The prototype. A shortage of grain cars in the early 1970s led Canadian railroad mechanical engineers to design a standard 4,550 cubic-foot, 4-bay cylindrical covered hopper for this purpose. Large numbers were built with trough hatches to haul grain, while potash and fertilizers moved in round-hatch cars.
Three Canadian carbuilders mass-produced these cars, including National Steel Car, Hawker-Siddeley Canada, and Marine Industries Limited. Numerous variations were built with detail changes from batch to batch. This model represents a “phase 6” car built with a 4-piece trough hatch by Hawker-Siddeley from October 1979 to October 1982.
The models. Each car is individually assembled from various combinations of parts to match its specific prototype. The choices include:
- 2 body shells
- 5 ends (bracing variations)
- 2 outlet gates
- investment castings for capstans
- 2 etched-metal running boards
- etched-brass crossover platforms
- 2 hand brakes
- 2 reservoir positions
- external brake rod on cars with body-mounted brake cylinder
- 3 styles of trough hatches
- round hatches for potash cars
- Kadee no. 58 semi-scale couplers
- uncoupling levers
- 2 bolster/jack pad styles
I inspected 10 assembled samples, and the workmanship was excellent. The combination of etched-metal and cast- plastic details is extremely well engineered with superb see-through etched running boards. The brake systems are neatly done with appropriate external brake rods on the cars that used them.
The two models I measured matched prototype dimensions in the 1985 Official Railway Equipment Register.
The HO scale models ride on accurately detailed rigid-frame Barber S-2 100-ton trucks with narrow profile fine scale 36″-diameter metal wheels. All of the wheels have a .076″ wheel tread width. The tread width for National Model Railroad Association RP-25 contour wheelsets is 0.110″. The wheelsets matched the flange spacing of the NMRA standards gauge.
All of the sample cars had smoothly applied paint and crisply printed lettering. Under magnification, even the smallest data was legible.
These models are well done, and will be excellent additions to any modern-era model railroad operating on either side of the border.
Price: $36.95
Manufacturer
North American Railcar Corp., a subsidiary of PWRS
Exclusive distributor
Pacific Western Rail Systems
Retail Ltd.
Unit no. 68 – 15515 24th Ave.
Surrey, BC, Canada V4A 2J4
www.pwrs.ca
U.S. address: 250 H Street, PMB 779 Blaine, WA 98230
Era: 1970s to present
Road names: Canadian National brown with Gothic or Roman lettering, CP Rail, Canpotex Limited, Government of Canada (red CNWX or salmon CPWX versions), Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Grain Car Co. (SKNX and SKPX), and Wheat Board of Canada (CNWX)
Features
- Barber S-2 100-ton roller-bearing trucks
- Fine scale metal wheels
- mounted in gauge
- Kadee no. 58 couplers mounted at correct height
- Specific prototype detailing
- Weight: 4½ ounces (matches NMRA Recommended Practice 20.1)
