Kato USA - 106-4652 - Gondola, Bathtub, Bethgon Coalporter - First Union Rail - 33006, 33020, 33031, 33049, 33051, 33177, 33203, 33234

Specific Item Information:
33006, 33020, 33031, 33049, 33051, 33177, 33203, 33234

Model Information: The removable coal load lets operators run full or empty between coalmine and terminal. The shock absorber construction and low-flange metal wheels provide smooth operation. The internal bracing of the tub, close coupling between cars and detail lettering on these cars make them look just like the real equipment. 8-Car Sets allow modelers to easily put together lengthy coal trains while smooth-rolling trucks make it easy for their locomotives to pull them.

Prototype History: Since 1982, the BethGon Coalporter has been hauling "black diamonds" across the United States. The largest selling Coal Gondola in the world, the car's double tub design increases hauling capacity while reducing maintenance requirements. Tubs below the car lower the center of gravity, providing a smoother ride.

Today, coal is no longer sold at the volume it once was in the United States, and many coal carrying railroad cars have sadly been left to rust. Bethgon Coalporters could transport 44,000 pounds of these “black diamonds,” a necessity for the railroad in the era of a coal-driven country; therefore, a need of recycling these cars had to be found!

Since the use of grain for animal feed is popular for farmers in the western part of the United States, Bethgons proved up for the challenge and some were converted for use as a Protein Gondola. These covered gondolas are used in freight trains in the western and southern parts of the states in long, endless fleets providing useful feed for farm animals. Since the load of feed is biodegradable and therefore needs to be delivered as quickly as possible, trains carrying these long loads are given top priority on the rails.

Road Name History: Wells Fargo Rail is the new name for the historic First Union Rail Corporation, along with the combined business of the former GE Capital Rail Services, which Wells Fargo purchased from GE in September 2015.

First Union Rail was the freight-car leasing unit of the First Union Corporation, a bank. At some point GE Capital Services, the financial services wing of the GE corporation acquired the assets from First Union bank. Later on, the assets were sold by GE to Wells Fargo.

Brand/Importer Information: KATO U.S.A. was established in 1986, with the first U.S. locomotive model (the GP38-2, in N-Scale) released in 1987. Since that time, KATO has come to be known as one of the leading manufacturers of precision railroad products for the modeling community. KATO's parent company, Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

In addition to producing ready-to-run HO and N scale models that are universally hailed for their high level of detail, craftsmanship and operation, KATO also manufactures UNITRACK. UNITRACK is the finest rail & roadbed modular track system available to modelers today. With the track and roadbed integrated into a single piece, UNITRACK features a nickel-silver rail and a realistic-looking roadbed. Patented UNIJOINERS allow sections to be snapped together quickly and securely, time after time if necessary.

The Kato U.S.A. office and warehouse facility is located in Schaumburg, Illinois, approximately 30 miles northwest of Chicago. All research & development of new North American products is performed here, in addition to the sales and distribution of merchandise to a vast network of wholesale representatives and retail dealers. Models requiring service sent in by hobbyists are usually attended to at this location as well. The manufacturing of all KATO products is performed in Japan.

Supporters of KATO should note that there is currently no showroom or operating exhibit of models at the Schaumburg facility. Furthermore, model parts are the only merchandise sold directly to consumers. (Please view the Parts Catalog of this website for more specific information.)