NARC - HO Scale - NSC Potash Service 4300 Cu. Ft. 3 Bay Covered Hopper - Version 5 - Nutrien (POTX) (Light Green w/White Lettering & Logo, Yellow Visibility Stripes) 12 Road Numbers Available In 2 Different 6 Car Sets (A-B) (SKU 11-32005002)
Available On: May 1, 2025
Version 5 Car
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 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 10,000 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.
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:
Version 5 Car Prototype Features:
Design changes in Version 5 cars:
Model Features:
Road Numbers:
More Information
For more information about the Nutrien, including corporate videos, click on the links below:
Nutrien: A Global Agricultural Powerhouse
Or visit their website at:
https://www.nutrien.com/
(Photo Courtesy of Nutrien)