The Trinity 5,161-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper is a new addition to the InterMountain Railway Co. product range. The HO scale model has an injection-molded plastic body, InterMountain metal wheelsets, and body-mounted Kadee couplers.
Prototype history
Since making its debut in 1995, the Trinity 5161 has become one of the most common three-bay covered hoppers on the rails today. The car is still part of the builder’s portfolio. To date, more than 33,000 cars have been constructed to this design. Larger-capacity three- and four-bay cars also follow the lines of this car.
Over the years, Trinity has made modifications to the carbody, referred to by railfans as phases. The InterMountain model is based on a Phase I prototype. Identifying features include 10 body panels, 12 running board supports, folded jack pads, an overhanging arched roof, and double running board extension supports.
You can learn more about the full-size cars in Patrick Lawson’s article “Trinity’s popular 5161 covered hopper” in the March 2023 issue of Model Railroader magazine.
Model features
The sample we received is decorated as Soo Line 121755, part of the railroad’s 121700 through 121867 series built by Trinity Industries Inc. at its Greenville, Pa., plant under Job 2715 in January and February 1999. Many of the cars from this group are still in service today.
The InterMountain HO Trinity 5161 covered hopper has a plastic body. Features on the factory-applied end cages include plastic ladder rungs; wire crossover handrails; and see-through, etched-metal crossover platforms. The weld seams and end vents are molded. The billing card holder, located to the left of the load limit and light weight on both sides of the car, was omitted.
Freestanding details on the B end of the car include the air reservoir, brake cylinder, and control valve. Additional brake equipment can be found below the sill on the left side of the car. A sill-mounted air line runs the length of the covered hopper on the right side.
The roof is a separate plastic casting. The longitudinal running boards, latitudinal “kink” boards, and end extensions are crisply defined on a one-piece, see-through etched-metal part. Wire corner grab irons, picked in red, are located above the full-height end ladders.
The Soo Line covered hopper features combination trough/round hatch covers. Those, along with the gravity-pneumatic outlets on the bottom, indicate the car is used in sugar service. I remember seeing cars from this Soo Line series at the American Crystal Sugar factory in Crookston, Minn. A few cars from this group had a United Sugars Corp. logo above the reporting mark and road number.
Model vs. prototype
The Soo Line model is neatly painted light gray with multi-color graphics. The lettering placement follows prototype photos I found online and in books.
Prototype drawings of the Trinity 5161 were published in the March 2023 MR. The InterMountain car closely matches the published dimensions. Though the model will negotiate 18″ radius curves, the overhang isn’t very realistic. The car would look better on 22″ or broader curves.
Trinity’s 5161 covered hopper has been a popular subject for manufacturers since the prototype debuted in 1995. The InterMountain car is well done and has features that separate it from offerings by other manufacturers. If your layout is in need of some covered hoppers, you’ll want to check this car out.
Facts & features
Price: $59.95
Manufacturer
InterMountain Railway Co.
P.O. Box 839
Longmont, CO 80502
intermountain-railway.com
Era: 1995 to present (varies depending on scheme)
Road names: Soo Line, Archer Daniels Midland, BNSF Ry. (Mineral Red with post-2005 herald; Burlington Northern; Ft. Worth & Denver; Great Northern; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; and St. Louis-San Francisco heritage cars, three numbers each), CSX, and Norfolk Southern. Six numbers per scheme unless noted.
Features
- 36″ metal wheelsets, correctly gauged
- Body-mounted Kadee couplers, at correct height
- Weight: 5.4 ounces, .6 ounce too heavy per National Model Railroad Association Recommended Practice 20.1
