HO tank cars from Atlas feature prototype-specific details

Trinity Industries 17,600-gallon corn syrup tank cars are the newest ready-to-run HO scale models from Atlas. More than 7,000 prototype tank cars of this design were built from 1984 to 1998.

Corn syrup tank cars are used to transport liquid sugar, molasses, and corn syrup. All of these commodities must be kept clean, so the car interiors are lined with a phenolic coating. Polished stainless steel is used wherever any metal surfaces contact the lading. These cars have a “bent-barrel” shape designed to make them easier to unload. The gradual slopes help the thick syrups flow toward the center of the car and the bottom outlet valve.

The Atlas models are available with three prototype-specific manway, platform, and ladder combinations. The Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) cars feature 20″-inside-diameter, hinged and bolted man- way covers, while the Corn Products (CPI) model has a clam-shell cover over the manway used to keep the area clean. All of these models closely match drawings published in the Simmons-Boardman 1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia.

I was impressed by the level of detail on these ready-to-run models. Some of the freestanding details include metal safety rails and grab irons, acetal plastic brake lines and manway platform railings, and see-through end platforms. The plastic uncoupling levers aren’t glued to the coupler boxes, so modelers can replace the Accumate magnetic knuckle couplers with type SF double-shelf couplers, which are mandatory on prototype tank cars.

The injection-molded plastic 100-ton trucks are equipped with correctly gauged RP-25 metal wheels, and the couplers are mounted at the correct height. The tank cars weigh 4 ounces, which is ¼ ounce over the National Model Railroad Association’s recommend practice.

The paint was smoothly applied on all three of our samples, and the lettering was opaque and crisp, even on the tiny DOT classification lettering. Very nice!

I have to tip my hat to Atlas for the fine job it did on these models. It’s refreshing to see a manufacturer offer models in several prototype-specific versions. Atlas’ Trinity corn syrup tank cars will be a great fit for any modern era layout.

HO corn syrup tank car

Price: $24.95 each, $18.95 undecorated

Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlasrr.com

Description
Ready-to-run plastic freight car

Road names
Archer Daniels Midland (old and new ADM logos), Cargill, Cargill Foods, Casco, Corn Products (CCLX and GATX reporting marks), General American Transportation Co., Liquid Sugars, Minnesota Corn Processors (MNCX and SYRX reporting marks), Tru-
Sweet/Amaizo, and undecorated (ADM, Cargill, and Corn Products body styles)

Features
Accumate knuckle couplers, mounted at the correct height
Car weight: 4 ounces
Metal grab irons and safety rails
100-ton roller-bearing trucks
Prototype-specific details
RP-25 metal wheels, in gauge
Separately applied bottom outlet, air hoses, brake rigging, valve handle, and uncoupling levers