Athearn HO Scale Center Fow Hopper Car - BNSF

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run ACF Centerflow Hopper Car, BNSF/Red #424123

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Razor sharp painting and printing
Weighted for optimal performance
Machined RP25 profile 36" metal wheels
McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed

Product Description

== Key Features == / / * Fully assembled and ready for your layout / * Razor sharp painting and printing / * Weighted for optimal performance / * Machined RP25 profile 36" metal wheels / * McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed / / == Specs == / / * PROTOTYPE MANUFACTURER:American Car & Foundry / * COUPLER STYLE:McHenry Scale Knuckle / * ERA:1960 - Present / * Minimum Age Recommendation:14 years / * Is Assembly Required:No

A Covered Hopper is a railroad freight car. They are designed for carrying dry bulk loads, varying from grain to products such as sand and clay. The cover protects the loads from the weather - dried cement would be very hard to unload if mixed with water in transit, while grain would be liable to rot if exposed to rain. However, they are unsuitable for perishables such as fruit or meat - these are transported in Refrigerator car, where they can be kept at low temperatures as well. Similar to an open hopper car, Covered Hoppers tend to contain 2, 3 or 4 separated bays. Each of these can be loaded and emptied individually, with access at the top to load the materials and visible chutes at the bottom for unloading.

Covered hoppers in North American service have been built by most of the freight car manufacturers of the 20th century. Originally, boxcars were used for the transport of bulk materials, but these had many disadvantages. Not having been specifically designed for this, it was very hard to use any form of machine to load or unload them. Also, a large amount of product was liable to be lost, either during loading or unloading, or in transit - since the cars had to be boarded up, rather than using the doors, to enclose the products.

2, 3 and 4 bay hoppers are used for different purposes - 2 bay hoppers are used for the most dense loads (such as sand), while 4 bay hoppers are more suited to lighter loads. This is due to axle load limits - for example, dry cement is very heavy in bulk quantities, and a 4-bay hopper of sand would be very likely to exceed these limits, while also having problems with increased strain upon the central span. Therefore, by trading off cubic capacity, 2 bay hoppers are able to transport these heavy loads. As technology has advanced, some of the heavier loads formerly assigned to 2-bay hoppers have been assigned to larger, more efficient 3-bay hoppers.

Large unit trains of various grain crops are a common sight in North America, reaching up to 125 cars long. These predominantly haul grain from the large farming areas of the great plains to various markets - however, there are also a number of unit trains which originate from other major farming areas, such as Illinois and Indiana. These trains may originate from a single grain elevator, or may be marshalled in a yard from various locals (short trains which serve nearby industries). The destinations tend to be large flour mills, ports (for export) or split up and delivered to multiple locations. The empty cars may return as a whole train, or may be sent back in smaller quantities on manifest trains (trains which carry just about any type of freight). These trains are used primarily for hauling products such as corn, wheat and barley.

Other HO Scale BNSF Items: Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale Iron Horse Express Electric Train Set - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF

Other HO Scale Hopper Cars: Atlas HO Scale TM 70T 3-Bay Open Hopper - Rio Grande / Athearn HO Scale PS-2 Covered Hopper - Santa Fe

Athearn HO Scale 40ft Modern Box Car - Pennsylvania Railroad

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run 40' Modern Box Car - Pennsylvania Railroad #24253

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Weighted for optimum performance
Razor sharp painting and printing
Machined RP25 profile 33" metal wheels
McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed

Product Description

== Key Features == / / * Fully assembled and ready for your layout / * Weighted for optimum performance / * Razor sharp painting and printing / * Machined RP25 profile 33" metal wheels / * McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed / / == Specs == / / * COUPLER STYLE:McHenry Scale Knuckle / * ERA:1950 - 1980 / * Minimum Age Recommendation:14 years / * Is Assembly Required:No

Boxcars can carry most kinds of freight. Originally they were hand-loaded, but in more recent years mechanical assistance such as forklifts have been used to load and empty them faster. Their generalized design is still slower to load and unload than specialized designs of car, and this partially explains the decline in boxcar numbers since World War II. The other cause for this decline is the container. A container can be easily transshipped and is amenable to intermodal transportation, transportable by ships, trucks or trains, and can be delivered door-to-door. In many respects a container is a boxcar without the wheels and underframe.

Even loose loads such as coal, grain and ore can be carried in a boxcar, with boards over the side door openings, at later times grain transport used metal reinforced cardboard which was nailed over the door and could be punctured by a grain auger for unloading. This was more common in earlier days; it was susceptible to losing much loading during the journey, and damaged the boxcar. It was also impossible to mechanically load and unload. Grain can also be transported in boxcars designed specifically for that purpose; specialized equipment and procedures are required to load and unload the cars.

Livestock can be transported in a boxcar (which was standard practice in the U.S. until the mid-1880s), but there is insufficient ventilation in warm weather. Specially-built or converted stock cars are preferable. Insulated boxcars are used for certain types of perishable loads that do not require the precise temperature control provided by a refrigerator car. Circuses used boxcars to transport their workers, supplies, and animals to get from town to town.

Historically automobiles were carried in boxcars, but during the 1960s specially built autoracks took over; these carried more cars in the same space and were easier to load and unload. The automotive parts business, however, has always been a big user of the boxcar, and larger capacity "high cube" cars evolved in the 1960s to meet the auto parts industry's needs. Special boxcars carry newsprint paper and other damage-sensitive cargo.

While not holding the dominant position in the world of railborne freight that they had before World War II, the boxcar still exists and is used in great numbers around the world.

Other HO Scale Box Cars: Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale 60' Berwick Hi-Cube Box Car - Western Pacific / Intermountain Railway Company 40ft Box Car - Burlington Northern / Athearn 50ft Ice Reefer Box Car - Santa Fe (Scout) / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Athearn HO Scale 50ft Sieco Box Car - BNSF

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run 50' SIECO Box Car - BNSF #723611

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Completely detailed full cusion underframe
Separately applied wire grab irons and etched end platforms
Ready To Roll 70-Ton trucks
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels

Product Description

Features / / * Fully assembled and ready for your layout / * Completely detailed full cusion underframe / * Separately applied wire grab irons and etched end platforms / * Ready To Roll 70-Ton trucks / * Machined RP25 profile metal wheels / * McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed / / Specifications / / PROTOTYPE MANUFACTURER: Southern Iron & Equipment Co / COUPLER STYLE: McHenry Scale Knuckle / ERA: 1970 - 2000 / Minimum Age Recommendation: 14 years / Is Assembly Required: No

Boxcars can carry most kinds of freight. Originally they were hand-loaded, but in more recent years mechanical assistance such as forklifts have been used to load and empty them faster. Their generalized design is still slower to load and unload than specialized designs of car, and this partially explains the decline in boxcar numbers since World War II. The other cause for this decline is the container. A container can be easily transshipped and is amenable to intermodal transportation, transportable by ships, trucks or trains, and can be delivered door-to-door. In many respects a container is a boxcar without the wheels and underframe.

Even loose loads such as coal, grain and ore can be carried in a boxcar, with boards over the side door openings, at later times grain transport used metal reinforced cardboard which was nailed over the door and could be punctured by a grain auger for unloading. This was more common in earlier days; it was susceptible to losing much loading during the journey, and damaged the boxcar. It was also impossible to mechanically load and unload. Grain can also be transported in boxcars designed specifically for that purpose; specialized equipment and procedures are required to load and unload the cars.

Livestock can be transported in a boxcar (which was standard practice in the U.S. until the mid-1880s), but there is insufficient ventilation in warm weather. Specially-built or converted stock cars are preferable. Insulated boxcars are used for certain types of perishable loads that do not require the precise temperature control provided by a refrigerator car. Circuses used boxcars to transport their workers, supplies, and animals to get from town to town.

