Atlas - 50 005 929 - Covered Hopper, 3-Bay, Thrall 4750 - Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern - 3303

Model Information: Atlas introduced this model in 2007. This covered hopper model is based on a late 1970s 263,000 lbs GRL (Gross Rail Loading) 4750 cubic-foot capacity designed by Thrall Car primarily for grain transport. It features a weighted body, AccuMate Knuckle Couplers, and accurate painting and lettering.

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: In 1924 Stephan Schaffan, Sr. founded the Atlas Tool Company in Newark, New Jersey. In 1933 his son, Stephan Schaffan, Jr., came to work for his father at the age of sixteen. Steve Jr. built model airplanes as a hobby and frequented a local hobby shop. Being an enterprising young man, he would often ask the owner if there was anything he could do to earn some extra spending money. Tired of listening to his requests, the hobby-store owner threw some model railroad track parts his way and said, "Here, see if you can improve on this".

In those days, railroad modelers had to assemble and build everything from scratch. Steve Jr. created a "switch kit" which sold so well, that the entire family worked on them in the basement at night, while doing business as usual in the machine shop during the day.

Subsequently, Steve Jr. engineered the stapling of rail to fiber track, along with inventing the first practical rail joiner and pre-assembled turnouts and flexible track. All of these products, and more, helped to popularize model railroading and assisted in the creation of a mass-market hobby. The budding entrepreneur quickly outgrew the limitations of a basement and small garage operation. Realizing they could actually make a living selling track and related products, Steve and his father had the first factory built in Hillside, New Jersey at 413 Florence Avenue in 1947. On September 30, 1949, the Atlas Tool Company was officially incorporated as a New Jersey company.

In 1985, Steve was honored posthumously for his inventions by the Model Railroad Industry Association and was inducted into the Model Railroad Industry Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, Steve was nominated and entered into the National Model Railroad Association Pioneers of Model Railroading in 1995.

In the early 1990s, the Atlas Tool Company changed its name to Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc.