ExactRail formally announced the Thrall 54' 'Protector' Coil Car in HO scale at TrainFest in Milwaukee, WI this past weekend. This car mirrors the Conrail Coil Shields previously announced by ExactRail earlier this year, with the significant difference being the coil hood itself. The hoods on the NS cars are insulated and have a large transverse bulge at each end of the hood. The Conrail and NS cars do share the same car body design.
NS received 60 of these cars in Oct - Dec 1992, under NS car class CS15, utilizing the 168800-168059 number series. The 'Protector' name stands for 'PROtected TEmperature Coil Transport On Rail'. NS purchased subsequent cars labeled 'Protect II' and 'Protect III'. This release will complete the HO scale modeling releases of the three NS coil cars, with the latter two cars being available from other manufacturers.
ExactRail should be announcing further details regarding pricing and delivery schedule later this month. The model does come fully detailed with air hoses, coupler cut bars, Kadee semi-scale couplers and metal wheel sets.
Thanks ExactRail for a car much needed by NS and steel mill modelers!
Regards,
Russ Goodwin
For those interested, the Conrail CoilShields are now available on Exactrail's website. MSRP is $58.95, but they are selling for $46.95. If you buy six or more, you get an additional 10% off.
Russ
pretty nice looking