Atlas, 50 005 930, N Scale, Thrall 4750 3-Bay Covered Hopper, Rail Logistics (EAFX), #16028

About the Prototype:

The Thrall 3‑bay covered hopper was first built in the late 1970s, with thousands produced for grain service. Many remain in use today, and they were operated by major railroads such as Burlington Northern and others across North America.

📖 Brief Explanation of the Thrall 3‑Bay Covered Hopper
•     Introduction & First Built:
Thrall Manufacturing Company introduced its 3‑bay covered hopper design around the late 1970s. These cars were designed with a capacity of about 4,750 cubic feet, optimized for hauling grain and other bulk commodities.
•     Production Numbers:
While exact totals are difficult to pin down, thousands of these cars were built during the production run, as nearly every major railcar manufacturer at the time offered a similar 4,750‑cu‑ft covered hopper design.
•     Railroads That Used Them:
The Thrall 3‑bay hoppers were widely adopted. Burlington Northern was a major operator, but many other railroads and private shippers also rostered them, including grain companies such as Canada Malting.
•     Current Service:
Despite being nearly 50 years old, many Thrall 3‑bay covered hoppers are still in service today, especially in grain service. Their robust design and standard 263,000‑lb gross rail load made them durable and versatile.
•     Design Features:
•     Rib‑sided body with a flat roof
•     Three bays for unloading bulk commodities
•     Shared 16.5 mm track gauge compatibility with other hopper designs
•     Used primarily for grain, but also adaptable for other bulk loads

✅ In short: The Thrall 3‑bay covered hopper was a staple of grain transport beginning in the late 1970s, with thousands built. They were used by major railroads like Burlington Northern and remain in service today, a testament to their durability and importance in North American freight rail.
Sources: Trovestar – InterMountain Thrall 4750 Hopper Prototype History

About the Model

The Atlas Trainman Thrall 4750 Covered Hopper is based on 263,000lb GRL, 4,750 cubic-foot cars used since the 1970s for hauling grain and other bulk granular commodities. It features a detailed injection-molded body, interior weights, fine decoration, appropriate free-rolling trucks and magnetic knuckle couplers.