HO GATC 2600 Airslide Hopper (ATHG87488)

HO GATC 2600 Airslide Covered Hopper is an HO-scale model that faithfully recreates General American Transportation’s Airslide covered hopper, a 2,600-cubic-foot car designed to carry bulk commodities. Tailored for model railroading, this model offers three body styles to mirror prototype variations and a highly detailed underbody with outlet piping. It features rectangular or oval shaker brackets, gravity or gravity-pneumatic outlets, and a see-through metal roof walk. Factory-installed wire grab irons and brake piping, separately applied round roof hatches and brake wheel, and a choice of roller bearing or Bettendorf trucks contribute to realism. Machined RP25 wheels, weighted construction, and body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers ensure smooth operation, while accurately painted and printed details complete the look. The injection-molded body is highly detailed and designed to run on HO layouts with a minimum 18-inch radius.

Prototype background: In the early to mid-20th century, bulk goods such as flour, sugar, starch, and plastics needed a better flow than standard hoppers could provide. The Airslide concept, patented by the Fuller Company, uses two narrow, steep-sided troughs with an air-permeable bottom and pumped air to fluidize the load, allowing it to discharge evenly through the outlets. Starting in 1953, General American Transportation began building Airslide cars, beginning with a 2,600-cubic-foot single-bay car rated at about 70 tons. Some units were permanently paired into two-car sets for a combined capacity of 5,200 cubic feet. The Airslide design proved especially effective for materials that don’t flow easily, leaving a distinctive silhouette on the rails.