Public Service Announcement: Please note that as of January 4, 2024, we have sold out the IC and ICG paint schemes on our new IC Centralia Shops 3834 coal hoppers. Our Inland Steel and undecorated models remain in stock. This sellout was significantly faster than we anticipated, and we will remedy that with a release of new cars at a future date. We hear you and understand your frustration. Thank you for your business with Tangent!
Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order these HO scale replicas!
In 1968, Southern Illinois and Kentucky Bituminous coal was on the rise. In response to increased carloadings and unit train opportunities, the Illinois Central Railroad (“IC”) tasked its own Centralia, Illinois, Car Shops to modernize the IC coal hopper fleet. Their answer was an all-new 100-ton 3834 cubic foot Quad Coal Hopper. These modern coal hoppers utilized exterior-post construction and quad unloading chutes. Centralia Shops built multiple orders of the cars on an assembly line between 1968 and 1977, averaging 8 cars per day during assembly line production. 3,420 “Centralia Quads” became the backbone of the IC(G)’s modern coal hauling capacity. IC/ICG Centralia also built an additional 330 cars built for Inland Steel and 50 cars for Indianapolis Power & Light.
The Tangent Scale Models IC Centralia Shops 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper system features multiple era-specific bodies covering the original 1968-1977 built variants. Our model is a dimensionally-accurate replica of the real car, and includes other key build variations such as bay door locking mechanisms, brake housings, brake equipment and end frames. This replica includes our “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail as well as full body interior rivet detail. Our ready-to-operate replica is finished with separate, real wire grab irons, coupler lift bars, rubber air hoses, genuine Kadee® scale couplers, accurate CNC-machined wheels, 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific rotating bearing caps and sufficient hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. Finally, our model includes a realistic, removeable coal load of either the “flood” or “tipple” style.
Our January 1, 2024 debut of the IC/ICG Centralia Shops 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper includes three railroad schemes, four RTR unlettered options plus separate “Hopper Topper” 3-Packs.
– IC “Delivery Black 1968” replicates the large 1,000 car delivery for the IC in 1968. The Tangent model features an accurate 1968 body, with two stand-off grab irons on the left side of the body. Centralia was a big believer in rivet construction, and this hopper is full of them, inside and out! The Quad bays have separate door and door frame detail. The hopper doors themselves are fitted with intricate Keystone Monoloc locking mechanisms, accurate for this 1968 delivery of IC cars. If you peek at the centersill, you will notice the proper hanging brake linkage running between the bays, including the automatic slack adjuster with its protective shield. The B-End of the car has an accurate Ajax high handbrake, Morton brake step and modern brake wheel. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) tipple-style coal load. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating Timken caps. IC painted the cars black with the classic orange “Split Rail” logo on the right. These Illinois Central models are available in 24 numbers with month-specific build dates and date-related data: SKUs -01 through -12 are 8-68. SKUs -13 through -24 are 9-68. SKU 32110
Our IC/ICG quad hoppers come with beautiful tipple loads. Like this:
– INLX Inland Steel “Delivery Black 6-1968″ models the 270 car delivery for Inland Steel, built by Centralia in 1968. Inland Steel cars were used on IC-powered unit trains that ran between Inland Mine No. 1 near Sesser, IL and the Inland Steel Plant in East Chicago, Indiana. Heads up ATSF guys: We also have photo evidence of the Inland Steel unit train cars running Westbound – loaded – on the ATSF through Joliet, IL in 1976! The Tangent INLX cars feature a 1968 body with the two separate grab irons on the left side. The hopper doors have the same Keystone Monoloc locking mechanisms as the sister IC cars, along with hanging brake linkage running between the bays. The B-End of the car has an accurate Ajax high handbrake, Morton brake step and modern brake wheel. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) flood-style coal load, accurate for the Inland No.1 Mine coal loader at Sesser, IL. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating Timken caps. Centralia painted the cars black with Inland’s diamond logo and large “INLAND STEEL” graphics. Did you notice that “extra tall” ACI label on the side of the car? The INLX cars utilized an extra 3-digits on the ACI “barcode” to denote the first three digits of the cars light weight. This assisted Inland Steel in their automated weighing of the cars. Of course, we have carefully duplicated this neat little piece of lettering. Finally, your Inland Steel trains can have accurate Centralia Quad Hoppers, and not stand-in models! These INLX models are available in 12 numbers with varying CAPY and date-related data. SKU 32111
