Open hopper cars are used for commodities such as coal, which can suffer exposure with less detrimental effect. Hopper cars have been used by railways worldwide whenever automated cargo handling has been desired. This type of car is distinguished from a gondola car in that it has opening doors on the underside or on the sides to discharge its cargo. The development of the hopper car went along with the development of automated handling of such commodities, with automated loading and unloading facilities.

Features:

• Wire and plastic handrails, stirrup steps, ladders and underbody details
• Factory applied ladders, stirrup steps, and wire grab
• Separately applied brake gear including brake wheel, air reservoir, and brake cylinder
• 70-ton trucks with 33” machined metal wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Fully assembled
• McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• Weighted for trouble-free operation
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Era: 1971+