Commissioned By NMRA

Production Type Special Run

Stock Number NSC 04-04

Original Retail Price $26.00

Brand Micro-Trains

Manufacturer Micro-Trains Line

Body Style Micro-Trains 108 Hopper Open 3-Bay Ribbed Side 100 Ton

Prototype Vehicle Open Hopper, 3-Bay, 100 Ton (Details)

Road or Company Name Susquehanna Northern (Details)

Reporting Marks LS&N

Road or Reporting Number 10010

Paint Color(s) Light Gray

Print Color(s) Black

Additional Markings/Slogan Route of the Colonel

Coupler Type MT Magne-Matic Knuckle

Coupler Mount Truck-Mount

Wheel Type Injection Molded Plastic

Wheel Profile Standard

Series Name Living Legends

Series Release/Issue Number 4

Release Date 2004-01-01

Item Category Rolling Stock (Freight)

Model Type Open Hopper

Model Subtype 3-Bay

Model Variety Ribbed Side 100 Ton

Prototype Region North America

Prototype Era NA Era IV: 2nd Gen Diesel (1958 - 1978)

Scale 1/160

Specific Item Information: NMRA Living Legends Issue Number Four. Harold (Hal) Carstens, available in January of 2004.

Series Information: The "Living Legends" of Model Railroading.

The success of the "Heritage" cars prompted the NMRA to begin a special "Living Legends" series in honor of the principal figures still very much active in model railroading.

These cars were available in various scales.

Model Information: Micro-Trains launched this body style in April of 2000. Since then it has appeared in over 100 different regular releases (including multi-packs) as well as special runs. It features truck-mount couplers on barber trucks. These cars model prototypes that were built in in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Prototype History: The 1960s brought about a growth in car size (and capacity). Railroads that transported coal moved away from the older 2-bay 55-ton USRA standard to newer 90- and 100-ton three bay hoppers. On the WM, the first 90 ton cars were purchased for stone service to Sparrows Point around 1963. These cars were effective and long-lived. Many railroads swapped out the trucks on these cars to increase the capacity to 100 tons. Many companies produced these, including Pullman, Bethlehem, Evans, Greenville, Trinity and Ortner. Details, of course, vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but typically they were rib-sided. As of 2007, the NS still had lots of 90 ton hoppers in coal service.

Road Name History: Date: 06/24/09 08:17. The hobby industry lost a true giant yesterday with the passing of Hal Carstens. Hal joined the staff of Railroad Model Craftsman in 1952, became editor in 1954 and president of the company in 1962.

Hal served as president of various organizations, including Hobbies Industries of America, the Model Railroad Industry Association, FRiends of the New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Museum and the Train Collectors Association. He also served in various capacities with the Photographic Society of America, Hobby Industry Association and the Wagner College Board of Trustees.

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.