Atlas Trainman, N Scale, 50005927, Thrall 4750 Covered Hopper, Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern, #3169

The Thrall 4750 Covered Hopper was built starting in the late 1970s by Thrall Car Manufacturing Company. These hoppers had a capacity of 4,750 cubic feet and a gross rail loading (GRL) of 263,000 lbs, making them ideal for grain transport. Thousands of these cars were produced to meet the demands of various railroads.

The Thrall 4750 Covered Hoppers were widely used by railroads such as Burlington Northern and many others. They featured three bays and rib sides, with a flat roof. Over time, the design underwent several revisions to improve efficiency and performance

These covered hoppers remained in service for several decades, but they began to be gradually replaced starting in the late 1980s and early 1990s as newer models with improved safety and efficiency features were introduced. Despite their retirement from active service, some of these hoppers are still in use today for specialized or regional applications

The Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway (MN&S), also known as the Dan Patch Line, was a short-line railroad that operated between Crystal and Northfield, Minnesota, from 1918 to 1982. Here's a brief history:

• Incorporation and Early Years: The MN&S was incorporated in 1918 to take over the trackage of the former Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester & Dubuque Electric Traction Company, also known as the Dan Patch Lines. The original plans for the Dan Patch Line included an electrified railroad, but it ultimately used steam engines for freight and gas-electric locomotives for passenger service2.

• Route and Connections: The main route of the MN&S ran through the western and southern suburbs of Minneapolis, with important connections leading to the Rock Island, the Chicago Great Western, and the Milwaukee Road. The southern terminus was at Northfield1.

• Freight and Passenger Service: The MN&S served as a profitable bridge line, routing traffic past the crowded freight yards of the Twin Cities. It offered passenger service using "doodlebugs," unique gas-electric hybrid locomotives1.

• Acquisition and Merger: On June 2, 1982, the MN&S was acquired by the Soo Line Railroad, which operated it as a separate railroad until merging it on January 1, 1986. Today, most of its original network remains in operation under the Twin Cities & Western and Progressive Rail3.

[1]mnopedia.org [2]en.wikipedia.org [3]american-rails.com