Norfolk Southern O Scale Premier 8000 Gallon Tank Car

For most of the steam and early diesel eras, tank cars followed a standard design: an 8,000-11,000 gallon tank perched on a flatcar-like underframe. Beginning in the mid-1950s, however, a new design took hold: the tank itself became the structural backbone of the car, eliminating the need for a full-length underframe and making bigger tank diameters possible.

But not every shipper needed the much larger capacities that the new tank cars offered. Hence the advent of these "beer can" tank cars in the mid-1960s, with capacities similar to pre-war tankers. They proved ideal for customers who didn't want larger shipments, and also for transporting a wide variety of heavier, denser liquids including industrial acids and foodstuffs. For modelers, they're an ideal counterpoint to longer cars in a modern freight train.

MTH Premier O Scale freight cars are the perfect complement to any manufacturer's scale proportioned O Gauge locomotives. Whether you prefer to purchase cars separately or assemble a unit train, MTH Premier Rolling Stock has the cars for you in a variety of car types and paint schemes.

Virtually every sturdy car is offered in two car numbers which makes it even easier than ever to combine them into a mult-car consist. Many of MTH's Premier Rolling Stock offerings can also operate on the tightest O Gauge curves giving them even more added versatitlity to your layout.