CNW Lot Part 1. Walthers PS-2CD CNW Covered Hoppers.

As the masthead says, I am all about budget model railroading.  In February I purchased a lot of 13 CNW items at a great price from a gentleman on the Model Train Forum.  A real treasure trove with no chaff!

Growing up on the CNW line in West Chicago, IL, this railroad has a special place in my heart, so to pickup a whole consist in one lot was quite an opportunity.

In the lot were three Walthers PS-2CD Covered Hoppers, two of which were unassembled. 

Got right to work on them.  These kits are now discontinued, but reasonably common at train shows and shops that have good-sized NOS deletions.  A few notes from the process.

The weights are nicely done and bring them very close to NMRA standards.The end caps will hold them in place, but I added a bit of glue anyway.

In order to put the unloading hatches oriented per the instructions you will have to snip off a few of the pegs and flip them around.

Quite a number of the holes for the brake gear on the frame and ends of the body had to be enlarged.

The ends fit onto the frame nicely but they will be a tight squeeze getting the whole assembly into the main body shell.

Two different hatch versions are included for the top.  The bottom is more common but I found similar examples of both in CNW service.

The plastic wheeled trucks roll so smooth I didn't even bother to use the truck-tuner.

Annoyingly, the coupler box covers are a press-fit variety that is liable to break off (The 1st and 3rd cover below) if reopening is attempted. Drilling for a screw is a much better choice.

Assembled, they are nice models.  Not state-of-the-art, but good looking and smooth runners. They have an appropriate amount of detail, but nothing that would require undue care when handling by my son (or myself if I'm honest...).  As with the Walthers Brach's hopper these are in the general area -but a step above- Blue Box quality in detail and paintwork

3 models done and 10 more to go!  Stay tuned for more CNW freight fun.

-Karl