The Atlas 20006564 is a HO scale PS-2 covered hopper from the Northern Pacific, numbered #75400 and painted in gray and black. Note that the picture might show a different road number. Covered hoppers are a newer type of rail car. Until the 1980s, the AAR regarded them as “special” cars, and they finally got their own car type code category. These early covered hoppers were mainly built for more efficient cement loading and unloading, as previously cement was bagged and put in box cars. Pullman - Standard started building this two - bay covered hopper design in the late 1940s, and production continued into the 1950s. It has eight round roof hatches for fast loading and two large gravity gates for quick commodity discharge. The capacity is 2,003 cubic feet. Key features include 50 - ton friction bearing or 70 - ton roller bearing trucks (depending on the road name), detailed brake gear, Accumate® couplers, and prototypical painting and printing.

Using your Atlas HO scale PS - 2 covered hopper is easy. You can load it through the eight round roof hatches quickly. Just pour in the appropriate commodity, like the cement it was originally designed for. When it's time to unload, use the two large gravity gates to empty the contents fast. As for the trucks, make sure you have the right type (50 - ton friction bearing or 70 - ton roller bearing) according to the road name. When handling the model, be gentle to avoid damaging the detailed brake gear and Accumate® couplers. For maintenance, keep it clean. You can use a soft brush to remove dust from the body, wheels, and other parts. Store it in a dry place to prevent any rust or damage to the prototypical painting and printing.