{"product_id":"mv-335-354-379-393-ho-scale-mascoutin-valley-mining-fox-valley-ore-car-4-pack","title":"MV 335-354-379-393 - HO-Scale Mascoutin Valley Mining Fox Valley Ore Car (4-Pack)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eA Limited Edition HO-Scale Fox Valley\/ScaleTrains PSC 70-Ton Ore Car painted for freelance model railroad Mascoutin Valley!\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith a single SKU, you’re getting a complete \u003cstrong\u003efour‑car Mascoutin Valley ore set\u003c\/strong\u003e — \u003cstrong\u003eMV 335, MV 354, MV 379, and MV 392\u003c\/strong\u003e — permanently \u003cstrong\u003edrawbar‑connected\u003c\/strong\u003e into a unified production block. This isn’t just a group of cars; it’s a purpose‑built ore consist engineered to run as one. Road owner \u003cstrong\u003eAndy Dorsch\u003c\/strong\u003e specifically selected the \u003cstrong\u003emedium side‑extension body style\u003c\/strong\u003e for Mascoutin Valley’s mineral operations, and because ScaleTrains only produced this configuration in their premium drawbar four‑pack, this instantly becomes the \u003cstrong\u003eflagship freight offering\u003c\/strong\u003e in the entire Home Shops lineup.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese cars look powerful, intentional, and unmistakably Mascoutin Valley. The medium extensions give each tub a taller, more aggressive profile, while the drawbars create a seamless, high‑capacity unit that feels like it was lifted straight from a modern regional’s ore division. On the layout, the set commands attention — a tight, muscular block of ore tubs that moves as a single machine. Whether charging out of the pit behind a pair of six‑axle brutes or rolling into interchange with a day’s worth of tonnage, the Mascoutin Valley four‑car set delivers a level of visual impact, operational realism, and collector exclusivity that no standalone ore car can match.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Prototype: \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Home Shops ore cars draw from the classic \u003cstrong\u003epostwar steel jenny\u003c\/strong\u003e—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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the mid‑20th century, builders like \u003cstrong\u003ePressed Steel Car Company\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eACF\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eBethlehem\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Fox Valley\/ScaleTrains PSC 70-Ton Ore Car\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e features:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEra Early 60's-80's\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFully assembled\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBodies with no extensions, or medium side extensions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDraw barred 4 car sets where appropriate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinely cast stirrup steps; end details; underbody and brake system\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWire grab irons\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeparately applied handbrake wheel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetailed trucks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e33” Machined metal wheels\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAccurately profiled .110″ wide wheel tread\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDurable 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\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBody mounted coupler box will accept Kadee whisker couplers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeighted to Industry standards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOperates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePackaging safely stores model when assembled\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eMinimum radius 18” with short (four axle) locos, 22” with long (six axle) locos\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Home Shops LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45196759564470,"sku":"HFO-005-001","price":155.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0552\/5425\/3750\/files\/HFO-005-MVorecars2000.png?v=1781960420","url":"https:\/\/homeshops.net\/products\/mv-335-354-379-393-ho-scale-mascoutin-valley-mining-fox-valley-ore-car-4-pack","provider":"Home Shops LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}