ScaleTrains 30739 HO Scale Rivet Counter PS-2CD 4785 H54A Covered Hopper Penn Central PC 890074

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.

FEATURES:

• As-built cars delivered in jade green paint
• Class H54A, PC 890001-890100, built 1972 (P-S Lot 9593)
• Equipped with gravity-pneumatic outlets
• Equipped with long trough loading hatches
• Short end vertical supports with shear plates and short center sills
• Handbrake on short end vertical support
• U.S. Gypsum (diamond-hole) running boards and coupler platforms
• Examples lasted well into the 1990s in their as-built paint
• All-new model
• Four (4) different road numbers for Conrail, Penn Central, Cotton Belt, and Staley
• Two (2) different road numbers for Cargill and Highland Feeders
• Multiple roof hatch options, per prototype: Continuous Trough, 3-Trough, or Round Hatch
• Apex (slotted), Morton (round-hole), or U.S. Gypsum (diamond-hole) walkways and coupler platforms
• Photo-etched stainless steel see-through running board with metal grab irons
• Photo-etched stainless steel see-through end crossover platforms
• Multiple end brace and grab variations– see roadname above for specific version
• Multiple “end cage” grab iron and support configurations
• End shear plates – denoted as appropriate by roadname above
• Factory-applied ladders with metal rungs
• Factory-applied trainline pipe
• Brake plumbing with separate air reservoir, control valve, and retainer valve details plus separately applied wireform plumbing.
• Handbrakes mounted to stands, end supports, and or end shear plate
• Durable die-cast metal semi-scale standard Type E couplers
• Highly-detailed Barber S-2 100-ton trucks with finely rendered raised foundry data, rotating bearing caps, side bearing detail, and truck-mounted brake beams
• 36” machined metal wheels
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Recommended radius: 22”
• Fully assembled
• Factory-applied metal grab irons
• Factory-applied coupler cut levers
• Trainline hoses
• Intricate brake plumbing
• Printing and lettering legible even under magnification
• Color matched to existing Tru-Color Paint colors whenever possible
• Accurately profiled .110" wide wheel tread
• Weighted to Industry standards for reliable operation
• Operates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail
• Packaging safely stores model