| Home | Open Account | Help | 321 users online |
|
Member Login
Discussion
Media SharingHostingLibrarySite Info |
Model Railroading > Tangent's February 2026 Release: HO Bethlehem 3350cf Quad HoppersDate: 02/20/26 07:12 Tangent's February 2026 Release: HO Bethlehem 3350cf Quad Hoppers Author: TangentScaleModels Asheville, North Carolina: Tangent Scale Models today is releasing a brand-new run of our HO Scale Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper. As a reminder, this model has not been available before in either brass or plastic. We are excited to bring you this highly-relevant – and needed – prototype model in HO Scale.
No preorders. No waiting. These cars are available right now. From 1974 to 1980, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation built 8,715 100-Ton “Eastern Design Quad” coal hoppers of 3350 cubic foot capacity. These quad hoppers were purchased in large build groups by Louisville & Nashville (L&N) and Clinchfield Railroad (CRR) for loading at Appalachian coal mines, and these quad hoppers became the backbones for both railroad’s coal fleets, plus SCWX South Carolina utility fleet cars. These cars served well into the CSXT era in un-rebuilt configurations due to their importance in CSXT’s coal-hauling strategy. These 3350 cubic foot quad coal hoppers are visually similar but not the same as the "Western design” 3600 cubic foot quad hoppers as utilized by Union Pacific, also offered by Tangent. That’s right, we have tooled and are now offering the correct “Eastern design” car as built by Bethlehem Steel! The Tangent Scale Models Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper features multiple era-specific bodies and assemblies covering the original 1974-1980 BSC build variations. Our model is a dimensionally-accurate replica of the real car, and includes other key build variations such as brake housings, brake equipment, end frames and roping plates. This replica includes our “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail as well as full body interior rivet detail. Our ready-to-operate replica is finished with separate, real wire grab irons, coupler lift bars, rubber air hoses, genuine Kadee® scale couplers, accurate CNC-machined wheels, 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with prototype-specific rotating bearing caps and sufficient hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. Finally, our model includes a realistic, removeable coal load of either the “flood” or “tipple” style. Our February 2026 release of the Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper includes five railroad schemes, plus four RTR unlettered “but painted black” options. - Louisville & Nashville (L&N) "Delivery Orange" 1974 introduces the first-ever class of Bethlehem quad hoppers delivered to any railroad! In turn, these were the first order of L&N cars, and they are very distinctive because they were painted in an orange carbody color! This class of cars was comprised of 650 cars delivered by Bethlehem across the late 1973 and early 1974 period. These cars feature the “slanted” L&N reporting marks – and all other stenciling - in black. The models feature an accurate 1974 Bethlehem Steel carbody including with angled gussets on the top chord corners and single “lower” side posts at the bolsters. Take a moment to look at the bottom corner roping plate details – see-through and accurate, allowing you to see the terminating bottom chord behind them. The B-end of the model features an accurate Equipco 3750F high handbrake, “modern” brake wheel and Morton-style brake step. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) flood-style coal load. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating Hyatt roller bearing caps. The L&N lettering on the cars includes varying CAPY, paint and COTS data across the different car numbers. These cars are available in 24 numbers, perfect for building those coal trains right now on your layout. These L&N models are available with month specific build dates: SKUs -01 through -12 are 1-74. SKUs -13 through -24 are 2-74. It's time to haul coal. SKU 32014 - CSXT Era "L&N Orange" 1991+ is a modernized take on the L&N "Delivery Orange" Bethlehem quad hoppers. These cars feature the “slanted” L&N reporting marks – and all other stenciling - in black. Our model includes the CSXT restencils for LD LMT and LT WT, as well as a CSXT reweigh from 1991. Additionally, the COTS boxes have been updated with modernized lubrication dates. The models feature an accurate 1973-1974 Bethlehem Steel carbody including with angled gussets on the top chord corners and single “lower” side posts at the bolsters. The B-end of the model features an accurate Equipco 3750F high handbrake, “modern” brake wheel and Morton-style brake step. