HO GEN GATC 2600 Airslide Covered Hopper CBQ #813 (ATHG-2131)

HO-scale General American Transportation 2,600-cubic-foot Airslide Covered Hopper is a detailed model of a mid-century bulk-car designed for transporting dry bulk materials such as flour, sugar, starch and plastics. In real service, the Airslide concept fluidizes the load by pumping air through a permeable bottom, allowing the cargo to flow easily through the hopper outlets for unloading. Introduced in the early 1950s, these 2,600-cubic-foot single-bay cars were built for CB&Q and other railroads, with some later paired into two-car sets to extend capacity. This model captures a CB&Q-era version of the car, making it a historically accurate centerpiece for a freight-era layout.

Model features mirror the prototype with three body styles, a detailed underbody including outlet piping, and a see-through metal roof walk. It includes factory-installed wire grab irons and brake piping, separately applied round roof hatches and brake wheel, and a weighted chassis for better tracking. The model rides on either roller bearing or Bettendorf trucks, with machined metal RP25 wheels and body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers. Accurate paint and printing and a highly detailed injection-molded body complete the look, while an 18-inch minimum radius keeps operation smooth on typical HO layouts.