Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

ATLAS 105-TON ACF COALVEYOR™

MODEL RAILROADING – November 2003

N Scale Review – Kent Charles

Coal has been a significant part of railroad traffic since the invention of the train. Coal formation started millions of years ago with the accumulation of dead plant matter in a low oxygen location such as a peat bog. Over time, the peat beds were buried by sediments, and heat and pressure transformed it to lignite, a low grade coal. Additional heat and pressure converted the lignite into heavier bituminous coal. If enough heat and pressure was applied, a hard, dense and shiny anthracite was formed. The majority of coal found in the Appalachians is bituminous coal. It lies in a belt from Pennsylvania to northern Alabama, with the heaviest concentrations in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Lignite or “brown coal” is much softer and less dense than the other forms of coal and is typically found in the western United States. One of the largest areas for lignite mining is the Powder River Basin in northeastern Wyoming. A greater volume of lignite is required to produce the same amount of heat when compared to bituminous.

The different weights of coal, the mining methods, and the surrounding geography help to explain the size of cars used for coal transport by railroads. In the East, where big deposits of bituminous and anthracite are located, 50-ton, 33’ two-bay hoppers were suitable for decades due to the heavier coal, the limited production capacity of underground mines and the carrying capacity of the track. In the West, where lighter lignite coal is more common, strip mining produces larger volumes of coal. Larger volumes of coal, along with environmental regulations that favor cleaner-burning western coal, have caused a dramatic increase in the demand for rail transportation of western coal. Railroads have responded by ordering larger capacity coal cars and organizing unit coal trains. In the early 1960s, large numbers of 100-ton triple and quad hoppers were built after the AAR increased axle ratings. Coal hopper designs have continued to evolve with the introduction of better construction methods and materials. Designs for rapid bottom discharge and rotary dump hoppers are now common.

Atlas has produced a model of the prototype Coalveyor™ coal gondola first manufactured by ACF Industries in 1978. Production of this prototype design continued until 1982. Commonly referred to as a bathtub gon, the ACF design was intended to lower car weight, lower initial and maintenance costs and provide a longer car life. In sort, the car was designed to lower the cost of shipping coal. The prototype car is 53’ 1” long over the strikers, 12’ 5” high, 10’ 8” wide, and has a capacity of 4,240 cu.ft. and 105 tons. Four different cubic capacities were offered by ACF to match coal densities across the country. Cars with a 4,240 cu.ft. capacity were sold in the greatest number. The cars reinforced circular bottom configuration provides a lighter car with increased capacity.

The lack of bottom discharge gates significantly reduces maintenance costs, but means the car can only be unloaded by a rotary dumper. Rotary dump cars are equipped with a coupler on one end that will rotate 360 degrees. Loaded coal cars are moved into the dumper where they are held by large clamps and turned over to dump the load without uncoupling (the center of the circle made by the car is the coupler). The rotary coupler on one car mates with the fixed coupler on the next car. Car owners often marked the rotary end with a different solid color to make it easy for railroads to correctly orient cars in the train.

Atlas’s model of the Coalveyor continues their excellent attention to detail. My sample model matches the prototype dimensions very closely. The model is completely assembled, painted and printed. Color separation on the rotary end is straight and opaque. The printing is so sharp, it is possible to read the data on the lube plate with a loupe. End numbers are also applied. Details abound on this model. Separate side/end ladders are installed; they are made in a tough engineering plastic that can withstand normal handling without breaking. The brake wheel and stand is a separate part on the B end of the car, with the separate air reservoir/triple valve on the A end.

The model includes a metal underframe that is both detailed and heavy. The car has such a low center of gravity, it is almost impossible to turn over. A highly detailed coal load is also installed. For anyone wishing to run these cars empty, internal bracing is included in a parts package located under the car insert for modeler to install. A diagram sheet is included with instruction on how to install these supports. The model includes Atlas AccuMate® trucks and couplers. Rapido-style couplers are also included in a separate parts pack to modify the AccumMate trucks if you desire. Atlas has produced one run of these cars and announced a second run that includes a rerun of the original cars with new numbers. Twelve car numbers are available for each paint scheme. 43800 – Undecorated, 43801 – NPPX-Nebraska Public Power (Black w/Yellow End), 43802 – OGSX-Iowa Southern Utilities (Black w/White End), 43804 – UFIX-Utility Fuels (Black w/Orange End), 43805 – DAPX-Dairyland Power Cooperative (Black w/Blue End), 43807 – WEPX-Wisconsin Electric Power Co. (Black w/Yellow End), and 43808 – WPSX- Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (Black w/Blue End). Retail $14.95 (decorated); $10.95 (undecorated).