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COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

Product Review: Rapido Flexi-Flo

Rapido Trains’ HO-scale ACF PD3500 Flexi-Flo hopper tracked well on the Cowcatcher’s Northwest Tarrant & Pacific. The model’s undercarriage and side frames are loaded with detail. Pictured is a 966-H. – Cowcatcher Magazine

Detail, variety delivered in unique hopper

The American Car & Foundry (ACF) PS3500 Flexi-Flo covered hopper was innovative for its day.

Built between August 1964 and June 1966, the 3,500-cubic-foot hopper was an early pioneer in pressure differential unloading and had a distinct look from others in its class.

Other than seven cars built for ACF subsidiary Shippers Car Line (SHPX), the NYC was the only purchaser of the PD3500. In three different car body batches, 220 cars rolled off the Milton, PA, production line over two years.

The first cars off were the 941-H, which featured three panels and vertical ribs along the bottom of the car body and 100-ton trucks. The 963-H followed with a redesigned car body with horizontal (instead of vertical) ribs, plus enlarged roof-top loading hatches and new 125-ton trucks. The 966-H was similar but with six side panels.

The cars had a resilient future after the NYC, as many left the Northeast through transfers and sales and operated well into the 1990s.

Still new at the time of the Penn Central merger, many cars were simply re-patched with PC prefix and logo and renumbered, although some NYC versions survived. When Conrail arrived, many were re-patched again and repainted in three Conrail schemes.

Many Flexi-Flos were transferred to Conrail’s Merchants Despatch Transportation Co. (MDTX) subsidiary, and others later were sold to NAHX (for Lafarge) and SXSX/SYSX for use in Arizona, California and the Southwest. Each was repainted.

By 2000, an explosion of patchouts had taken place with reporting marks popping up throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many were still in use well into the mid-2010s, only being retired because of the 50-year interchange rule.

ACF PD3500 produced in three body styles

Last fall, Rapido Trains released its first HO-scale replica of the ACF PD3500 Flexi-Flo covered hopper in each variation with a wealth of detail.

The cars were produced in three body styles and two top hatch sizes with 100- and 125-ton Barber S-2 trucks, etched metal running boards, wire and injection-molded grab irons, detailed underbody with full discharge piping, brake equipment and piping variations, factory-installed air pipes and coupler cut levers, and metal Macdonald-Cartier knuckle couplers.

Several schemes are offered: LaFarge; US Systems SYSX; Merchants Despatch Transportation Corp. (MDC); Conrail Repaint; Conrail Billboard; Conrail Flexi Flo; Ex-NYC Patchout; Penn Central Billboard; NYC (as delivered); and FMC Chemicals in multiple road numbers and correct variations. An undecorated version also is available.

Given Rapido’s knack for super-detailing, the Flexi-Flos don’t fall short. Cars are well painted with crisp detail, and piping is clean and realistic.

The cars tracked well on the Cowcatcher’s Northwest Tarrant & Pacific. They are sturdy and balanced and move nicely through switches and along the main line.

The only issue was that couplers on two of three samples sent did not work well out of the box.

Rapido acknowledges in an information sheet that accompanies the car that couplers may need a “tune-up” after removing from the packaging. A spring may have come loose during shipping or the trip pin might need adjusting. No problem there.

However, the knuckle would not open and couple to other cars, apparently stuck by the realistic brown factory paint. We had to gently pry the knuckle apart using a hobby knife, something we do not recommend. Fortunately, we didn’t break the coupler but did damage some piping.

We’ve had similar coupler issues on other Rapido products, some of which self-corrected after use.

Once again, Rapido gives the modeler the backstory of each car, although the cars’ use mostly in bulk cement service wasn’t mentioned. To its credit, Rapido notes on its website the in-service dates of each car, which is important for those who want to use one in prototypical operation for specific eras.

At $59.95 (U.S.) and $71.95 (Canada), the cars are a good value considering detail and finishing work. They are sold individually or in multiple packs (two, three and six).

The Flexi-Flos are superbly done and a great addition to any freight operation.

Again, Rapido has outperformed.

This article first appeared in the January/February 2021 Cowcatcher.

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Tuned In

Spring is when large-scale model railroaders with their green thumbs plant and prune colorful foliage grown nearly to scale. In some areas, maintaining outdoor layouts is quite challenging because of changing weather. Nancy Norris, an author who builds garden railroads professionally, says some plant varieties have become more difficult to grow in certain Hardiness Zones. In some cases it means garden railroaders having to put more emphasis on growing native plants rather than relying on varieties more susceptible to extreme conditions. She recommends new gardeners consult with their local nurseries for the best choices for an outdoor layout. Norris also has a few recommendations of her own.

Tariffs Cause Concern

Sweeping tariffs imposed on goods imported into the United States are stirring model railroad manufacturers. As a result, model railroading and other hobbies will cost more. In February the U.S. applied a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, and the tax has since escalated. Suppliers – including Athearn, InterMountain Railway Co., Broadway Limited, Rapido Trains and ScaleTrains – have been putting dealers and customers on notice that prices will increase tariffs are implemented.

Managing Freight Cars

The first rule of railroading is “expect movement on any track at any time in any direction.”  This may seem like an overabundance of caution, but railroading is a dangerous sport. Always expect a train when you’re around the tracks. The second rule of railroading is that there is an exception to every rule. The North American freight car fleet in 2023 consisted of 2.03 million rail cars, according to Railinc’s Umler Equipment Index. Rail car fleet management — how empty cars get dispatched to move to their next loading point — is an ever-moving process and often requires fleet car managers to be nimble.

Plus

A vintage Lionel store display is always a crowd pleaser, Atlas' N-scale True-Track is the right solution for a new test track on the Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad, The Green Diamond was Illinois Central's gem on the St. Louis-to-Chicago route and more!