By Railroad Model Craftsman Staff

Prairie Shadows Model Railway Co. has announced it will be selling the Trenton Works 5250 cubic foot covered hopper for the first time ever in HO scale. The hoppers were used by Canadian National, Norfolk Southern and others. 

Between 1995 and 1996, Trenton Works in Nova Scotia built over 1,000 of these cars for CN. The cars were popular because they could hold 500 cubic feet more than the average hopper at the time. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool also acquired some of the hoppers. Over the years, that first lot of cars have been sold to second owners, including the St. Mary’s Railway and Norfolk Southern. 

Prairie Shadows will be doing 12 different variations of the cars with five different body types. The new cars will feature three outlet gate variations; three handbrake variations; two different hatch styles; two different types of end frame ladders; two variations of train brake lines; and two styles of trucks. All cars will come with metal wheels, Kadee couplers, etched roof walks and separately applied grab irons. The cars will be painted for CN, PLMX, POOL, FURX, NS or NOKL. The cars will sell for $49.99. For more information, visit PrairieShadows.com.