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) flood-style coal load. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating “Timken” roller bearing caps. The CSX-era stenciling on the cars includes varying CAPY, Paint and COTS data across the different car numbers. These cars are available in 12 numbers, perfect for filling out those coal trains – to go with your other coal hoppers to make your colorful consist. These CSX models are available with month specific CSXT reweigh dates: SKUs -01 through -06 are 2-91. SKUs -07 through -12 are 3-91. For CSX modelers of this era, the coal trains had a variety of reporting mark options and coal hopper types! SKU 32015 - Louisville & Nashville (L&N) "Delivery White Slant 1976" introduces a new L&N class of Bethlehem quad hoppers – this time from a group of 1000 cars which Bethlehem Steel delivered across the late 1976 and early 1977 period. These cars feature the “slanted” L&N reporting marks – and all other stenciling - in white on a black car. The models feature an accurate 1976 Bethlehem Steel carbody, including rounded top chord corner caps, paired lower posts at the side bolsters, and tiny accurate triangle supports on the bottom chord near the bolster posts. The B-end of the model features an accurate Klasing 1150 high handbrake, “modern” brake wheel and Morton-style brake step. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) flood-style coal load. These coal hoppers roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating Hyatt roller bearing caps. The L&N lettering on the cars includes varying CAPY, Paint and COTS data across the different car numbers. These cars are available in 24 numbers, perfect for building those coal trains right now on your layout. These L&N models are available with month-specific build dates: SKUs -01 through -14 are 11-76. SKUs -15 through -24 are 12-76. L&N and CSX modelers especially need these! SKU 32016 - CSXT Era "Restencil Ex-LN White Slant 1990-1991+" introduces a new CSX paint scheme, this time a former L&N class of Bethlehem quad hoppers. These CSX cars are restenciled former L&N cars from a group of 1000 cars which Bethlehem Steel delivered across the late 1976 and early 1977 period. These cars are CSXT “patch-outs” from various 1991 dates. The models feature an accurate 1976 Bethlehem Steel carbody, including rounded top chord corner caps, paired lower posts at the side bolsters, and tiny accurate triangle supports on the bottom chord near the bolster posts. The B-end of the model features an accurate Ajax high handbrake, “modern” brake wheel and Morton-style brake step. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) flood-style coal load. These coal hoppers roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating “Timken” roller bearing caps. These cars are available in a total of 12 numbers and are perfect for building those coal trains right now on your layout. These CSXT models are available with a variety of patches, reweigh dates, CAPT lettering and COTS dates. SKUs -01 through -06 cover 1991+ CSX “Shorter” black patches over the reporting marks with CSXT reweigh dates:
SKUs -07 through -12 cover earlier 1990+ CSX “Taller” black patches over the reporting marks (applied at Corbin, KY) and maintain their SBD reweigh dates:
- Seaboard System (SBD) "Seaboard Repaint" 1986+ illustrates the often-requested “Seaboard System” paint scheme, as applied to these Bethlehem hopper cars. These models feature the black carbody color along with the sharp red and yellow large “Seaboard System” graphic on the side. The models feature an accurate 1980-built Bethlehem body including rounded top chord corner caps, paired lower posts at the side bolsters, oval hole roping plates at the side corners and small extensions on the end corner faces. It’s these variation details that set apart Tangent tooling from anyone else. All coal hoppers do NOT look alike. The B-end of the model features an accurate Klasing 1150 high handbrake, “modern” brake wheel and Morton-style brake step. Inside, the models have a gorgeous (and removable!) flood-style coal load. These coal cars roll on Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with separate truck brake beams and rotating “Timken” roller bearing caps. These Seaboard models are available in two variations of the Seaboard System repaint scheme: SKUs -01 through -06 are repainted in 4-1986 and feature reporting mark lettering indented one panel to the right, while SKUs -07 through -12 are repainted 3-1986 and show off left-justified SBD reporting marks. Variety is what makes repaint schemes so interesting! SKU 32018 We also have four painted and unlettered RTR options available, continuing our dedication to the customers