Historically automobiles were carried in boxcars, but during the 1960s specially built autoracks took over; these carried more cars in the same space and were easier to load and unload. The automotive parts business, however, has always been a big user of the boxcar, and larger capacity "high cube" cars evolved in the 1960s to meet the auto parts industry's needs. Special boxcars carry newsprint paper and other damage-sensitive cargo.

While not holding the dominant position in the world of railborne freight that they had before World War II, the boxcar still exists and is used in great numbers around the world.

Other HO Scale BNSF Items: Athearn HO Scale Iron Horse Express Electric Train Set - BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF

Other HO Scale Box Cars: Athearn HO Scale 60' Berwick Hi-Cube Box Car - Western Pacific / Intermountain Railway Company 40ft Box Car - Burlington Northern / Athearn 50ft Ice Reefer Box Car - Santa Fe (Scout) / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Athearn HO Scale 60' Berwick Hi-Cube Box Car - Western Pacific

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run 60' Berwick Hi-Cube Box Car - Western Pacific #3769

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Separately applied wire grab irons and etched end platforms
Ready To Roll sideframes
Razor sharp painting and printing
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels

Product Description

Features / / * Fully assembled and ready for your layout / * Separately applied wire grab irons and etched end platforms / * Ready To Roll sideframes / * Razor sharp painting and printing / * Machined RP25 profile metal wheels / * McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed / / Specifications / / PROTOTYPE MANUFACTURER: Berwick / COUPLER STYLE: McHenry Scale Knuckle / ERA: 1970 - 2000 / Minimum Age Recommendation: 14 years / Is Assembly Required: No

Boxcars can carry most kinds of freight. Originally they were hand-loaded, but in more recent years mechanical assistance such as forklifts have been used to load and empty them faster. Their generalized design is still slower to load and unload than specialized designs of car, and this partially explains the decline in boxcar numbers since World War II. The other cause for this decline is the container. A container can be easily transshipped and is amenable to intermodal transportation, transportable by ships, trucks or trains, and can be delivered door-to-door. In many respects a container is a boxcar without the wheels and underframe.

Even loose loads such as coal, grain and ore can be carried in a boxcar, with boards over the side door openings, at later times grain transport used metal reinforced cardboard which was nailed over the door and could be punctured by a grain auger for unloading. This was more common in earlier days; it was susceptible to losing much loading during the journey, and damaged the boxcar. It was also impossible to mechanically load and unload. Grain can also be transported in boxcars designed specifically for that purpose; specialized equipment and procedures are required to load and unload the cars.

Livestock can be transported in a boxcar (which was standard practice in the U.S. until the mid-1880s), but there is insufficient ventilation in warm weather. Specially-built or converted stock cars are preferable. Insulated boxcars are used for certain types of perishable loads that do not require the precise temperature control provided by a refrigerator car. Circuses used boxcars to transport their workers, supplies, and animals to get from town to town.

Historically automobiles were carried in boxcars, but during the 1960s specially built autoracks took over; these carried more cars in the same space and were easier to load and unload. The automotive parts business, however, has always been a big user of the boxcar, and larger capacity "high cube" cars evolved in the 1960s to meet the auto parts industry's needs. Special boxcars carry newsprint paper and other damage-sensitive cargo.

While not holding the dominant position in the world of railborne freight that they had before World War II, the boxcar still exists and is used in great numbers around the world.

In recent years "hicube" — "high cubic capacity" — boxcars have become more common in the USA. These are higher than regular boxcars and can only run on routes with increased clearance (see loading gauge and structure gauge). The excess height section of the car end is often marked with a white band so as to be easily visible if wrongly assigned to a restricted gauge line.

