The Atlas 20006553 is a HO scale PS - 2 covered hopper representing Penn Central #74214 in green and white. Note that the picture might show a different road number. Covered hoppers are a modern addition to the car family. Until the 1980s, the AAR classified them as “special” cars before giving them their own car - type code. These early designs were made for efficient cement loading and unloading, replacing the old method of bagging cement in box cars. Pullman - Standard built this two - bay covered hopper design from the late 1940s to the 1950s. It has eight round roof hatches for fast loading and two large gravity gates for quick discharge. With a capacity of 2,003 cubic feet, it's quite roomy. Features include 50 - ton friction bearing or 70 - ton roller bearing trucks (depending on the road name), detailed brake gear, Accumate® couplers, and prototypical painting and printing.

Using this HO scale Penn Central covered hopper is easy. You can load it up quickly through the eight round roof hatches. To unload, just rely on the two large gravity gates. When handling it, be gentle as it's a detailed model. For storage, keep it in a dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent the paint from fading. Every once in a while, check the trucks and couplers to make sure they're in good working condition. If you notice any loose parts, you can use a small amount of glue to fix them, but be careful not to get glue on the visible parts of the model.