Rivet Counter N Scale 4727 Carbon Black Covered Hopper, Sid Richardson/SRCX (R2)

ScaleTrains.com is the only manufacturer to offer N Scale plastic models of contemporary Thrall 5750 cubic foot and Thrall 4727 cubic foot carbon black covered hoppers. The 5750 represents the 1970s to present while the 4727 is appropriate for the 1990s to today.

Found throughout North America, these unique freight cars are commonly found in large groups near major carbon black producers or users.  They can also be seen singularly or in small blocks of cars in mixed freight trains.  Both prototypes were painstakingly researched from field documentation, photographs, reference books, and builder drawings.

In 1992, Thrall introduced the 4727 cubic foot carbon black covered hopper.  In contrast with the boxy 5750cf design, this newer design more closely resembles traditional covered hoppers.  Similar in appearance to “high-hip” grain hoppers, these cars featured three bays, external posts, and “open” ends with visible slope sheets.   Common with their larger 5750cf cousins, these 70-ton cars feature “butterfly” outlets, multiple round loading hatches on the car roof (22 or 28 depending upon customer specifications), and sampling spigots mounted into small indents in the car sides.  Many of these cars are still in service today.