Other HO Scale Western Pacific Box Cars: Trainline HO Scale 50ft Plug Door Box Car - Western Pacific

Other HO Scale Western Pacific Items: MTH HO Scale 4-8-4 GS-6 Locomotive - Western Pacific

Other HO Scale Box Cars: Intermountain Railway Company 40ft Box Car - Burlington Northern / Athearn 50ft Ice Reefer Box Car - Santa Fe (Scout) / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Intermountain Railway Company 40ft Box Car - Burlington Northern

Intermountain Railway Company HO Scale Ready To Run 40' 12 Panel Box Car - Burlington Northern

Product Description

HO RTR 40' 12 Panel Box, BN

Boxcars can carry most kinds of freight. Originally they were hand-loaded, but in more recent years mechanical assistance such as forklifts have been used to load and empty them faster. Their generalized design is still slower to load and unload than specialized designs of car, and this partially explains the decline in boxcar numbers since World War II. The other cause for this decline is the container. A container can be easily transshipped and is amenable to intermodal transportation, transportable by ships, trucks or trains, and can be delivered door-to-door. In many respects a container is a boxcar without the wheels and underframe.

Even loose loads such as coal, grain and ore can be carried in a boxcar, with boards over the side door openings, at later times grain transport used metal reinforced cardboard which was nailed over the door and could be punctured by a grain auger for unloading. This was more common in earlier days; it was susceptible to losing much loading during the journey, and damaged the boxcar. It was also impossible to mechanically load and unload. Grain can also be transported in boxcars designed specifically for that purpose; specialized equipment and procedures are required to load and unload the cars.

Livestock can be transported in a boxcar (which was standard practice in the U.S. until the mid-1880s), but there is insufficient ventilation in warm weather. Specially-built or converted stock cars are preferable. Insulated boxcars are used for certain types of perishable loads that do not require the precise temperature control provided by a refrigerator car. Circuses used boxcars to transport their workers, supplies, and animals to get from town to town.

Historically automobiles were carried in boxcars, but during the 1960s specially built autoracks took over; these carried more cars in the same space and were easier to load and unload. The automotive parts business, however, has always been a big user of the boxcar, and larger capacity "high cube" cars evolved in the 1960s to meet the auto parts industry's needs. Special boxcars carry newsprint paper and other damage-sensitive cargo.

While not holding the dominant position in the world of railborne freight that they had before World War II, the boxcar still exists and is used in great numbers around the world.

See Other HO Scale Burlington Northern Items: Athearn HO Scale Cupola Caboose - Burlington Northern / Athearn HO Scale F7A Diesel Locomotive - Burlington Northern / Trainline EMD GP9M HO Scale Locomotive - Burlington Northern / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern / BNSF / Athearn HO Scale SD60M Locomotive - Burlington Northern Santa Fe

See Other HO Scale Box Cars: Athearn 50ft Ice Reefer Box Car - Santa Fe (Scout) / Trainline HO Scale 50ft Plug Door Box Car - Western Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Atlas HO Scale TM 70T 3-Bay Open Hopper - Rio Grande

Atlas HO Scale TM 70T 3-Bay Open Hopper - Rio Grande

Product Description

== Key Features == / / * True scale dimensions with accurate details / * Weighted, detailed underframes / / == Overview == / / This familiar hopper was an industry standard on many railroads since the 1930's. It was adopted by the AAR as a recommended design, but fell out of favor by the mid-1950s. While offering greater capacity over cars with conventional flat sides, the original open hoppers created corrosive interaction between acidic coal and the car's joints, leading to costly rebuilding programs.

A hopper car is a type of railroad freight car used to transport loose bulk commodities such as coal, ore, grain, track ballast, and the like. The name originated from the coke manufacturing industry which is part of the steel industry (see Etymology below).

This type of car is distinguished from a gondola car in that it has opening doors on the underside or on the sides to discharge its cargo. The development of the hopper car went along with the development of automated handling of such commodities, with automated loading and unloading facilities. There are two main types of hopper car: open and covered.

