If Athearn ran 4640's previously, I missed them. The only Athearn ACF hoppers I was aware of were the former blue box 4740 cu ft ACF hoppers with pneumatic discharge gates.
-------- Original message --------
From: "Dave Lotz via groups.io" <Dave_Lotz=bellsouth.net@groups.io>
Date: 2/14/26 6:32 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: BRHSlist@groups.io, CBQ@groups.io
Subject: [CBQ] Athearn 4600 Covered Hoppers
Attention CB&Q & FW&D HO scale modelers!
Athearn has announced that they are doing a “rerun” of the 4600 cu. ft. Center Flo hoppers in CB&Q paint. Thers cars are accurate for the Q & the FW&D LO-8a.
According to Rupert’s Freight car book, the LO-8a cars were numbered 184400-184599 and the LO-8b 185150-185349.
In their previous run, they did them with the lower brake wheel. Their artwork on the announcement shows the low brake wheel as well.
The artwork shows they are doing the high brake wheel on the UP, PRR and BNSF paint schemes.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could convince Athearn to do this rerun with the high brake wheel?
I think so! To hopefully convince them, go to
https://www.athearn.com/contact and fill out the form requesting they do the high brake wheel in Q & FW&D.
Choose “Product Suggestion” in “What can we help you with?,” and in the “Subject” field enter “4600 hopper – CB&Q” Here is what I entered in the Message field so you may copy and paste!
The artwork for your future release of the CB&Q version shows these with the low brake wheel. I also see that you are offering them the high brake wheel in UP, PRR and BNSF. It would be great if you did
the CB&Q cars also with the high brake wheel. Do FW&D w/high brake wheel also?
Thanka!
HO ACF 4600 Covered Hopper
Release Date: Friday, December 26th, 2025
- 1960s - late 1990s era roads
- Available as single and three cars sets
- Round or trough hatches
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