Plastic pellet covered hoppers are the norm now days with various shades of gray and beige. Walthers has the NSC 6200, Atlas has the 5250, 5701 & 5800 ACF car. Athearn and Bachman have a generic car. What's missing is the Trinity 5850 with and without no end cuts and the 6241 capacity car. The ARI 6450 now Greenbrier centerflow and Gunderson now Greenbrier's 5800 and 6450 car's are seen more. Freight Car America's 5800 car looks similar to the NSC car. Union Tank car produced these hoppers at one time too. Like Grain hoppers Plastic pellet hoppers are definitely on the increase.
Hi there! You've provided a great overview of the current landscape for plastic pellet hoppers in the model railroad industry. It's fascinating to see how various manufacturers have introduced a wide range of options in recent years. You mentioned some notable models like Walthers' NSC 6200, Atlas' 5250, 5701, and 5800 ACF cars, as well as Athearn and Bachman's offerings. You've also highlighted the absence of the Trinity 5850 and 6241 capacity car models, which could certainly add more diversity to the lineup. It's interesting to see the evolution from ARI 6450 to Greenbrier centerflow and Gunderson's 5800 and 6450 cars gaining popularity. Additionally, you mentioned Freight Car America's 5800 car, which bears a resemblance to the NSC car, and the historical presence of Union Tank car in producing these hoppers. It's clear that plastic pellet hoppers are becoming more prominent, following the trend of grain hoppers. Your insights provide valuable information for enthusiasts looking to expand their collection and replicate the evolving landscape of freight cars in their layouts. Thanks for sharing this knowledge! -Drayton
@@Scaletrains Thanks Drayton. It's what I see eveyday on NS in my neck of the woods. The average 100+ car manifest is made up of various tank cars in the 25000+ range and the 16000+ banded cars. Large blocks of Clorine and Soduim Hydroxide move out here with plastic pellet covered hoppers, 3 bays, bulkhead and flats with steel plate loads, coil cars, a few box cars of various types mostly T-boxes and gondolas. Those with coils or drilling pipe. Seeing a lot of those short stubby black coil cars a lot now to. Don't know the actual manufacturer.
Drayton, Could you do a video sometime on how your various series of cars. compare. I understand Museum Quality, Rivet Counter, Operator, and Kit Classics all relate. But where do Fox Valley, Exactrail Signature, Platinum, Evolution and Express fit in. For that matter, are you guys going to keep all of those lines?
