The NSC Potash Service 3 Bay Covered Hopper

Today at Calgary SuperTrain 2013, North American Railcar Corporation announced plans for a new model, the National Steel Car Potash Service 3 Bay Covered Hopper. This car can be 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 early and late versions. These cars are seen on a daily basis traveling across the Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, BNSF, CSX, NS and Union Pacific rail networks.

North American Railcar Corporation is currently developing the tooling for these cars and will be producing the Canpotex and Potash Corporation cars in the first release of this new

Features:

• Modern model accuracy of this modern prototype, fully researched and featuring prototypically accurate details
• 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 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 or Micro-Trains couplers depending on scale
  
• NARC High Performance Low Friction trucks and metal wheelsets for reliable operation
• Properly weighted for smooth tracking and superior performance

Click links for information about each of the cars: