ATSF “Quality Repaint 1991” is a great example of a later-era GATC 4500. The ATSF refurbished their GATC 4500s in the early 1980s and removed the distinctive General American rooftop ribs. We have carefully duplicated this rebuilt roof with this offering, including an accurate Morton style running board with that distinctive Uni-wing flange. We didn’t stop there. Along with its roof changes, the car lost its original frame-style Wine outlet gates. If you look carefully, you will notice the updated, accurate Miner outlet gates with “Selflok” mechanisms on the model. The ATSF’s prototype GATC cars featured a 13-post body, body-mounted brake hardware and linkage below the underframe, all features that are present on this Tangent replica. The B-end has as accurate Klasing 1150 hand brake, modern brake wheel, Moton brake step and lowered retainer valve. Check out those gorgeous 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with proper body-style brake beam and rotating Timken caps! The Santa Fe GA-159 covered hopper is painted in Topeka Shops-applied oxide red with “Quality” logo graphics for the 1991+ era. This is a modern example of Santa Fe railroading.
CGW “Delivery Gray 9-1966” shows off the “Lucky Strike” paint scheme that has made the CGW one of our most popular roadnames. The Chicago Great Western took delivery of 50 cars from GATC and they featured the 13-post body along with an Apex walkway. The ends of the CGW replicas have the correct long grab irons on the right side, body mounted brake details, a Morton brake step and a low-mounted retainer valve. Check out that beautiful Equipco power brake behind the modern brake wheel! Underneath the car, you can spot the Miner outlet gates with support brackets and underframe brake linkage. The Tangent model is equipped with 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks and proper Brenco-6 style rotating caps! The CGW GATC 4500 prototypes lasted into the CNW and the UP eras, where these cars were used with their larger covered hopper fleets.
CB&Q “Delivery Gray 1-1965” replicates the CB&Q’s second order of cars from General American. These 400 cars were delivered in the Q’s classic covered hopper gray with Chinese Red graphics and featured a herald applied to a stand-off plate across the ribs. One of the neat details of this scheme is the large General American triangle logo painted on the far left of the body, carefully duplicated on the Tangent model with the correct red background specific to the CB&Q. Of course, those black bays and underframe are a classy touch. The Q’s cars were built with the 15-post body style with an Apex walkway and a high-mount retainer on the B-End. The prototype’s truck-mounted brake gear translates to little things on the model like a “missing” brake cylinder on the B-End. The 4 individual brake cylinders are actually mounted on the truck brake beams, duplicated on the 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks! Take your time and enjoy the Wine outlet gates and their distinctive frame mounting plus accurate gear housing mechanism on the one side. The CB&Q was one of the largest owners of the GATC 4500, and these cars lasted in CB&Q paint into the 1990s!
During the 1960s, railcar builders experimented with new covered hopper designs to satisfy the evolving needs of shippers as they moved away from forty-foot box cars to bulk transport railcars. During the 1963-1966 period, General American Transportation Corporation (GATC) produced its first “grain hopper” design as a 4500 cubic foot capacity prototype, selling more than 1,200 cars to a variety of railroads and lessors. The design had two distinct exterior appearances, with either 13 or 15 exterior side posts. The 4500 had a sister car design, of 4700 cubic feet, which looked similar because it had the same side post variations, however it utilized a 5-inch taller design.
The Tangent Scale Models GA 4500 covered hopper system is a state of the art, dimensionally-accurate scale replica with highly accurate “true-to-life” colors and precise letter stencils. The Tangent Scale Models GATC 4500 system of models offers a multitude of detail variations and phases to replicate the many different GATC 4500 offerings. Example variations include: 13-post or 15-post body shells, original and rebuilt roof options, body-mount or truck-mount brake systems, multiple prototype outlet gates and Apex and Morton roof walkways. This replica includes the Tangent Scale Models fine “near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail. The Tangent Scale Models ready-to-operate replica is finished scale metal grab irons, coupler lift bars, accompanying Kadee scale couplers and sufficient hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. At more than 150 parts per car, not to mention phase accurate details, genuine Kadee couplers, and all-metal wheels, Tangent Scale Models provide you with a high-value model that will provide you with years of enjoyment and curb-appeal.
A quick synopsis of Tangent Scale Models GATC 4500 era and railroad-specific details and variations include:
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