Built by Thrall in the mid 1990s, there was a large shift to the production to 286k freight cars after the gross rail limit was increased. Covered hoppers of this size could carry as much as 10% more product than the predecessor 263K when fully loaded. This not only reduced the operating costs for railroads in terms of labor, but it also decreased the number of cars needed to move the product. Because of this, many railroads acquired the 286k designed hoppers.

The Thrall 5150s were built between 1994 and 2001. They feature a couple of different phase variations including brake components, stirrups, roping equipment as well as outlet gates. The 5150s were known for being in grain service, but ventured into other commodities including dry chemicals and sugar. With over 8000 built, these cars continue to be a staple in manifest trains and can be found all throughout North America.