InterMountain - 65289-04 - Covered Hopper, 3-Bay, Thrall 4750 - NEW Cooperative - 19534

Specific Item Information: Built: NEW 8-79

Model Information: Rib-side, 3-bay covered hoppers. 4750 cubic foot capacity. Features etched metal roofwalks, sharp painting and lettering, multiple road numbers per paint scheme, and metal wheels (at least for the 2017 release - earlier releases likely have plastic wheelsets).

InterMountain does not refer to a specific prototype on their website for this model, but I have seen it referred to as both a PS (Pullman-Standard) as well as a Thrall. Perhaps the model has elements of both prototypes baked into the molding? Would love to hear from a prototype expert on this one...

Prototype History: Starting around 1970 or so, every major railcar manufacturer produced a 4750 cubic foot covered hopper. Thrall was no exception. To be honest, these hoppers all look pretty similar. To make matters worse, these cars were modified as improvements were made to the design. In the case of the Thrall model, at least two major revisions were made to this car during the period in which it was produced. The cars were built starting in the late 1970s, this 263,000 lbs GRL (Gross Rail Loading) car is used primarily for grain transport. The thrall models feature 3 bays and rib sides. The roof is flat. These cars were used by the Burlington Northern in large numbers as well as by many other railroads.

Road Name History: 1973 Members of farmers’ cooperatives in Badger and Vincent, (Northeast Webster County) Iowa agree to merge creating NEW Cooperative Inc. During the first operational year, Duncombe farmers voted to add their rail location to the mix. 1978 NEW Cooperative expanded to include locations in Fort Dodge, Otho and Roelyn. The unification gave NEW flexibility to load unit trains on two railroads. 1995 When farmer-owners in Humboldt decided to join with NEW, total grain-storage capacity grew to 28 million bushels at 14 locations. 2017 A new pelleting feed mill opened in Pomeroy and the Board of Directors approved the plans to build another feed mill in Rowan to become operational in the summer of 2018. The membership of Berne Cooperative, headquartered in Ute, with another elevator location in Mapleton, voted to sell their assets to NEW Cooperative and became a part of the NEW family on August 1st. On September 1st, NEW Cooperative, Inc. purchased a grain elevator south of Anthon, Iowa previously owned by Platinum Grain LLC. This location, built in 2012 has storage capacity of 3 million bushels and will operate well with the locations NEW Cooperative currently has in the area.

Brand/Importer Information: InterMountain was founded in 1985 by Fred Brummet. They got started in the model railroad business by producing O-Scale model kits. They got started in the N Scale business almost a decade later when in 1994 they introduced the 40-23 reefer car in kit form. Later, in 1998, they started producing RTR (Ready-to-Run) models. By the early 2000s, InterMountain phased out kit production in favor of the RTR models.

The InterMountain Railway company is located at 1224 Boston Ave in Longmont, CO. They are a manufacturer of HO, N and Z scale model trains. They have produced kits as well as RTR (Ready-To-Run) models. Their N Scale products include locomotives as well as rolling stock. Their rolling stock lineup includes Boxcars, Hoppers, Tank Cars, Reefers, Gondolas, Stock Cars and Flatcars.

Their locomotive releases have primarily been diesel units, with the one major exception being their series of AC-12 Cab Forward steam locos. Their diesel lineup includes F3's, F7's, F9's, SD40's, SD45's and FT units. They are known for quality and detail. They also release their rolling stock in larger varieties of road numbers than most of the other manufacturers.