Trinity 100-ton covered hopper in HO scale by LBF offers accurate detail

An excellent model of a modern 100-ton covered hopper for grain service has been released by LBF Co. It’s a ready-to-run HO scale model of the 5,161-cubic-foot prototype introduced by Trinity Industries in 1995. Our sample car was very close to the prototype dimensions in Simmons-Boardman’s 1997 Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia. With its high side sill and thin horizontal reinforcing ribs running the length of the car along the top and bottom of the curved sides, the Trinity hopper is distinctively different from earlier grain cars.

The car features a three-piece plastic body with separate detail castings for the roof, sides and ends, and hopper bottoms. This model represents the prototype U. S.-built 10-panel hopper (12-panel hoppers were built in Mexico).

A variety of details to be applied separately include brake rigging, stirrups, grab irons, and end ladders. The car gets high points for its working roof hatches. This detail is great for modelers (myself included) who enjoy spotting their hoppers at elevators to simulate the grain-loading process. The two end hatches even have labels (on the underside) that read “cubic capacity 5,161”!

The covered hopper model includes correctly gauged brass RP25 contour wheelsets and Barber S-2 100-ton trucks. I was particularly impressed with the clearly legible raised lettering on the sideframes. Our sample car is decorated for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, owner of more than 7,000 of these cars. All of the lettering is crisp, right down to the Trinity Industries builder’s label.

Overall, LBF Co. has produced a finely detailed covered hopper that most contemporary-era modelers will be happy to run by the trainload.

HO Trinity covered hopper

Price: $31.95

Manufacturer:
LBF Co.
1931 NW Mulholland Dr.
Roseburg, OR 97470
www.lbfcompany.com

Description:
Ready-to-run plastic freight car

Features:
Brass RP25 wheelsets (in gauge)
Etched-metal running boards
McHenry magnetic knuckle couplers, mounted at the proper height
Separately applied details
Working roof hatches
51/2-ounce weight (3/4 ounce over the NMRA’s recommendation)

Road names:
Ag Processing (AGP), Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Borax; Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Canadian Pacific/Soo, Cargill, Consolidated Grain & Barge, CSX, Dakota Minnesota & Eastern, Farmland Industries (FLIX), General American Marks Co. (GACX and GATX), Illinois Central, Kansas City Southern, Kyle, Norfolk Southern, and Southern Illinois Railcar