General American Transportation Corporation produced more than 5,000 of these 4180 cubic foot Airslide covered hoppers between 1963 and 1980 as a response to customer demand for larger covered hoppers capable of handling bulk commodities. These very common cars continued General American’s “Airslide” family innovations from the 1950s, and proved valuable to bulk shippers who wanted a larger car than the earlier-design 2600 cubic foot cars provided.

The Tangent Scale Models GA 4180 Airslide covered hopper is similar to previous Tangent releases with a consistent focus on phase variations that mirror prototype build changes over time. For this car, there are three very different variations of the carbody and associated details to replicate cars built between 1965 and 1980. While all 4180 airslides may look the same at first glance, they are not.

BNSF “Buffer Car” #4 is BNSF road number #808157. It represents a BNSF GATC 4180 that has been changed from revenue service to buffer car service, restenciled by MEI (Metro East Industries in East St.Louis IL) in the year 1998. This car includes conspicuity stripes. It includes tons of fine stencil lettering, just like the lettering found on the real car, such as “BUFFER SVC ONLY DO NOT LOAD.” Like the other road numbers we offer, this car also includes the gray anti-skid paint on the roof that helps a customer avoid slipping on the sloped roof pitch when stepping off of the roofwalk to open the hatches. However, this gray paint pattern on the roof is different from the car above. This is the fourth of four BNSF buffer car service road numbers available for BNSF, correctly detailed for the 1970s-built prototype this car represents.

Features:

• Dimensional accuracy – designed from General American plans and verified with field measurements
• Fully assembled and ready to run
• Detailed underframe  pipe arrangements
• Highly correct “true to life” colors
• Hyper-Accurate lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
• Kadee scale couplers
• Near-scale draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side key detail
• See through etched metal running boards
• 3 specific production variations that highlight production from 1965-1980, including different roofs, running boards (Apex or Morton), body side post (“rib”) profiles, high and low brake arrangements on the B end, different ladder and grab iron arrangements, with or without crossover platforms and handrails, etc.
• Wire grab irons and coupler lift bars
• Separate air hoses
• CNC-machined 36” wheels in high quality Tangent Scale Models trucks, with semi-scale wheels available separately