InterMountain - 65353-14 - Covered Hopper, 3-Bay, Thrall 4750 - Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern - 3014

Specific Item Information: Built: NEW 9-74

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: MN&S launched in 1918 to take over the former Dan Patch Lines that had fallen into bankruptcy two years before. MN&S inherited the Dan Patch nickname (named after a race horse.) The line was 87 miles long, running from Minneapolis south to Northfield, Minnesota. The new owners promoted the line as a bypass around the Twin City’s terminals. MN&S connected with the original Soo Line at Crystal, Minneapolis & St. Louis, and Great Northern at Glenwood, the Omaha Road at Savage, and Chicago Great Western, Milwaukee Road, and Rock Island at Northfield. Passenger service was provided with gas-electric cars into the 1940s. In addition to transferring blocks of cars between the Twin City’s various Class One railroads, the MN&S also had a significant number of on line customers.

The early diesel years brought Fairbanks Morse and Baldwin engines to the property. These included one each of H12-44, H10-44, VO1000 and a pair of VO660 switcher. To handle MN&S’s heavy transfer trains, they used Baldwin’s massive 6 axel center cab units, a single RT-624 and five DT6-6-2000’s. They also had a single Baldwin road switcher, a DRS6-6-1500. As the Baldwins wore out, they were replaced with six SW1200’s, two SW1500’s and a pair of SD39’s.

In 1982, Soo Line bought the MN&S. They were planning on acquiring the Milwaukee Road (which was in bankruptcy at the time) and needed the MN&S to connect their own line at Crystal with the MILW at Northfield. MN&S was operated separately until 1986 when it was merged into Soo Line.

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.