The prototype. Conrail hauls large quantities of coil steel for its on-line steelmakers. Much of this hot- and cold-rolled coil steel is destined for automobile plants, but considerable tonnage also travels to other manufacturing plants. Many of these steel coils must be protected from the weather.
In 1992, Conrail began purchasing these new-style, low-slung gondolas called “CoilSHIELD” cars and built by Thrall Car Co. They carry the Conrail class G52S designation. Each car is 54 feet long and capable of hauling 194,000 pounds of steel under a weatherproof hood. The center opening in a loaded steel coil is 24″ lower in the CoilSHIELD car, so it’s easier to load with a crane or large forklift than other coil steel cars.
At first glance, the car looks similar to a double-stack container car, but has a solid floor and five transverse wood-lined troughs inside. A one-piece insulated hood covers the load to minimize condensation. Up to three 55,000-pound coils may be carried as long as they’re spread over the length of the car and centered in the troughs. Locking crossbars prevent any side-to-side coil movement. The prototype has no center sill, but does have 15″ cushioned draft gear.
The success of this new car design led Conrail to eventually acquire a fleet of nearly 750 CoilSHIELDs by 1995.
The assembly work on our sample was so well done that it’s nearly impossible to tell how many parts go into each car. All of the joints fit extremely well and there’s no excess cement anywhere.
The carbody consists of a flat deck with a heavy-duty well in the center that carries the transverse coil troughs. The HO car models the solid, waterproof floor protects the coils from below.
The car is neatly detailed with etched stainless steel running boards along each side to give the model its proper 10′-8″ width. The B end of the car includes an entire brake system. Wire uncoupling levers and molded corner steps complete the body detailing.
The hood is a one-piece casting with its intricate framework, bracing, and a top lifting bracket details applied using separate parts. Unlike the prototype, the hood on the model is not removable.
The car weighs 4 ounces, which is ½-ounce under the specification in National Model Railroad Association Recommended Practice RP-20.1.
Our sample is accurately painted in Conrail brown with operating instructions and data clearly printed on both sides and ends of the carbody and hood in white. This “as delivered” Conrail CoilSHIELD car is available in a choice of 24 individual car numbers.
ExactRail did a great job modeling this unique coil steel car that travels nationwide.
Manufacturer
ExactRail
251 W. River Park Drive, Suite 300
Provo, Utah 84604
www.ExactRail.com
Era: 1992 to present
Road name: Conrail
Features
- ASF 100-ton roller-bearing trucks with 36″ metal RP-25 contour wheelsets mounted in gauge.
- Kadee no. 156 scale couplers mounted at proper height
- Narrow coupler box with end-of-car cushioning details
- Smoothly applied paint
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Wire uncoupling levers, grab irons, and brake rods
