3 - Canpotex (CITX) - Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes

Version 4 - Canpotex (CEFX) - Gray w/Black Lettering, Green Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes

Version 4 - PotashCorp (POTX) - Light Salmon w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes

Version 5 - PotashCorp (POTX) - Dark Salmon w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes

To get a sense of the level of detail on these cars, examine this close up image of the end of the car on the slope sheet. Note the text for the "Equalizing Resevoir" and "Defect Cards"

 

Note the differences of the floor on the ends of the different versions of the Canpotex cars in the image above. The cut outs on the Version 1 car on the right are for possible later use of 38 inch wheels. Later versions of the car do not have this cut out as Canpotex decided againist switching wheel sizes.

Different versions of the car have differences including different roof designs. Note the different features including hatches (flat vs raised), elongated cross walk, and diamond vs round holes pattern on the walkways, 11 roof supports vs 12 roof supports. 

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Click links for information about each of the cars:

Canpotex Hopper Page

PotashCorp Hopper Page

NSC Potash Service Hopper Guide

In Stock Now, Going Fast!

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REB/JMP