The Atlas 20006558 HO Scale PS-2 Covered Hopper from Smith Douglass, SDCX #27, comes in gray, red, and white. The picture might show a different road number. Covered hoppers are a fairly new type of rail car. Until the 1980s, the AAR regarded them as “special” cars, and then they got their own car - type code. These early covered hoppers were mainly built for more efficient cement loading and unloading. Before, cement was bagged and put in box cars. Pullman - Standard started building this two - bay covered hopper design in the late 1940s, and production lasted into the 1950s. It has eight round roof hatches for fast loading and two large gravity gates for quick commodity discharge. With a capacity of 2,003 cubic feet, it's quite spacious. Key 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 Atlas HO Scale covered hopper is easy. For loading, just use the eight round roof hatches. They're designed for quick loading, so you can fill it up in no time. When it's time to unload, the two large gravity gates will let the commodity out fast. As for the trucks, make sure you have the right type (50 - ton friction bearing or 70 - ton roller bearing) according to the road name. When handling the car, be careful not to damage the detailed brake gear and the Accumate® couplers. For maintenance, regularly check the couplers for any signs of wear. Also, keep an eye on the trucks and make sure they're in good working condition. Clean the car gently to maintain its prototypical painting and printing. Avoid using harsh chemicals that could damage the colors or the details of the car.