FVM 10068 Trinity RD-4 Coal Hopper, C&NW Chicago & NorthWestern #880016 Fox Valley Models N Scale

This N scale FVM 10068 Trinity RD - 4 Coal Hopper, representing C&NW Chicago & NorthWestern #880016 from Fox Valley Models, might show a different road number in the picture. The Trinity RD - 4 Coal hopper is a 4200 - cubic - foot modern aluminum car built since the mid - 1990s and still in service today. Railroads and public utilities use these cars in unit trains to transport coal from fields to power plants or ports for export. Key features of the FVM RD - 4 Hopper for C&NW include new road numbers, suitable for the era from 1994 to present. It belongs to Series 880000 – 880249, built between Apr - May 1994. It's fully assembled with a detailed plastic body and die - cast weight with interior detail. Modeler - applied interior braces add to its charm. There's a removable coal load. The detailed free - rolling trucks come with 36” machined metal wheels. Body - mounted operating knuckle couplers are Micro - Trains® compatible. The printing and lettering are clear even under magnification. It's weighted to industry standards for reliable operation and can operate on Code 55, 70, and 80 rail. The clear jewel box packaging safely stores the model. It has a minimum radius of 9 ¾” and a recommended radius of 11”. Coal has been transported by train since the start of railroads, evolving from single - car loads to modern unit trains. The modern aluminum body has become the standard for coal hoppers due to its high capacity and low weight. The prototype of this hopper has a 4200 - cubic - foot capacity and is a Plate F car, known as Rapid Discharge (RD). It can be emptied quickly either as a conventional bottom - dump car or with a rotary dumper.

Using your FVM 10068 Trinity RD - 4 Coal Hopper model is easy. Just place it on Code 55, 70, or 80 rail and let it roll. Remember, the minimum radius for smooth operation is 9 ¾”, but for better performance, a radius of 11” is recommended. When you want to change the look, you can remove the coal load and add modeler - applied interior braces. To keep it in top shape, avoid rough handling as the detailed plastic body and parts can be fragile. If the wheels get dirty, use a soft cloth to clean them gently. Store the model in its clear jewel box when not in use to protect it from dust and damage. The body - mounted operating knuckle couplers are Micro - Trains® compatible, so you can connect it with other compatible models easily. And don't worry about the lettering, it's legible even under magnification, so it'll look great on your layout for a long time.