– ICG “Delivery Black 1972” shows the first 100 coal cars delivered new to the ICG in 1972. The Tangent model features an accurate body for this 1972 group – that means these is now a full two-rung ladder on the left side of the car instead of the earlier-style separate grab irons. The Quad bays have separate door and door frame detail. The hopper doors themselves are fitted with intricate Keystone Monoloc locking mechanisms, accurate for this 1972 ICG delivery. Looking closely at the centersill, you will notice that there is no visible linkage between the bays. Yes, this is accurate — these cars were built with the linkage in a hidden center tube that runs the length of the car, hidden by the centersill. The B-End of the car has an accurate Ajax high handbrake, Morton brake step and modern brake wheel. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) tipple-style coal load. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating Timken caps. ICG painted the cars black with the new ICG black “I-Ball” logo inside an orange circle. A fun fact: Centralia built this ICG series in “reverse” order, and we have duplicated that with the execution of the date-related data on the car numbers. These cars are a big deal for the ICG modelers out there. Do not miss out. Available in 24 numbers: SKUs -01 through -12 are 10-72. SKUs -13 through -24 are 9-72. SKU 32112
– ICG Orange Hopper Topper 3-Pack 1973+ illustrates a railroad in problem-solving mode. In 1973, the ICG experienced record levels of grain shipments from Iowa and Minnesota. The ICG’s grain hopper fleet utilization was stretched to its limits, and Centralia Quad hoppers were quicky pressed into service, utilizing plastic tarps for weather protection. A more elegant solution was proposed by Proform Incorporated in Minneapolis, MN: a fiberglass top that could be bolted onto the Centralia Quad. This “Hopper Topper” allowed ICG to convert the 100-ton coal hopper fleet to grain service as needed, and providing shippers an additional 7,000 pounds of hauling capacity with trough hatch loading capability and weather protection. Successful tests concluded in the summer of 1973, and Proform was delivering “Hopper Toppers” by the end of the year to Paducah KY. It took 30 minutes to attach the fiberglass cover to a hopper, and the cars were put into use hauling wheat, corn, and soybeans. These Tangent covers feature prototype accuracy and were designed from real photos and blueprints and feature a beautiful etched metal Morton walkway. While this truly innovative solution was utilized by other railroads in later years, our Hopper Topper replicas are designed to fit the Tangent IC/ICG Centralia Shops 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper. SKU 32109-01 (3-pack of Hopper-Topper Covers)
Additional prototype information about these cars:
Illinois Central and Illinois Central Gulf coal loadings served customers far and wide across IC(G) rails and beyond. As part of IC/ICG’s hopper pool, the Centralia Quads served coal to big customers like power plants, river barge loading points and export terminals, both online and offline. While IC/ICG online customers were numerous (i.e. coal originating on the IC and destined for a customer on the IC), here are some interesting offline destination examples:
- Central Illinois Public Service Co. (N&W, Meredosia, IL)
- Georgia Power Co. (SOU, Yates, GA)
- Inland Steel (INLX Cars, East Chicago, IN)
- Iowa Southern Utilities Co. (BN, Burlington, IA)
- Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (CSS&SB, Baileytown, IN)
- Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (EJ&E, Gary, IN)
- Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (CSS&SB, Michigan City, IN)
- Wisconsin Electric (C&NW, Oak Creek, WI)
- Wisconsin Electric (BRC, Barge transfer on Calumet River & 101st St in Chicago)
Inland Steel cars were used on IC-powered unit trains that ran between Inland Mine No. 1 near Sesser, IL and the Inland Steel Plant in East Chicago, Indiana. Heads up ATSF guys: We also have photo evidence of the Inland Steel unit train cars running Westbound – loaded – on the ATSF through Joliet, IL in 1976!
It is important not to forget about all that “small coal” too: IC/ICG Centralia Quads also served customers needing smaller blocks of cars and even single car loads of Southern Illinois coal. There are countless examples, but here are a few “small coal” movements for offline customers from waybill research:
- Associated Electric Cooperative (south of Bevier, MO on the Bevier & Southern -BV&S!)
- Ashland Chemical Co. (TP&W, Mapleton, IL)
- Caterpillar Tractor Co. (CRI&P, Joliet, IL)
- Dundee Cement (BN, Clarksville, MO)
- Iowa Pride Packing Co. (BN, Ottumwa, IA)
- Penick & Ford (CRANDIC, Cedar Rapids, IA)
- Sunset Coal Sales (N&W, Columbia, MO)
- Washington University (N&W, St. Louis, MO)
Photo research shows the IC(G) Centralia Quads certainly got around with all that “small coal” revenue, well outside of IC(G) rails. Photo locations include places like Waseca MN (CNW), Conneaut OH (PC), Willard OH (B&O), Youngstown OH, Allentown, PA (LV), Milwaukee WI (CNW), Tampa FL (SCL) and even Spokane, WA (MILW)!
Besides coal, Centralia Quads were also utilized in scrap metal loading and corn cob loading. Here is a car in scrap metal service, still relatively clean in the IC era – offline in Milwaukee WI on Chicago & North Western!
And here is one of the coal hoppers in corn cob service, in Chicagoland in 1982!
In 1973, the ICG experienced record levels of grain shipments from Iowa and Minnesota. The ICG’s grain hopper fleet utilization was stretched to its limits, and Centralia Quad hoppers were quicky pressed into service, utilizing plastic tarps for weather protection. A more elegant solution was proposed by Proform Incorporated in Minneapolis, MN: a fiberglass top that could be bolted onto the Centralia Quad. This “Hopper Topper” allowed ICG to convert the 100-ton coal hopper fleet to grain service as needed, and providing shippers an additional 7,000 pounds of hauling capacity. Successful tests concluded in the summer of 1973, and Proform was delivering “Hopper Toppers” by the end of the year to Paducah KY. It took 30 minutes to attach the fiberglass cover to a hopper, and the cars were put into use hauling wheat, corn, and soybeans. We already showed the photo of ICG 363008 above with its hopper topper in Council Bluffs, IA. This was not a one-time thing though, Hopper Toppers were used seasonally by the ICG through at least 1980, and the cars were treated the same as any other covered hopper in grain service – including offline use on other railroads. Here is one in a local train on Conrail!
While 2,494 cars were rebuilt into visually different 3614cf cars between 1980-1982, over 700 cars survived past 1982 in their original build configuration. Some original Centralia Quads would see extended lives on ICG spin-offs like the Chicago Central and Paducah & Louisville. The original fleet of Centralia Quads dwindled quickly through the early 1990s. Here is one with Chicago Central marks, living its last days back on rails near its Centralia IL birthplace.
The Tangent Scale Models IC/ICG Centralia 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper is a state of the art, dimensionally-accurate scale replica with highly accurate “true-to-life” colors and precise letter stencils. Our IC Centralia 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper system of models offers a multitude of detail variations and phases to replicate the many different Centralia offerings. Example variations include: 1968, 1969, 1972 and 1977 body assembly builds. This replica includes our fine “near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail. Our ready-to-operate replica is finished scale metal grab irons, coupler lift bars, accompanying Kadee® scale couplers and NMRA-compliant yet hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. At more than 120 parts per car, not to mention phase accurate details, genuine Kadee couplers, and all-metal wheels, we provide you with a high-value model that will provide you with years of enjoyment and curb-appeal.
These products are shipping today! A quick synopsis of our IC Centralia Quad 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper era and railroad-specific details and variations include:
- Dimensional accuracy – designed from IC Centralia Shops Quad 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper plans and verified with field measurements
- Highly correct “true to life” colors
- Industry-leading “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
- Genuine Kadee® scale couplers
- “Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail
- Multiple road numbers for each scheme
- Multiple IC/ICG Centralia 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977 bodies and assembly builds, with end frame, ladder assemblies and brake gear details
- Two coal load options: Flood vs. Tipple Style
- “See through” brake step platform
- Proform Incorporated “Hopper Topper” roof covers with etched metal running boards available separately
- Road-specific details for each scheme, including 6 brake wheel housing options and 2 different routing board options.
- Beautiful details including separately-applied scale wire grab irons and coupler lift bars – no “molded on” plastic grab irons or “thick” plastic grab iron parts anywhere on this replica!
- Separate flexible rubber air hoses
- CNC-machined 36” wheels with accurate front and back detail
- Our precision Tangent Scale Models 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific rotating bearing caps (four possible options!) and separate brake beam part (2 possible options!)
- Weighted to NMRA specifications – yes, even with the coal load removed!
- Recommended age 14 years and older
Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models IC/ICG Centralia 3834cf Quad Coal Hopper.
Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order!
