The hauling of wood chips necessitated unique rail equipment, especially during the 1960s-70s. This included both specially built cars, such as the Greenville wood-chip hopper, and repurposed gondolas, hoppers, and boxcars that were modified with extensions.
Ready Made Toys’ (RMT) newest O gauge wood-chip hopper in the Trainmaster Premium Line goes the route of repurposing the Pullman-Standard 40-foot PS-1 boxcar tooling and adding an extension with a woodchip load to fill in. This is an enjoyable observation, not a criticism of RMT, as it faithfully replicates a practice from 50 years ago with their 1:1 counterparts.
This 40’ wood-chip car arrived at our office in the Boston & Maine livery. However, you’ll have a plethora of up to 25 road names to choose from on the RMT website, plus upcoming custom runs from other dealers and hobby shops. Please note that the RMT offerings won’t be fully available until September once the remaining orders arrive.
While affordability is a key feature of this model, the detailing remains impressive. I particularly appreciate the work on the undercarriage, an area often overlooked in budget-friendly rolling stock. The plastic wood-chip load could be improved, but it is removable for those seeking a more realistic replacement. Similar to the 40′ PS-1 boxcar, this wood-chip car measures approximately 10⅜ inches in length, making its 1:48 scale close to the accurate 10”.
Most of the graphics are well executed, especially the vibrant B&M logo. However, some printing appears crooked and not always properly aligned. The patched car number is especially noticeable upon close inspection. Despite these minor graphic issues, they are not overtly obvious to the naked eye, particularly when the car is on a layout.
Like the previous RMT rolling stock recently reviewed, this one also has new trucks. They performed flawlessly during a test run at the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club. The sticker on the clamshell packaging suggests O-31 operation, but RMT’s website states O-36. Classic Toy Trains’ Editor Rene Schweitzer emailed owner Walther Matuch to clarify, and he confirmed that O-36 is the correct designation. He also stated that the stickers have been updated to reflect this change.
Even with some minor detailing and printing imperfections, you’re going to get plenty of bang for your buck with this 40’ woodchip car. It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking to begin hauling wood chips on your layout on a budget.
Note: If you’re interested in any of RMT’s products, contact your local hobby shop or retailer. RMT does not sell direct to the customer.
RMT 40-foot wood-chip car (RMT-86442)
Features: O-36 operation, positionable doors, removable load, die-cast metal trucks
MSRP: $39.95
Website: readymadetoys.com
