In 1975, the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad (“B&LE”) made a significant capital investment in a new fleet of 100-ton “quad” open hoppers, the first cars of their type, to replace older home road and foreign cars. B&LE ordered 550 cars of 3400 cubic foot capacity from Pullman-Standard’s Bessemer AL plant – which was significant not only for the size of the car order, but because Pullman’s Butler PA plant was a large online customer. B&LE had multiple coal hauling lanes, and these new cars provided stronger incentive to haul coal headed to the railroad’s Lake Erie rail-water transload docks at Conneaut, OH, plus capture more “backhaul” of iron ore business offloaded from “lake boats,” headed to the region’s steel producers via the B&LE. Some of the fleet received minor carbody rebuilding in the 2000s, however most of the cars still serve on B&LE/CN today.

The Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper is a dimensionally-accurate replica of the real car, and includes accurate Wine door lock mechanisms, an Ajax brake housing with Modern brake wheel and body-mounted brake equipment and center tube linkage detail. This model includes Tangent Scale Models “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail as well as full body interior rivet detail and bracing. Tangent Scale Models ready-to-operate replica is finished with separate, real wire grab irons, coupler lift bars, rubber air hoses, genuine Kadee scale couplers, accurate CNC-machined wheels, 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific rotating bearing caps and sufficient hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. Finally, Tangent Scale Models model includes a realistic, removeable “flood” style coal load.

It is important to note: These Pullman-Standard 3400 cubic foot quad coal hoppers are quite different from “Western Design” 3600 cubic foot, BSC “Eastern Design” 3350 cubic foot hoppers and IC “Centralia Quad” 3834 cubic foot coal hoppers, all offered by Tangent. That’s right, Tangent Scale Models have now tooled their 4th different quad coal car: the correct Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Hopper!

The Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper is a state of the art, dimensionally-accurate scale replica with highly accurate “true-to-life” colors and precise letter stencils. Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper offers an unparalleled level of accuracy, including the replication of the COR-TEN steel color! This replica includes Tangent Scale Models fine “near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail. Tangent Scale Models ready-to-operate replica is finished scale metal grab irons, coupler lift bars, accompanying Kadee scale couplers and NMRA-compliant yet hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. At more than 120 parts per car, 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.

These products are shipping today! A quick synopsis of Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper era and railroad-specific details and variations include:

• Dimensional accuracy – designed from Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper plans and verified with field measurements

• Highly correct “true to life” colors

• Industry-leading “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement

• Genuine Kadee scale couplers

• “Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail

• Multiple road numbers for each scheme

• Beautiful, B&LE representative “flood-style” coal load

• “See through” brake step platform

• B&LE-specific details, including correct Ajax brake wheel housing

• Beautiful details including separately-applied scale wire grab irons and coupler lift bars – no “molded on” plastic grab irons or “thick” plastic grab iron parts anywhere on this replica!

• Separate flexible rubber air hoses

• CNC-machined 36” wheels with accurate front and back detail

• Tangent Scale Models precision 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific “Brenco-6” rotating bearing caps and separate brake beam part

• Weighted to NMRA specifications – yes, even with the coal load removed

• Recommended age 14 years and older

– Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE) “Bicentennial Delivery 11-1975” replicates the one-of-a-kind B&LE Bicentennial prototype that recognized our nation’s two hundredth birthday. This incredible, meticulously-detailed model features three horizontal stripes of colors across it: red, white, and blue of course. The stenciling on the side includes an italicized 1776, and the circles with 13 stars inside. The red, white and blue stripes continue through the ends of the car, through the slope sheets, wire grab irons, and brake gear, just like the prototype. Matching the other B&LE COR-TEN hoppers in this release, the Bicentennial model includes the flood-style coal load. All of the other accurate Pullman details are present here as well. The B&LE COR-TEN and Bicentennial cars have been requested by modelers for years and Tangent Scale Models are excited to deliver them to their customers!  Do not miss out.

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