AZL - 90106-1 - Gondola, Bathtub, Bethgon Coalporter - Chicago Heights Terminal - 4-Pack

Specific Item Information: Road Numbers: 503281, 503320, 503337, 503400

Prototype History: Since 1982, the BethGon Coalporter has been hauling "black diamonds" across the United States. The largest selling Coal Gondola in the world, the car's double tub design increases hauling capacity while reducing maintenance requirements. Tubs below the car lower the center of gravity, providing a smoother ride.

Today, coal is no longer sold at the volume it once was in the United States, and many coal carrying railroad cars have sadly been left to rust. Bethgon Coalporters could transport 44,000 pounds of these “black diamonds,” a necessity for the railroad in the era of a coal-driven country; therefore, a need of recycling these cars had to be found!

Since the use of grain for animal feed is popular for farmers in the western part of the United States, Bethgons proved up for the challenge and some were converted for use as a Protein Gondola. These covered gondolas are used in freight trains in the western and southern parts of the states in long, endless fleets providing useful feed for farm animals. Since the load of feed is biodegradable and therefore needs to be delivered as quickly as possible, trains carrying these long loads are given top priority on the rails.

Road Name History: CHTT was established in 1898 by the Chicago Heights Land Association to be a neutral switching line for industries in the Chicago Heights area of Illinois. They operated (at the peak) 20 miles of track, seven of which were the mainline which forms an oval. Chicago & Eastern Illinois bought a controlling interest in the road in 1927 with the Kilgallen family retaining the remaining shares. Lettering locomotives for CHTT was discontinued after C&EI was acquired by Missouri Pacific in 1967. CHTT is still active, now under the Union Pacific flag and includes a Ford stamping plant among its customers. UP also still applies CHTT reporting marks to many freight cars depending on their lease/ownership arrangement.

Brand/Importer Information: AZL is the leader in North American Z scale locomotives and rolling stock. Since 2000, AZL has released a vast variety of freight, passenger and locomotives. AZL continues to push the boundaries of Z scale with amazing details and incredible performance. No matter if you are looking to run steam, or the most modern diesels, AZL has something for you.