Tangent Scale Models HO 32010-21 Bethlehem Steel 3350CuFt Quad Coal Hopper Clinchfield 'FH18 Delivery Black 1974' CRR #56957

Clinchfield CRR 'FH18 Delivery Black 1974' replicates Clinchfield’s first order of Bethlehem Quad Hoppers, delivered across the second half of 1974. The Tangent model features an accurate 1974-style Bethlehem body, with angled gussets on the top chord corners and single lower side posts at the bolsters. Take a moment to look at the bottom corner roping plate details – see-through and accurate, allowing you to see the terminating bottom chord behind them. The bays are outfitted with Wine lock appliances. On the end of the car, the model features an accurate Equipco 3750 high handbrake and Morton-style brake step. Inside, the models have a gorgeous, and removable!, tipple-style coal load. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating Timken caps. The Clinchfield lettering on the cars is thoroughly researched and includes varying CAPY, Trust and COTS data across the different car numbers. And the trucks have the individual car numbers properly stenciling on them, just like the real CRR cars.

These Clinchfield models are available in 24 numbers with month specific build dates:

• SKUs -01 through -06 are 7-74.
• SKUs -07 through -12 are 8-74.
• SKUs -13 through -18 are 9-74.
• SKUs 19 through -24 are 10-74.

Our Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper era and railroad-specific details and variations include:

• Dimensional accuracy – designed from Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper plans and verified with field measurements
• Highly correct true to life colors
• Industry-leading 'Hyper-Accurate' lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
• Genuine Kadee scale couplers
• 'Near-scale' draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side 'key' detail
• Multiple road numbers for each scheme
• Multiple Bethlehem 1974, 1976-1978, 1979 and 1980 bodies and assembly builds, with correct bolster post/detail variations, roping plate versions and top chord corner cap options
• Two coal load options: Flood vs. Tipple Style
• See through brake step platform
• Road-specific details for each scheme, including 7 brake wheel housing options, 2 ABD Valve options, 2 retainer valve mounting options and 2 different routing board options.
• Beautiful details including separately-applied scale wire grab irons and coupler lift bars
• Separate flexible rubber air hoses
• CNC-machined 36” wheels with accurate front and back detail
• Our precision Tangent Scale Models 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific rotating bearing caps, four possible options, and separate brake beam part, 2 possible options
• Weighted to NMRA specifications – even with the coal load removed!
• Recommended age 14 years and older

Prototype Information:

From 1974 to 1980, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation built 8,715 100-Ton 'Eastern Design Quad' coal hoppers of 3350 cubic foot capacity. These quad hoppers were purchased in large build groups by Louisville & Nashville 'L&N' and Clinchfield Railroad 'CRR' for loading at Appalachian coal mines, and these quad hoppers became the backbones for both railroad’s coal fleets, plus SCWX South Carolina utility fleet cars. These cars served well into the CSXT era in un-rebuilt configurations due to their importance in CSXT’s coal-hauling strategy. These 3350 cubic foot quad coal hoppers are visually similar but not the same as the 'Western design' 3600 cubic foot quad hoppers as utilized by Union Pacific, also offered by Tangent.