Prototypes for the Rapido Trains N Scale NSC Barrel Ore Hopper is based on cars used in unit trains which plied the rails from two mines in Northern Ontario to a steel mill in Hamilton, Ontario, just west of Toronto. The reason for the round shape and covered hatches was to keep the processed iron-ore pellets from becoming frozen in the severe Canadian winters or damp with moisture which would slow down the unloading process. The cars also came in two varieties over three orders: a 35' length short version (built in 1967); and a 42' long version (delivered in 1973 and 1975 in two groups). This was to reduce rail wear as the 35' cars spanned the same length as the stick (jointed) rail underneath. Also unique is the tire that sits over top of each of the roof hatches. At the loadout, the tires come into contact with a "scroll" that forces the hatches to open. It took 60 seconds to fill each car and roughly an hour and twenty minutes for the entire unit train of 40 cars. More often than not one could see CN and ONR cars mixed in a consist. The cars have been made in two different car bodies representing short and long barrel hoppers and will feature etched-metal details, a heavy underframe, metal wheels and magnetic knuckle couplers. Cars come decorated in authentic schemes with multiple roadnumbers and are perfect for adding variety to your 1960s to 1980s freight trains. NSC Barrel Ore Hoppers are part of the entire line of Rapido Trains N Scale freight cars.