Highland Feeders, Inc TLDX P-S 4785cf Covered Hopper #16002 **N Scale – Scale Trains

DESCRIPTION:

Highland Feeders, Inc TLDX P-S 4785cf Covered Hopper road number 16002 in N Scale made by Scale Trains. Item #SXT31052

The PS-2CD 4785 Covered Hopper was a missing variation in the Pullman-Standard Covered Hopper family until now. The 4785s low side sill visually differentiates the car body from its high sill siblings (4727, 4740, and 4750). Since the 1960s, these cars have crisscrossed North America in singles and groups of hoppers.

Our Rivet Counter series model feature numerous roof hatch, outlet gate, running board, and end “cage” support variations per railroad, road number, and era.

Road Number Specific Scale Trains

• As-built paint and configuration
• TLDX 16002-16003, built 1967 (P-S Lot 9265)
• Equipped with short-track gravity outlets
• Equipped with long trough loading hatches
• Tall end vertical grab supports with long center sills
• Handbrake on tall end vertical support
• Apex (slotted) running boards and coupler platforms
• Examples lasted into the 1990s in their as-built paint
• All-new model
• Four (4) different road numbers
• Two different roof hatch options: Continuous Trough or 3-Trough.
• Apex (slotted) walkways and coupler
  • Photo-etched stainless steel see-through running board with plastic grab irons
  • Photo-etched stainless steel see-through end crossover platforms
• Two different end brace and grab variations– see road name above for specific version
• Two different “end cage” grab iron and support – see road name above for specific version
• Gravity or Gravity-Pneumatic outlets – see road name above for specific version
• End shear plates – denoted as appropriate by road name above
• Factory-applied ladders with metal rungs
• Factory-applied trainline pipe
• Brake plumbing with separate air reservoir and control valve details plus separately applied wire form plumbing.
• Handbrakes mounted to stands, end supports, and or end shear plate – see road name above for specific version
• Plastic semi-scale standard Type E couplers
• Highly-detailed Barber S-2 100-ton trucks with finely rendered raised foundry data
• 36” machined metal wheels
• Minimum radius: 10”
• Recommended radius: 12”

Rivet Counter N Scale Freight Cars Feature

• Fully assembled
• Color matched to Tru-Color Paint colors whenever possible
• Printing and lettering legible even under magnification
• Coupler cut levers
• Trainline hoses
• Intricate brake plumbing
• Weighted to Industry standards
• Operates on Code 55 and 70 Rail
• Clear jewel box packaging safely stores model

Prototype History:

One of the larger sizes offered in the Pullman-Standard covered hopper catalog, the PS-2CD 4785 cubic foot design could be optimized for a variety of commodities, from grain products, to chemical or mineral ladings. Introduced in 1967 and built at their Butler, PA plant, the basic design would see refinements to its basic design over its five-year production span. The end “cages” of the cars would change over this period, with revisions to the end grab iron and support arrangements. Later production would also feature tall shear plates as part of the end sills, adding another visual distinction to this family of cars.

And as common with other covered hopper production, the customer could option the cars with different roof hatch options; full-length trough, three-trough, or round hatches. The full-length trough hatches were typically applied to cars intended for grain duty, allowing easy loading from spouts used at grain elevators. Round hatches are easier to seal, and were preferred for cars designed for commodities that needed better protection from the elements. The three-trough option, unique to Cotton Belt, was essentially the full-length trough divided into three smaller sections, making it a “best-of-both-worlds” option that combined the ease of loading of the full-length trough, with the better sealing capability of a round hatch.

Different outlet types and brands could also be fitted, with gravity or gravity-pneumatic types installed for optimal handling of different commodities. Gravity outlets were preferred for grains, while the gravity-pneumatic outlet type offered greater flexibility in the types of commodities that could be handled. The gravity setting allowed the commodity to discharge from the outlets via normal gravity (such as grain), while the pneumatic setting allowed commodities to be unloaded via vacuum hose. This was used for ladings such as plastic pellets, or powdery chemical or foodstuff commodities, that would tend to “cake-up” in the outlet, and needed the vacuum for smoother and contamination-free unloading. Running board and end coupler platforms could also vary per customer option, with Apex (slotted-hole), Morton (round-hole), and U.S. Gypsum (diamond-hole) types seen fitted to these cars.