SRMX 635 - HO-Scale Splitrock Mining Fox Valley Ore Car
A Limited Edition HO-Scale Fox Valley/ScaleTrains PSC 70-Ton Ore Car painted for freelance model railroad Splitrock Mining! Splitrock Mining’s ore fleet reflects the company’s reputation for pushing hard tonnage through unforgiving territory. These compact ore cars fit perfectly into Splitrock’s high‑cycle operations, where short trains, steep grades, and tight loader tracks demand equipment that’s both rugged and efficient. Their low profile and stout construction echo the classic ore jenny lineage, giving Splitrock a dependable platform for moving dense dolomite, flux stone, and pelletized product from pit to interchange with minimal turnaround time. Finished in Splitrock’s signature industrial palette, each car carries the no‑nonsense look of a fleet built for production, not polish. The graphics reinforce the brand’s presence across the Vermillion Range, while the compact dimensions make these cars ideal for heavy mineral service on layouts of any size. Whether running in dedicated unit sets or mixed with other regional haulers, Splitrock’s ore cars bring believable, hard‑working character to every train they join. About the Prototype: The Home Shops ore cars draw from the classic postwar steel jenny—a compact, heavy‑duty design perfected for the dense iron‑bearing traffic of the Upper Midwest. These cars were intentionally short, typically around 24 feet, because ore loads were extraordinarily heavy and required a stout, low‑volume body to stay within axle limits. Their proportions also matched the fixed‑length pockets on Great Lakes ore docks, which standardized the size for generations. By the mid‑20th century, builders like Pressed Steel Car Company, ACF, and Bethlehem refined the design into the familiar welded‑steel ore car seen across the iron ranges. These cars handled everything from raw ore to flux stone and later adapted easily to pelletized taconite service with the addition of side extensions. Their rugged frames, deep tubs, and quick‑dumping hopper geometry made them indispensable for high‑cycle mine‑to‑mill operations. The Fox Valley/ScaleTrains model captures this era of ore‑car engineering with its compact footprint, heavy‑duty underframe, and characteristic jenny profile—an ideal foundation for both prototype and freelance mineral service. The Fox Valley/ScaleTrains PSC 70-Ton Ore Car features: Era Early 60's-80's Fully assembled Bodies with no extensions, or medium side extensions Draw barred 4 car sets where appropriate Finely cast stirrup steps; end details; underbody and brake system Wire grab irons Separately applied handbrake wheel Detailed trucks 33” Machined metal wheels Accurately profiled .110″ wide wheel tread Durable body-mounted die-cast metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers, Kadee compatible painted a dingy gray/brown color to represent the color of couplers in service Body mounted coupler box will accept Kadee whisker couplers Weighted to Industry standards Operates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail Packaging safely stores model when assembled Minimum radius 18” with short (four axle) locos, 22” with long (six axle) locos