Atlas HO 20008081  - Master - 73' Center Partition Car "Trailer Train" #856979  (TTZX, w/yellow conspics)

• Road Name: Trailer Train
• Road Number: 856979 
• Product Line: Master
• Scale: HO Scale
• Catalog: Atlas Winter 2025 Catalog

Features:

• Die-cast Floor 
• Detailed brake lines 
• Detailed air reservoir 
• Etched metal Crossover Platform 
• Prototypical ride height 
• 100-ton Trucks 
• 36” metal wheels 
• Separate sale loads available 
• Minimum radius: 12 1/2”

Overview:

The 73-foot center divider flat car, often referred to as a “centerbeam” flat car, is a type of railcar widely used in the transportation of construction materials, especially lumber, plywood, wallboard, and other building products. These flat cars are specifically designed for carrying large, bulky, and long items that require support during transit.

Production of these cars began in 1986 and are still used to this day. Centerbeam cars can be seen across the United States and North America, however large numbers can be found in the Pacific Northwest and Canada due to the vast amount of lumber mills. Centerbeam loading is very different than traditional box cars, because of the center divider both sides must be loaded and unloaded evenly to prevent the car from tipping over. That why large clear areas are used for loading and unloading centerbeams, folk lift operators need plenty of space to unload these cars efficiently.

Loads are a crucial detail part of centerbeam cars, due to the open air design of the car the loads are always visible. With the loads exposed to the elements many lumber companies chose to wrap their products within large, decorated plastic wraps.