N GATC 2600 Airslide Hopper ATSF #310116 (ATHGN23385)

This is a detailed scale model of the General American Transportation Company’s 2600-cubic-foot Airslide hopper in Santa Fe markings. Airslide hoppers were designed to carry bulk materials—such as flour, sugar, starch, and plastics—by pumping air through a permeable bottom to fluidize the load and let it flow easily to the hopper outlets for discharge. The 2600-cubic-foot design features two narrow, steep-sided troughs and a bottom air-permeable layer, a hallmark of the mid‑century Airslide concept that made bulk unloading practical on freight trains.

Inside and out, the model is packed with authentic details: an underbody with outlet piping, shaker brackets in rectangular or oval forms, gravity or gravity-pneumatic outlets, machined metal wheels with RP25 contours, and factory-installed wire grab irons and brake piping. It includes separately applied round roof hatches and a brake wheel, with either roller bearing or Bettendorf trucks, and is weighted for smooth operation on standard track. The body is highly detailed and accurately painted, featuring body-mounted McHenry scale knuckle couplers and a precise injection-molded shell. It ships in a clear jewel box for storage, making it an ideal centerpiece for a mid-century bulk-hopper scene.