Fox Valley - 83400 - Gondola, Bathtub, Southern Silverside - Undecorated

Model Information: Fox Valley first announced this car in May of 2014 when they showed samples. The first release of Southern cars was available in June of 2015. A second release of new road numbers for Southern as well as Norfolk Southern was announced in June of 2016 and delivered in March of 2017. The NS models feature a complex 'layered' paint finish based on prototype photos taken by the company back in 1991 in Dalton Georgia.

Features: Includes separate brake wheel when etched metal brake platforms; Underbody detail and optional interior bracing; Optional side bracing to detail specific cars; Cars are weighted to run long empty trains; Free rolling metal wheelsets.

Prototype History: One of Southern's achievements was the "Silverside" equipment used on the unit trains for the coal transloading operation. The name comes from the aluminum body that holds more than 100 tons of payload. It was the first freight car of its kind when designed by Southern in 1959. The manner in which Southern first put "Silversides" to work, in January of 1960, was new at the time. The cars operated in round-trip operation between a high-production coal mine and a power plant in Alabama. This operation was the first application of the unit train concept in America.

Road Name History: Although they may be molded in color, unpainted and unlettered, undecorated products are marketed to modelers who seek to custom decorate their models for private roads and/or road and/or company names that were not commercially produced by any of the major manufacturers.

Undecorated models are frequently also unassembled or only partially assembled and required modelers to be comfortable with glue, paint and sometimes solder in order to prepare their models for display. Materials for these models can vary but often include plastic, pewter and resin. Models may or may not come with decals or other decorations such as plastic signage, railings and ladders to enhance the appearance of the final product.

Brand/Importer Information: Fox Valley Models is a small supplier of model railroad and related products. FVM started by finding solutions to different challenges that model railroaders were faced with. Our first products resulted from a need to equip custom built passenger cars with tinted windows made of an ideal material; thin, flexible, easy to cut, simple to install, available in multiple colors and be affordable. We met those needs and even included a frosted version for the car's lavatory windows.

Other challenges inspired additional products including wooden grade crossings, trestles and different lineside structures. As our product line expands, input and requests from friends and customers help shape the product selection further.

Future products, under development, include more parts, structures, details and rolling stock. We strive to offer a good quality product at an affordable price.