NK-18 - GATX Pressure-Flow Cement Car

N SCALE

GATX Pressure-Flow Cement Car

This is a resin kit with etched brass details (trucks, couplers, decals and weights not included). It is based on Dragon, SCL, SAL, BN and CB&Q prototypes.

In 1965, General American Transportation Corporation (GATX), designed a new-style covered hopper called “Pressure-Slide” for the transporting of dry bulk material. They provided only one compartment that was pneumatically discharged using an elaborate low pressure (50-80 p.s.i.) air ductwork system. The unique shape of the tank quickly led to their nickname, “whale-belly hoppers.” The 38’ 7” long cars had a capacity of 2,800 cubic feet (100-ton) of material.

The Seaboard Air Line (SAL) purchased 50 from GATX in 1966. Classed LS-21, they were assigned road Nos. 7050 through 7099. These were equipped with A-3 Ride Control trucks and Timkin roller bearings. All cars were assigned to service out of Lehigh, FL. The SAL cars became Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) cars 747050 through 747099 in 1967. Some of these cars are still in service on the CSX.

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) purchased 50 of these cars from GAT Corp. in January 1967. Classed LO-9, they were assigned road Nos. 84950 through 84999. An unusual feature of these cars was the obvious omission of a Burlington Route herald from the paint scheme. They were immediately placed in cement service over the whole system. The CB&Q cars became Burlington Northern (BN) cars 495000 through 495049 in 1970 and were eventually repainted with black, stacked Burlington Northern lettering and a large BN logo. After being removed from service on the BN some were sold to Dragon Cement, a northeastern cement company and are still in service with bold DRAGON lettering on their sides.