Covered hopper cars are used for bulk cargo that must be protected from the elements (chiefly rain) such as grain, sugar, and fertilizer. Open cars are used for commodities such as coal, which can get wet and dry out with less harmful effect. Hopper cars have been used by railways worldwide whenever automated cargo handling has been desired.

Recently in North America the open hopper car has been in a terminal decline due to the advent of the rotary car dumper (which simply inverts the car to unload it, and has become the preferred unloading technology). A rotary dumper permits the use of simpler, tougher, more compact (because sloping ends are not required) gondola cars instead of hoppers. Covered hoppers, though, are still in widespread use. For loads that are less dense (such as grains) or susceptible to damage in the weather (such as unmixed cement), covered hoppers are normally used.

Other Rio Grande Items In HO Scale: Walthers HO Scale 30' GTW Caboose - Offset Coupla - Rio Grande / Bachmann HO Scale 2-6-2 Prairie Locomotive - Rio Grande / Trainline EMD GP9 HO Scale Locomotive - Rio Grande

Rio Grande Items In Other Scales: Bachmann On30 Scale Electric Train Set - Rio Grande / Lionel O Scale Electric Train Set - Rio Grande Flyer- Just In Time For Christmas!

News Stories About The Rio Grande: Railroad Photo Gallery - Union Pacific GP40-2 1368 (Ex Rio Grande)

Walthers HO Scale 30' GTW Caboose - Offset Coupla - Rio Grande

Walthers - Platinum Line HO Scale 30' GTW Caboose w/Offset Coupla - Rio Grande (Denver & Rio Grande Western)

Product Features

HO Caboose
For use with your scale model railroad

Product Description

Denver & Rio Grande Western(TM) HO scale Walthers Platinum Line: All the Detail with Less Work * All Grab Irons Installed * All Detail Parts Added * Metal Wheelsets * McHenry(R) Knuckle Couplers * Superb Paint & Lettering The banshee wail of a whistle splits the still summer air. Baseballs are swapped for bikes and we're flying down the dirt road to the crossing. Breathless, we wave to the engineer as the steamer puffs past. Minutes later the bright red caboose rumbles into view, a sharp contrast to the brown box cars and black hoppers in the rest of the train. This time we wave to the crewman in the cupola and wish we could trade places! For over 100 years no freight train was complete without a caboose bringing up the rear. To crews they were known as way cars, vans, cabins, buggies, hacks, crummies and dozens of other colorful nicknames. On the road, they served as office, hotel, restaurant and observation post for the conductor and flagman. Walthers brings back the glory days of the caboose with this model, based on wood-bodied cars of the 1920s fitted with stronger, safer steel underframes. Many cabooses of this era soldiered on into the 1970s so the models are the perfect complement to your favorite steam or diesel power. Each Platinum Line model comes fully assembled with all grab irons and details installed, ready for the road. Most lines owned hundreds of similar cars, so decorated models are available as 2-Packs and Single cars with three different numbers to expand your fleet in minutes. All are complete with detailed interiors, separately applied "wood" roofwalks, window glazing and molded end ladders. Leaf spring arch-bar trucks, turned-metal wheels and McHenry(R) near scale knuckle couplers complete the realistic detail.

A caboose (North American railway terminology) or brake van or guard's van (British terminology) is a manned rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.

The caboose provided the train crew with a shelter at the rear of the train. The crew could exit the train for switching or to protect the rear of the train when stopped. They also inspected the train for problems such as shifting loads, broken or dragging equipment, and hot boxes. The conductor kept records and handled business from a table or desk in the caboose. For longer trips the caboose provided minimal living quarters, and was frequently personalized and decorated with pictures and posters.

Coal or wood was originally used to fire a cast iron stove for heat and cooking, later giving way to a kerosene heater. Now rare, the old stoves can be identified by several essential features. They were without legs, bolted directly to the floor, and featured a lip on the top surface to keep pans and coffee pots from sliding off. They also had a double-latching door, to prevent accidental discharge of hot coals due to the rocking motion of the caboose.

