O
Trinity 5161 cu. ft. Covered Hoppers
New Road Numbers & Paint Schemes!
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In 1995, Trinity Industries
introduced a new center-sill design covered hopper car designed
primarily for grain transport. The new design was visually quite
different - this one featured curved sides versus previously familiar
rib-sided design adopted from Pullman-Standard. The new 5161 cubic-foot
capacity design along with the recently introduced allowable 286,000 lbs
GRL (Gross Rail Loading) brought a new standard to the industry
(Trinity's competition were ACF and Thrall).
Initial deliveries went to Trinity's
leasing component and to ADM Transportation, a large private company
heavily invested in grain products. Within months, deliveries to the
other “grain” companies began rolling down the steel rails. Eventually,
the traditional grain railroads jumped in on the game with BNSF leading
the pack.
The 5161 grain variants have long trough hatches usually broken into
sections for easy opening. The outlets on grain cars are usually
gravity-only and vary by manufacturer. Fixed shaker brackets can be
found on the hopper sides.
However, not all the 5161s are for
grain-products. BNSF has a good-sized fleet of cars used for sugar
transport that feature round-hatches in elongated hatches,
gravity-pneumatic gates and have special interior lining. Other
variations include round-hatch only cars for chemical transport and cars
being used for the potash and fertilizer industry.
Currently, the design is still in
production with over 27,000 units being delivered and this model stands
as being the most popular grain car in today's market.
Features
Include:
-Road name specific details
-Metal stirrups and grab irons
-Trucks have rotating bearing caps
-Etched-metal roof walk and safety platforms
-Different hatch styles as appropriate per road name
-Die-cast trucks and couplers
-Authentically detailed paint schemes
-Length: Approx. 14.5"
-Height: Approx. 3.9"
-Minimum diameter curve (3-Rail): O-54
-Minimum radius (2-Rail) : 36"
Four road numbers are
available per road name except for BNSF which has eight.
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