Athearn HO scale BethGon Coalporter has great detail

Modern unit-train coal gondola has great detail
If you want to model a modern unit coal train, you’ll want to check out Athearn’s Ready-to-Roll BethGon Coalporters. The models are based on the aluminum-and-steel coal gondolas built by Johnstown America in the 1980s and ’90s.

An evolving prototype
All-steel coal hoppers were the norm in the early 1960s when railroads began operating unit coal trains.

While the cars got the coal from point to point, the heavy steel cars reduced the tonnage they could carry, and they were difficult and time-consuming to unload, particularly in the winter.

To make unit coal trains more profitable, railroads needed a lighter car that could be unloaded more efficiently but still withstand high mileage and hard service.

This requirement was partially fulfilled in 1978 when Johnstown America introduced its all-steel BethGon Coalporter. However, railroads wanted an even lighter car, so in 1985, Johnstown America released its lightweight Coalporter with an aluminum carbody and steel underframe. These 43,000-pound cars can carry more than 200,000 pounds of coal, roughly five times their own weight. Some of this increased payload capacity comes from the twin-tub floor design – an innovation that puts the space between the trucks to use. The twin tubs also help lower the car’s center of gravity. Like earlier unit-train cars, these BethGons are equipped with rotary couplers (marked by the painted A ends) so they don’t have to be uncoupled for unloading, a big gain in efficiency. However, all of the cars in the consist must be oriented in the same direction for rotary dumping.

Superb features
Our sample five-pack of BethGon Coalporters came decorated for Burlington Northern. The models closely match the prototype dimensions published in Simmons-Boardman’s 1997 Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia.

The models include factory-installed wire grab irons, photo- etched metal end platforms, and weights concealed between the twin-tub floor and above the trucks. The car also has an Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI) tag molded on the side. Nice!

Besides its many fine details, the car also has a smooth finish. The printing is exceptionally well done, so all the lettering, including the data in the consolidated lube plate, is clearly legible. The color-separation lines are also very crisp.

The models include a removable coal load that adds ½ ounce to the weight of the car – it weighs 3¾ ounces empty (½ an ounce under the National Model Railroad Association recommendation) and 4¼ ounces loaded, which meets the NMRA recommended practice.

Athearn’s BethGon Coalporters look great and have many details that modern-era modelers will appreciate. With 15 numbers in each road name, assembling a unit coal train straight from the boxes won’t take much time at all.

HO BethGon Coalporter

Price: five-packs, $99.98 (three five-packs per road name);
Union Pacific, $104.98;
undecorated, $19.98 each

Manufacturer:
Athearn Inc.
19010 Laurel Park Rd.
Compton, CA 90220
www.athearn.com

Description:
Plastic coal gondola

Road names:
Alliant Energy Partners (AEPX), Burlington Northern, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (black and oxide schemes), Commonwealth Edison (CWEX), CSX, Jeffers Energy Center (JECX), Union Pacific, and undecorated

Features:
Bachmann E-Z Mate couplers
mounted at proper height
Interior braces
Photoetched metal end platforms
Plastic body
RP-25 metal wheels (in gauge)
Removable coal load
Separately applied brake details
Wire grab irons