InterMountain - 65378-22 - Covered Hopper, 3-Bay, Thrall 4750 - Farmers Co-op of Dallas Center - 56461

Specific Item Information: Built: NEW 10-74

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: The "original" Heartland Co-op was formed in 1987 with a merger of three cooperatives with facilities in Panora, Dallas Center, Minburn and Granger. Panora Farmers Cooperative was formed in 1947. Farmers Cooperative Company of Dallas Center was formed in 1919. Minburn had been a private elevator until it became Minburn Cooperative Elevator in 1945. Minburn purchased a private agronomy plant located at Granger in 1986. In a 1991 merger, Booneville Cooperative Elevator Company (a cooperative formed in 1949) was added through a merger. In the following year, 1992, Laverty Elevators (a private elevator) in Indianola, was purchased.

The Heartland Co-op that exists today was formed in 1993 with a merger of the "original" Heartland Co-op, Alleman Cooperative Company, Mitchellville Cooperative, and the facilities previously owned by Avon Grain Company at Carlisle and at East 18th Street in Des Moines. Farmers Cooperative Elevator of Alleman became a cooperative in 1934. Alleman purchased a cooperative at Cambridge in 1947. They continued to grow by merging in 1964 with a cooperative in Napier. In 1977, Alleman built a grain facility in Slater. Both Madrid and Luther locations were purchased in 1981 from another cooperative. Mitchellville Cooperative was formed in 1951 which evolved from a business selling feed and live baby chickens.

Heartland Co-op continued to grow when in 1997, agronomy facilities at Elkhart, Nevada and Redfield were purchased from Central Iowa Farm Service. Another acquisition in 1997 included Baer Ag, Inc., a private company with a full service location in Waukee and an agronomy outlet located in Dexter.

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.