Here's what TSM has to say about these 2018 models -
These distinctive 100-ton quad hoppers match the Union Pacific specification as built by Bethlehem Steel in the 1970s. Our UP replicas represent more than 6,900 quad hoppers, UP’s largest fleet of coal hoppers in company history.
The Tangent Scale Models prototype replica of the Union Pacific Bethlehem design quad hopper has never been produced in N scale, making it a distinctive addition to any freight car fleet. Our stunning N Scale Quad Hopper model is loaded with detail. We set out to produce an N Scale car that is worthy of the Tangent brand, bringing as much of our industry-leading HO Scale execution and detail as possible packed in an N Scale box. With these cars wandering far beyond just UP rails in both unit and carload services, consider adding some of these replicas to your layout or collection. So far we have produced 13 different paint schemes.
We maintain strong emphasis on accurate reproduction of the prototype, as well as disciplined execution of each model. Finally, we design our products to be utilized in operating environments. Notable callouts for our new UP Bethlehem Steel 3600 Cubic Foot Quad Hopper include -
- Highly accurate “true to life” colors
- Exact fonts and lettering placement
- Painted wire coupler lift bars for strength and durability
- Real rubber flexible air hoses
- Thin-profile brake piping
- See-through etched metal brake platform
- L-shaped end-sheet supports
- Interior bracing detail
- Body-mounted draft gear with MT-compatible couplers
- Ready-to-operate model with hidden weights
- Atlas (nee BLMA) 100-ton trucks and 36” CNC free-rolling precision metal wheels with front and back profile
- Our N Scale Bethlehem Steel Quad Hopper does not compromise to operate on toy train curves – we suggest a minimum radius of 18.75” or greater
- A “Tangent-accurate” non-symmetrical, properly-sloped coal load
- Dimensional accuracy – scaled from prototype plans
- We select car numbers from our personal photo collection, online and published sources, focusing on late era numbers to represent more than 40 years in
continuous operation
- Recommended age 14 years and older
- Our models come in plastic jewel boxes
These cars represent UP’s largest fleet of coal hoppers in company history. First produced in 1974 by Bethlehem Steel as UP class H-100-10, production of a majority of the fleet occurred in UP’s Albina Shops in Portland OR between 1976 and 1981. Production of this important fleet ended with the H-100-23 class, after UP placed more than 6,900 of these “quad” hoppers in service in the rapidly-growing Western low-sulfur coal market. These cars became the workhorses of the UP coal fleet, serving coal originations in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and the Powder River Basin, and sometimes on non-UP coal originations such as DRGW, Utah, and Wyoming & Colorado (former UP branchline). The DRGW cars became part of Union Pacific in 1996, and to this day these mines continue to load these UP quad hoppers.
UP’s quad hoppers wandered both systemwide and to offline railroads as customers sourced coal from a variety of origins. A sample destination to the west that received coal in these hoppers was Southern California’s Kaiser Steel located in Fontana CA, as well as the bulk export terminal at San Pedro. Trains of quad hoppers for these customers operated over Cajon Pass with various motive power groupings, most notably mixed DRGW and UP power (plus helpers). A few sample eastern gateways in early years were the Commonwealth Edison Co power plants at Waukegan IL and Hammond IN, Kansas City Power & Light at Kansas City MO, Illinois Central destinations for TVA in Kentucky, not to mention Eastern and Midwestern carriers both in carload (sourced for cement and other production purposes) and unit train services. These quad hoppers continue to serve, operating to customers without dedicated bank-owned coal sets, as well as services literally anywhere when customers in North America want to increase coal deliveries from UP sources. Finally, the quad hoppers have been spotted in non-coal services such as miscellaneous aggregates, coke, and sugar beet services.