who want to finish their own cars. We have painted these models black for you, so they are ready for decaling. We are modelers too, and we understand the need to continue to offer undecorated products. - Unlettered RTR Black 1974 Body is a completely assembled RTR model, painted black and unlettered. It features the 1974 Bethlehem body and corner roping plates, Tipple-Style coal load, Equipco 3750 high handbrake and Morton-style brake step. This model includes Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with rotating Timken caps and CNC-machined 36” wheels along with Genuine Kadee® scale couplers. Use this car for the following prototype series or your own road: LN 193400-193999 1974 (SBD/CSXT 341532-342046) LN 194000-194399 1974 (SBD/CSXT 342050-342412) CRR 56700-56999 1974 (SBD/CSXT 342414-342702) SKU 32005-01 - Unlettered RTR Black 1976-1978 Body is a completely assembled RTR model, painted black and unlettered. It features the 1976-78 Bethlehem body and corner roping plates, Flood-Style coal load, Ellcon National 1148 high handbrake and Morton-style brake step. This model includes Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with rotating Timken caps and CNC-machined 36” wheels along with Genuine Kadee® scale couplers. Use this car for the following prototype series or your own road: CRR 57000-57799 1976 (SBD/CSXT 342710-343491) LN 196200-198799 1976-77 (SBD/CSXT 344894-347388) LN 198800-199249 1978 (SBD/CSXT 347390-347826) CRR 57800-57999 1978 (SBD/CSXT 347828-348026) SKU 32006-01 - Unlettered RTR Black 1979 Body is a completely assembled RTR model, painted black and unlettered. It features the 1979 Bethlehem body and corner roping plates, Flood-Style coal load, Equipco 3750 high handbrake and Morton-style brake step. This model includes Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with rotating Brenco-3 caps and CNC-machined 36” wheels along with Genuine Kadee® scale couplers. Use this car for the following prototype series or your own road: CRR 58000-58699 1979 (SBD/CSXT 348100-348710) SCWX 101-254 1979 SKU 32007-01 - Unlettered RTR Black 1980 Body is a completely assembled RTR model, painted black and unlettered. It features the 1980 Bethlehem body and corner roping plates, Flood-Style coal load, Equipco 3750 high handbrake and Morton-style brake step. This model includes Tangent 100-ton Barber S-2 trucks with rotating Brenco-3 caps and CNC-machined 36” wheels along with Genuine Kadee® scale couplers. Use this car for the following prototype series or your own road: LN 550000-550999 1980 (SBD/CSXT 348738-349685) SKU 32008-01 All of these models (with prototype Bethlehem coal hopper photos) can be seen at www.tangentscalemodels.com! The Tangent Scale Models Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper is a state of the art, dimensionally-accurate scale replica with highly accurate “true-to-life” colors and precise letter stencils. Our Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper system of models offers a multitude of detail variations and phases to replicate the many different Bethlehem Steel offerings. Example variations include: 1974, 1976-1978, 1979 and 1980 body assembly builds. This replica includes our fine “near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail. Our ready-to-operate replica is finished scale metal grab irons, coupler lift bars, accompanying Kadee® scale couplers and sufficient hidden weights to ensure the model operates as good as it looks. At more than 120 parts per car, not to mention phase accurate details, genuine Kadee couplers, and all-metal wheels, we provide you with a high-value model that will provide you with years of enjoyment and curb-appeal. These products are shipping today! A quick synopsis of our Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper era and railroad-specific details and variations include:
Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models Bethlehem Steel 3350cf Quad Coal Hopper, a first of its kind in HO scale! It is (was!) one of the most-requested HO freight cars in our line! Pricing for RTR models is $58.95, with quantity discounts for direct purchases from Tangent Scale Models. That wraps up our update for today, and thank you for supporting the family-owned businesses in our industry! David Lehlbach Tangent Scale Models www.tangentscalemodels.com support@tangentscalemodels.com PO Box 6514 Asheville NC 28816 828-412-3886    Date: 02/20/26 07:13 Re: Tangent's February 2026 Release: HO Bethlehem 3350cf Quad Hop Author: TangentScaleModels Thank you for allowing us to post!
  Date: 02/20/26 07:38 Re: Tangent's February 2026 Release: HO Bethlehem 3350cf Quad Hop Author: CPR_4000 Why were the Eastern and Western cars different sizes? Is Eastern coal denser than Western?
|