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Conrail Cyclopedia MoW: Micro-Trains N Micro-Trains 43' Conrail Ortner In March 2005, Micro-Trains released a limited run of a 43' Ortner three-bay rapid discharge hopper pre-painted in two different road numbers for Conrail's H1K: CR 493132 and 493045. Micro-Trains correctly chose the Quality scheme for these cars, clearly making the cars suitable for late-era Conrail modeling only. N Scale 43' Ortner Hopper Delivery: March 2005 MTL 125-00-031 (CR 493132) MTL 125-00-032 (CR 493045) discontinued MSRP: $19.95 Manufacturer:   Micro-Trains   351 Rogue River Parkway   P.O. Box 1200   Talent, OR 97540-1200   Phone: 541-535-1755   Fax: 541-535-1932   Website: www.micro-trains.com Features:   -black BarberŪ Roller Bearing trucks   -Micro-Trains couplers According to their press release, the print on the box says that these cars were built in January 1979 by the Ortner Freight Car Company of Cincinnati and were serviced in May 1984. After checking his records, Conrail rolling stock guru Lon Godshall mentioned that Conrail's H1K ballast hopppers were built beginning in December 1991, and that most likely only the first car, CR 490000, was built during that month. Most likely, the rest of the H1K fleet were built during 1992. He also mentions that the cars were likely built by Trinity Railcar. Now, I have only looked at the cars at my local shop and didn't pay much attention to the fine print. I find it hard to believe that Micro-Trains got this wrong. Even George Irwin in his March 2005 issue of the Unofficial Micro-Trains Release Report mentions about back-dating these cars to the 1980s by removing the Quality. I'll check into this and update this page when I find out more details. Fortunately, we have prototype photos of both cars that Micro-Trains has produced. On October 8, 1997 somewhere in Pennsylvania, Rob Russell shot CR 493045 (left), though he has forgotten the exact location. You can clearly see the grime that the trucks kick up through the end foot-boards, which are open. Luckily, back in 1996, I happened to shoot a photo of the other car that Micro-Trains predecorated, CR 493132 (left), at Wyomissing Junction on the Harrisburg Line. The car was part of an empty ballast work train heading west to Wimpey Minerals in Palmyra, PA, where it would reload and return east on another work train a few days later. I must admit that I like these models of the H1K, even though Micro-Trains got their info wrong. As of June 2005, I have been able to find dealers still selling 125-00-031 (CR 493132), but unfortunately 125-00-032 (CR 493045) has been discontinued and sold out. Copyright (c) 1998-2008 Robert S. Waller. All rights reserved. Photos for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image. Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited.