Pullman-Standard produced the 4750 covered hopper from 1972 to 1981. More than 56,000 cars were built over the course of the production run. In addition, Evans Products and North American Car Co. produced “clone” cars from PS-supplied kits.
Well-written and illustrated instructions take you through the 16 steps needed to complete the kit. I worked on the car in short bursts over three days, but the model could easily be finished in an evening.
Our sample is decorated as Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe no. 312856. The full-size car was part of a 1,000-car order (nos. 312800 through 313799) built by PS between December 1972 and February 1973. The covered hoppers were part of the railroad’s GA-180 class.
The lettering placement matches prototype photos in print and online. All of the lettering is crisp and legible under magnification. However, the lot number is wrong. This batch of Santa Fe cars was built under lot 9617, not 3032 as printed on the model.
There were some Santa Fe-specific detail errors. The triple valve and air reservoir are misplaced, the angled stiffener over the middle eight exterior posts was omitted, the Morton (round holes) running boards are incorrect for GA-180 class cars, and the B-end crossover platform shouldn’t be notched (the brake chain went behind it, not through it).
Based on the combination of details, the model more closely follows the design of a circa 1978 PS 4750. The model’s dimensions follow prototype drawings in the 1980 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia (Simmons-Boardman).
The kit includes Accumate couplers, which are mounted at the correct height. At 4.3 ounces, the covered hopper is .5 ounce too light based on National Model Railroad Association recommended practice 20.1. Adair Shops (www.adairshops.com) offers regular
and heavy weight kits for this car. The injection-molded plastic 33″ wheelsets are correctly gauged. However, the car should have 36″ wheelsets.
In an era of ready-to-run models, its refreshing to see a new, well-though-out kit on the market. Though the model isn’t an exact match for Santa Fe’s GA-180 class, it is correct for cars owned by many other railroads.
Manufacturer
Accurail Inc.
400 W. Nebraska St.
Elburn, IL 60119
www.accurail.com
Road names
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burlington Northern; and 19 other roads (see website). Also available undecorated and painted white, light gray, or mineral red with data only.
Era: December 1972 to present (as decorated)
Features
33″ injection-molded plastic wheelsets, correctly gauged
Accumate couplers mounted at correct height
Barber S-2 100-ton roller-bearing trucks
Weight: 4.3 ounces (0.5 ounce too light based on National Model Railroad Association
recommended practice 20.1)