Early cabooses were nothing more than flat cars with small cabins erected on them, or modified box cars. The standard form of the American caboose had a platform at either end with curved grab rails to facilitate train crew members' ascent onto a moving train. A caboose was fitted with red lights called markers to enable the rear of the train to be seen at night. This has led to the phrase bringing up the markers to describe the last car on a train (these lights were officially what made a train a "train"). [1]

Originally lit with oil lamps, with the advent of electricity, later caboose versions incorporated an electrical generator driven by belts coupled to one of the axles, which charged a lead-acid storage battery when the train was in motion.

Cabooses are non-revenue equipment and were often improvised or retained well beyond the normal lifetime of a freight car. Tradition on many lines held that the caboose should be painted a bright red, though on many lines it eventually became the practice to paint them in the same corporate colors as locomotives. The Kansas City Southern did something unique: They left their cabooses unpainted, but ordered them with a stainless-steel car body. These were the exception to the rule of painting cabooses.

Other Rio Grande Items In HO Scale: Bachmann HO Scale 2-6-2 Prairie Locomotive - Rio Grande / Trainline EMD GP9 HO Scale Locomotive - Rio Grande

Rio Grande Items In Other Scales: Bachmann On30 Scale Electric Train Set - Rio Grande / Lionel O Scale Electric Train Set - Rio Grande Flyer- Just In Time For Christmas!

News Stories About The Rio Grande: Railroad Photo Gallery - Union Pacific GP40-2 1368 (Ex Rio Grande)

Athearn HO Scale Bombardier Passenger Cab Car - Metrolink

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run Bombardier Passenger Cab Car, Metrolink

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Full window glazing and interiors
Razor sharp painting and printing
Weighted for optimal performance
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels

Metrolink is a regional rail system that serves Southern California.

It was established in 1991 as the "Southern California Regional Rail Authority" (SCRRA) and service began the following year. Metrolink was established by three founders, Neil Peterson, then director of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, Richard Stanger, Metrolink's first chief executive, and John Rinard, Metrolink's Chief Engineer. From 1990 to 1993, the SCRRA member agencies acquired track and other property in fee title, easement, or through operating rights from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF Railway), Southern Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific Railroad) and Union Pacific Railroad. SCRRA member agencies acquired about 200 route miles from Santa Fe for $236 million, over 200 route miles from Southern Pacific for $257 million, and 59 route miles from Union Pacific for $17 million. In 2006, it had an operating budget of $134.8 million. Since July 2005, Metrolink has been operated under contract by Veolia Transport. The contract is for five years and includes the provision of locomotive engineers and conductors. Prior to July 2005, Metrolink was operated under contract by Amtrak.

Metrolink includes lines to Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Orange County, and San Diego County. It connects with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro Rail lines at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, and with the San Diego Coaster and Sprinter at Oceanside. It also connects with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, and Sunset Limited trains. As of early 2007, it served a total of 54 stations on 388 route miles (excluding shared miles) throughout Southern California.

See Also: Athearn HO Scale Bombardier Passenger Coach - Metrolink / Metrolink Board Postpones Decision On Proposed Fare Increase

Athearn HO Scale Bombardier Passenger Coach - Metrolink

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run Bombardier Coach, Metrolink

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Full window glazing and interiors
Razor sharp painting and printing
Weighted for optimal performance
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels

Metrolink is a regional rail system that serves Southern California.

