Micro-Trains - 451 54 330 - Trailer, 45 Foot, Box - 250176

Specific Item Information: Built in the early 1980s for the rapidly expanding “Golden Pig” intermodal service, these 45-foot trailers could be found atop 89’ flatcars through the 1980s before being replaced by longer 48’ trailers. Southern Pacific was a Class 1 railroad from 1865 until 1996, when it was absorbed by Union Pacific after falling on hard times financially in the 1970s and 1980s.

Model Information: The trailers come with two styles of landing gear. The short landing gear is in elevated position when being hauled by tractors or carried on a flat car (supplied as separate part in the box). The longer extended landing gear is used when the trailer is standing alone (installed by default).
Rolling wheels.
The model can be super-detailed by painting the inside of the wheels, brake and running lights, as well as the mud flats in order to bring out the Fruehauf name and star.

Prototype History: A box trailer is one of the most common trailers in the road transport industry. These trailers are used for transporting all kinds of cargo on the nation's highways.

A 45 foot trailer can typically haul more than 70,000 pounds of cargo and weighs (unladen) about 12,000 pounds. The volume allows for about60 retail sized (48" x 20") pallets. Alternatively, it can hail about 30 Military ISO containers at (35" x 45.5"). This sized trailer is often used for international shipping in North America (Canada and Mexico).

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide