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!
Asheville, North Carolina: Tangent Scale Models announces the availability today of a brand-new run of our HO Scale: Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper. We are excited to bring you this new run of paint schemes and new car numbers, for a fantastic railroad-specific coal hopper model in HO Scale.
No preorders. No waiting. These new coal hoppers are available right now.
In 1975, the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad (“B&LE”) made a significant capital investment in a new fleet of 100-ton “quad” open hoppers, the first cars of their type, to replace older home road and foreign cars. B&LE ordered 550 cars of 3400 cubic foot capacity from Pullman-Standard’s Bessemer AL plant – which was significant not only for the size of the car order, but because Pullman’s Butler PA plant was a large online customer. B&LE had multiple coal hauling lanes, and these new cars provided stronger incentive to haul coal headed to the railroad’s Lake Erie rail-water transload docks at Conneaut, OH, plus capture more “backhaul” of iron ore business offloaded from “lake boats,” headed to the region’s steel producers via the B&LE. Some of the fleet received minor carbody rebuilding in the 2000s, however most of the cars still serve on B&LE/CN today.
The Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper is a dimensionally-accurate replica of the real car, and includes accurate Wine door lock mechanisms, an Ajax brake housing with Modern brake wheel and body-mounted brake equipment and center tube linkage detail. This model includes our “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail as well as full body interior rivet detail and bracing. 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 “flood” style coal load.
It is important to note: These Pullman-Standard 3400 cubic foot quad coal hoppers are quite different from “Western Design” 3600 cubic foot, BSC “Eastern Design” 3350 cubic foot hoppers and IC “Centralia Quad” 3834 cubic foot coal hoppers, all offered by Tangent. That’s right, Tangent offers four different quad coal hoppers!
Our January 2026 release of the Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper includes three railroad schemes plus one RTR black-painted but unlettered option.
– Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE) Delivery COR-TEN Black 1975″ replicates the large 550 car delivery Pullman-Standard delivered to B&LE in 1975. The Tangent model features an accurate 1975-built Pullman body. For the car’s construction, Pullman-Standard used the distinctive Pullman “trapezoid” indentations on the flat side panels, as well as riveted construction. This Tangent model executes all of those details, inside and out. The Quad hopper bays have separate door and door frame detail. The hopper doors themselves are fitted with intricate Wine door locking mechanisms, accurate for these Pullman cars. 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. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating “Brenco-6” caps. On the car sides, Pullman painted the cars with black “strips” of paint in the two locations where identification stenciling was needed, including the B&LE initial and road number and CAPY block at left, and then the distinctive B&LE logo and COTS panels at right. Also, the center sill, end slope sheets and brake components were painted black. In between and everywhere else? COR-TEN naturally-rusted, unpainted steel. Check it out – it looks hot! We have worked hard to replicate the look of the cars in their recently-delivered, “weathered steel” appearance, which got “darker” as the cars aged. We released 24 numbers of these hoppers in 2024. Today we are releasing 24 NEW numbers (i.e. no duplication with our 2024 release) with December 1975 build dates. SKUs 32060-25 through 32060-48
– Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE) “Delivery Orange T8 and T16 Auto-Flo 2-1976” replicates two slightly different one-of-a-kind B&LE experimental hopper cars. These prototypes featured modified test outlet gate components, and because of the test nature of these cars, B&LE painted them orange. Tangent is offering these cars by popular demand resplendent in the orange paint jobs, however the outlet gates are not 100% accurate for these experimental “one-off” cars. The bodies of these orange cars are identical to the 1975-built COR-TEN cars. The Tangent model features an accurate 1975-built Pullman body. For the car’s construction, Pullman-Standard used the distinctive Pullman “trapezoid” indentations on the flat side panels, as well as riveted construction. This Tangent model executes all of those details, inside and out. The Quad hopper bays have separate door and door frame detail. The hopper doors themselves are fitted with intricate Wine door locking mechanisms, accurate for these Pullman cars. 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. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating “Timken” caps. Tangent is offering both the individual T8 and T16 Auto-Flo cars with their 2-1976 build dates. SKU 32062-01 (T-8 Auto-Flo) and SKU 32062-02 (T-16 Auto-Flo)
– Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE) “Conspicuity Repaint” 2005+ replicates the black repaint version of these B&LE hoppers, including the conspicuity striping, representing the 2005 to present era. The Tangent model features an accurate 1975-built Pullman body. For the car’s construction, Pullman-Standard used the distinctive Pullman “trapezoid” indentations on the flat side panels, as well as riveted construction. This Tangent model executes all of those details, inside and out. The Quad hopper bays have separate door and door frame detail. The hopper doors themselves are fitted with intricate Wine door locking mechanisms, accurate for these Pullman cars. 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. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating “Timken” caps. We are releasing 24 road numbers of these cars today. SKU 32063
Click here for a prototype image of a car from 2008!
We also offer one painted and unlettered RTR option, continuing our dedication to the customers that want to finish their own cars. We have painted these models black for you, so they are ready for decaling. We are modelers too, and we continue to offer undecorated products for our like-minded customers.
– Unlettered RTR PS 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper is a completely assembled RTR model, painted black and unlettered. It features the PS 3400cf quad coal hopper. This model includes Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with rotating “Brenco-6” caps and CNC-machined 36” wheels along with Genuine Kadee® scale couplers. SKU 32055-01
All of these models (with prototype Pullman-Standard coal hopper photos) can be seen at www.tangentscalemodels.com !
The Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard 3400cf 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 Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper offers an unparalleled level of accuracy, including the replication of the COR-TEN steel color! 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, 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 Pullman-Standard 3400cf Quad Coal Hopper era and railroad-specific details and variations include:
• Dimensional accuracy – designed from Pullman-Standard 3400cf 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
• Beautiful, B&LE representative “flood-style” coal load
• “See through” brake step platform
• B&LE-specific details, including correct Ajax brake wheel housing
• 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 “Brenco-6” rotating bearing caps and separate brake beam part
• 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 Pullman-Standard 3400cf 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!