It was established in 1991 as the "Southern California Regional Rail Authority" (SCRRA) and service began the following year. Metrolink was established by three founders, Neil Peterson, then director of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, Richard Stanger, Metrolink's first chief executive, and John Rinard, Metrolink's Chief Engineer. From 1990 to 1993, the SCRRA member agencies acquired track and other property in fee title, easement, or through operating rights from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF Railway), Southern Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific Railroad) and Union Pacific Railroad. SCRRA member agencies acquired about 200 route miles from Santa Fe for $236 million, over 200 route miles from Southern Pacific for $257 million, and 59 route miles from Union Pacific for $17 million. In 2006, it had an operating budget of $134.8 million. Since July 2005, Metrolink has been operated under contract by Veolia Transport. The contract is for five years and includes the provision of locomotive engineers and conductors. Prior to July 2005, Metrolink was operated under contract by Amtrak.

Metrolink includes lines to Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Orange County, and San Diego County. It connects with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro Rail lines at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, and with the San Diego Coaster and Sprinter at Oceanside. It also connects with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, and Sunset Limited trains. As of early 2007, it served a total of 54 stations on 388 route miles (excluding shared miles) throughout Southern California.

See Also: Metrolink Board Postpones Decision On Proposed Fare Increase

Athearn HO Scale PS-2 Covered Hopper - Santa Fe

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run PS-2 2893 Covered Hopper, Santa Fe #300333

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Early version
Photo-etched roof walks
Factory installed metal grab irons

Product Description

Pullman-Standard dominated the covered hopper car market beginning in the 1950s, thanks to the design success of their PS-2 series of covered hoppers. Designed to carry bulk commodities, such as grain, cement and plastic pellets, these cars roamed the rails of North America for decades, attesting to their utilitarian functionality.

Weighted for optimum performance

Covered Hopper is a railroad freight car. They are designed for carrying dry bulk loads, varying from grain to products such as sand and clay. The cover protects the loads from the weather - dried cement would be very hard to unload if mixed with water in transit, while grain would be liable to rot if exposed to rain. However, they are unsuitable for perishables such as fruit or meat - these are transported in Refrigerator car, where they can be kept at low temperatures as well. Similar to an open hopper car, Covered Hoppers tend to contain 2, 3 or 4 separated bays. Each of these can be loaded and emptied individually, with access at the top to load the materials and visible chutes at the bottom for unloading.

Covered hoppers in North American service have been built by most of the freight car manufacturers of the 20th century. Originally, boxcars were used for the transport of bulk materials, but these had many disadvantages. Not having been specifically designed for this, it was very hard to use any form of machine to load or unload them. Also, a large amount of product was liable to be lost, either during loading or unloading, or in transit - since the cars had to be boarded up, rather than using the doors, to enclose the products.

2, 3 and 4 bay hoppers are used for different purposes - 2 bay hoppers are used for the most dense loads (such as sand), while 4 bay hoppers are more suited to lighter loads. This is due to axle load limits - for example, dry cement is very heavy in bulk quantities, and a 4-bay hopper of sand would be very likely to exceed these limits, while also having problems with increased strain upon the central span. Therefore, by trading off cubic capacity, 2 bay hoppers are able to transport these heavy loads. As technology has advanced, some of the heavier loads formerly assigned to 2-bay hoppers have been assigned to larger, more efficient 3-bay hoppers.

Large unit trains of various grain crops are a common sight in North America, reaching up to 125 cars long. These predominantly haul grain from the large farming areas of the great plains to various markets - however, there are also a number of unit trains which originate from other major farming areas, such as Illinois and Indiana. These trains may originate from a single grain elevator, or may be marshalled in a yard from various locals (short trains which serve nearby industries). The destinations tend to be large flour mills, ports (for export) or split up and delivered to multiple locations. The empty cars may return as a whole train, or may be sent back in smaller quantities on manifest trains (trains which carry just about any type of freight). These trains are used primarily for hauling products such as corn, wheat and barley.

