{"product_id":"rapido-trains-133006a-ho-scale-flexi-flow-covered-hopper-1987-repaint-996h-conrail-cr-varies","title":"Rapido Trains 133006A HO Scale Flexi Flow Covered Hopper 1987 Repaint 996H Conrail CR # Varies","description":"\u003ch1\u003eRapido Trains 133006A HO Scale Flexi Flow Covered Hopper 1987 Repaint 996H Conrail CR # Varies \u003c\/h1\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003eBuilt between August 1964 and June 1966 the American Car \u0026amp; Foundry (ACF) 3500 cu.ft. covered hopper was an early innovator in pressure differential unloading and a marketing masterclass thanks to the \"Flexi Flo\" tag coined by the car's biggest customer, the New York Central railroad. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003eOther than seven cars built for Shippers Car Line (SHPX), a subsidiary of ACF, the NYC was the only purchaser of the PD3500. They made up for it in quantities, with a total of 220 cars rolling off the Milton, Pennsylvania, production line over three subtly different batches. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003eStill new at the time of the Penn Central merger, many cars were simply re-patched with PC prefix and logo and renumbered. However, plenty made it through those turbulent years with their full NYC paint intact. Come the era of Conrail and many cars were re-patched again, making them a rolling north-eastern railroad history lesson as patches faded showing PC and NYC logos beneath the famous \"canopener\"! Many others were repainted, with Conrail applying at least three different schemes. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003eIf there is any lingering feeling among railfans that these cars were captive to the north east then their operation throughout the 1980 and into the 1990s should dispel that misconception as the cars spread their wings, first through the transfer of many cars to Conrail's Merchants Despatch Transportation Co. (MDTX) subsidiary, and then the later sale of cars to NAHX (for Lafarge) and SXSX\/SYSX for use in Arizona, California and the south west, all gaining new paint schemes in the process. By 2000, an explosion of patchouts had taken place with a plethora of different reporting marks popping up and no part of the USA off limits. They were even more common in many parts of Canada! Many were still in use well into the mid 2010s, only being retired as they fell foul of the 50 year interchange rule. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003eThis is the first time that the ACF PD3500 has appeared as a high-quality plastic model and Rapido intends to do this classic and much requested design justice! The body of the Flexi Flo evolved rapidly during its two years of manufacture and the Rapido version replicates all these changes, including different strengthening rib and weld line arrangements. We are also debuting a brand new 125-Ton Barber S-2 truck used under many of the NYC cars. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003eOther details are as follows \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eThree body styles \u0026amp; two top hatch sizes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003e100-Ton \u0026amp; 125-Ton Barber S-2 trucks \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eEtched metal running boards \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eBoth wire and injection-moulded grab irons \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eFully detailed underbody with full discharge piping \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eBrake equipment and piping variations \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eFactory-installed air pipes and coupler cut levers \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 1em;\"\u003eMetal Macdonald-Cartier knuckle couplers \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Rapido Trains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37653224456358,"sku":"RAP133006A","price":52.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0520\/1972\/4454\/products\/rapido-trains-133006a-ho-scale-flexi-flow-covered-hopper-1987-repaint-996h-conrail-cr-varies.jpg?v=1738868967","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterosehobbies.com\/products\/rapido-trains-133006a-ho-scale-flexi-flow-covered-hopper-1987-repaint-996h-conrail-cr-varies","provider":"White Rose Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}