Athearn 50ft Ice Reefer Box Car - Santa Fe (Scout)

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run 50' Ice Reefer Box Car, Santa Fe / The Scout #37299

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready to operate
Newly tooled National B-1 trucks
Includes molded and wire form grab irons, stirrup steps and recessed ladders
Positionable Santa Fe-style reversed ice hatches with etched hatch stops
Separately applied door latch bars

Product Description

HO RTR 50' Ice Reefer SF/The Scout #37299

A refrigerator (or "reefer") is a refrigerated boxcar (US) or van (UIC), a piece of railroad rolling stock designed to carry perishable freight at specific temperatures. Refrigerator cars differ from simple insulated boxcars and ventilated boxcars (commonly used for transporting fruit), neither of which are fitted with cooling apparatus. Reefers can be ice-cooled, come equipped with any one of a variety of mechanical refrigeration systems, or utilize carbon dioxide (either as dry ice, or in liquid form) as a cooling agent. Milk cars (and other types of "express" reefers) may or may not include a cooling system, but are equipped with high-speed trucks and other modifications that allow them to travel with passenger trains.

Reefer applications can be divided into five broad groups: 1) dairy and poultry producers require refrigeration and special interior racks; 2) fruit and vegetable reefers tend to see seasonal use, and are generally used for long-distance shipping (for some shipments, only ventilation is necessary to remove the heat created by the ripening process); 3) manufactured foods (such as canned goods and candy) as well as beer and wine do not require refrigeration, but do need the protection of an insulated car; 4) meat reefers come equipped with specialized beef rails for handling sides of meat, and brine-tank refrigeration to provide lower temperatures (most of these units are either owned or leased by meat packing firms); and 5) fish and seafoods are transported, packed in wooden or foam polystyrene box with crushed ice, and ice bunkers are not used generally.

See Also: Trainline HO Scale 50ft Plug Door Box Car - Western Pacific / Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Athearn HO Scale Cupola Caboose - Santa Fe

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run Cupola Caboose, Santa Fe #1992

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Full window glazing
Razor sharp painting and printing
Machined RP25 profile 33" metal wheels
McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed

Product Description

== Key Features == / / * Fully assembled and ready for your layout / * Full window glazing / * Razor sharp painting and printing / * Machined RP25 profile 33" metal wheels / * McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed / / == Specs == / / * COUPLER STYLE:McHenry Scale Knuckle / * MIN. RADIUS:18" / * Minimum Age Recommendation:14 years / * Is Assembly Required:No

See Also: Athearn HO Scale Bay Window Caboose - Southern Pacific

Trainline HO Scale 50ft Plug Door Box Car - Western Pacific

Trainline HO Scale 50' Plug-Door Box Car - Western Pacific

Product Features

Fully assembled, ready to run
Free-rolling wheels and strong metal axles
Body-mounted working knuckle couplers
Finished in authentic paint schemes

From the Manufacturer

You can move all kinds of freight down the line aboard Trainline freight cars. Finished in authentic paint schemes, these detailed models are ready to run, with free-rolling wheels, strong metal axles and body-mounted couplers.

Quality construction and features

See Also: MTH HO Scale 4-8-4 GS-6 Locomotive - Western Pacific

Athearn HO Scale 50ft Combo Door Box Car - Union Pacific

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run 50' Combo Door Box Car, Union Pacific / Map

Product Description
HO RTR 50' Combo Door Box UP/Map #166498

Athearn HO Scale Bay Window Caboose - Southern Pacific

Athearn HO Scale Ready To Run Bay Window Caboose, Southern Pacific #1437

Product Features

Fully assembled and ready for your layout
Full window glazing
Razor sharp printing and painting
Machined RP25 profile metal wheels

Product Description

== Key Features == / / * Fully assembled and ready for your layout / * Full window glazing / * Razor sharp printing and painting / * Machined RP25 profile metal wheels / * McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed / / == Specs == / / * COUPLER STYLE:McHenry knuckle spring / * RTR/KIT:Ready to Run / * MIN. RADIUS:18" / * Minimum Age Recommendation:8 years / * Is Assembly Required:No

McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers installed