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Freight Cars - Hoppers Articles

45-foot 12-panel Triple Hoppers Part II

This is a photo essay article of these 1960-built cars used by many railroads.

A Kitbashed Santa Fe Class GA 131 Covered Hopper

The model was kitbashed from an Atlas 6-bay cylindrical hopper.

A Slick Option for Re-Lettering

The author describes how he built several more S Scale America H39 hopper cars, but this time modeling an older car that has been re-lettered later in life, still showing through some of the older lettering. Includes a prototype photo and several model photos.

ACF Center Flow

Prototype photos. Scale model drawings.

An N Scale Wagontop Covered Hopper

Using a Fine N-scale Products wagontop box car, the author built a B&O class N-34 two-bay hopper. Includes model, construction, and prototype photos, as well as a parts list.

Atlas Covered Hopper Makeover

The author repaints and decorates an Atlas 3,500cuft cylindrical hopper, and applies some weathering to match a prototype photo he found.

ATSF Unit Train Hopper

The article describes how the author build jigs to enable him to build a large number of hoppers for his unit trains. Includes prototype photos, scale and detail drawings, and drawings of the jigs.

B&O Two-Bay Hopper

The author takes a Chesapeake Models' three-bay hopper and turns it into a B&O N-10f two-bay one.

B&O W2 Series Quad Hoppers is the Prototype for American Models Car

The American Models offset hopper is actually based on this prototype. In addition to prototype information, this article also includes drawings, build numbers, and photos of HO-scale models for comparison.

B&O Wood Chip Hoppers

The author describes how he converted American Flyer 3-bay offset hoppers to become representative models of the B&O wood chip hoppers used by the Elk River Coal & Lumber Company's sawmill at Swandale, West Virginia. Includes construction photos.

Black River & Western Restores H31 Hopper Car

Photos and info about the restoration.

Build Southern's Big John

Starting with a center-flow hopper kit, the author builds this unique car.

Building a Clinchfield PS-3 Hopper

The author built these cars using Atlas Trainman AAR 70-ton hoppers. He has found that to be the most economical method to build a large fleet of these cars. Includes prototype and model photos, as well as a parts list.

Building a Kinsman 30ft Composite Hopper

The author shows step-by-step how he assembled the kit, making use of Lego blocks to aid in his assembly. Includes other tips, such as inserting springs in the trucks, and making your own decals.

Building a Reading HT Class Hopper Part 1

The author starts a series on how to build a 70-ton Reading HTw three-bay hopper that was originally built by Bethlehem Steel in 1957. The construction starts with two A.C. Gilbert AF two-bay hoppers. Includes a photo, cutting diagrams, and parts list.

Building a Reading HT Class Hopper Part 2

In this installment the author completes the work necessary to have a finished model.

Building Conrail Ballast Cars Part 1

Using Atlas and MDC kits, model an ex-PC ballast car. Model and construction photos. Big article!

Building Conrail Ballast Cars Part II

The author describes building Penn Central and Conrail H34C cars from Atlas and MDC models. Includes a prototype photo and several model photos.

Building Conrail Ballast Cars Part IV

In this installment of the series the author covers the Conrail CC71B class #53858 and MGA (Monongahela Railroad) X-430 cars. Both are based on the Eastern Car Works flat kit. Prototype photos are included, including an inside view of one of the cars.

Building F&C's H25 Hopper Kit

After covering prototype information, the author shares how he built the Funaro & Camerlengo hopper kit.

C&NW Grain Covered Hoppers in S Scale

The article shows the various grain hopper cars that are available in S-scale, straight from the box.

C&O AMC 50-ton Offset Hopper

The author describes how he built an accurate model of this car by stripping an American Models hopper off of its sides, and having new, accurate sides designed and 3D-printed. Only the dreadnaught ends are now commercially available.

C&O's H-6 Twin Hopper

This brief article describes the car, and includes lots of prototype photos, and scaled drawings.

Canadian National's 30-foot Twin Hoppers

This article is mostly about the prototype hoppers owned by the Canadian National, including the Grand Trunk, Grand Trunk Western, and Central Vermont railroads. The article is accompanied by a table describing the original construction roster, scaled diagrams, comparison chart comparing the PRR GLa, B&O N-12, and USRA-spec twin hoppers, table of hoppers in service by year, and many prototype photos. The article concludes with how to model this car in HO- or O-scale.

Close Coupling Ore Cars

Mounting MT 1060/1065 body mounted couplers to the Atlas ore cars for close-coupling, while still allowing the cars to be uncoupled. Shows construction photos.

ConditionAire Covered Hoppers

The author describes how he created this model of a temperature-controlled centerflow covered hopper.

Covered Hopper Detailing

Bringing older models up to the standard of the new hoppers that are being released.

Creating a 3-bay PS-2 Hopper

The author shows how he cut up 2 or 3 S-Helper Service PS-2 hoppers to build this model.

CSX Combining Objectives

The extended-height, coke-carrying, modernday hopper covered in the article started with an S Scale America H39 hopper. Includes construction and final photos.

Detailing a Lehigh Valley Hopper Car

The author modifies, super-details, and adds loads to older Lionel/Hobby Line quad hopper cars.

Detailing American Models Triple Hopper Not Exceedingly Difficult

The author describes how he super-detailed the AM hopper.

Detailing DL&W Hopper Cars

The author describes how he detailed two versions of an Accurail USRA 8-panel hopper, and a Walthers DL&W 35-foot, 10-panel welded hopper. Includes model photos, construction details, two parts lists, and a couple of prototype photos.

Detailing The American Models Twin Hopper

The American Models 1985 new hopper is based on a Unicast 55-ton outside-braced two-bay hopper. The author describes optional steps the modeler can take to make the model more detailed, covering grab irons, steps, couplers, brake details, cross-braces support, hopper door hardware, ladders, interior braces, glad hands, and painting the model.

Detailing The American Models Twin Hopper Part II

The drawings of the car shown in the previous Dispatch were too small to be of any use, so this issue devotes two full pages to those drawings.

Drawings for American Models Twin Hopper

Various small drawings of the car.

East Broad Top Coal Hoppers

Prototype photos and scaled drawings accompany this brief article about these narrow gauge three-bay hoppers.

East Broad Top's 35-ton Triple Hoppers

Prototype photos and scale drawing accompany this article about these narrow gauge hopper cars.

Ernie Horr Tackles a 50 foot FMC Covered Hopper

Starting off with a Pacific Rail Shops ACF 3-bay hopper, the author builds the 50' FMC grain hopper. Includes a couple of photos and lots of design diagrams, as well as a parts list.

FMC Covered Hopper

Prototype photos of this 1970s three-bay covered hopper.

Freelance Triple Hopper from an On3 Kit

The author built an S-scale standard-gauge 70-ton 3-bay hopper from an EBT hopper kit marketed by CB&T Car Shops. Includes photos and construction diagrams, as well as a parts list.

Getting Lucky

The author describes the process he went through to bring a brass freight car back to useful service after it had taken a nasty fall to the ground.

GN Bethlehem Hopper

Using a Walthers hopper car, this article describes how to build one of these cars.

Great Northern Sand Cars

How to kitbash a hopper into a yard's sand car.

Hart Selective Ballast Car

Using an Athearn quad hopper, the author built a ballast hopper for the Model Railroader layout built starting in January of 1982. Includes a prototype photo and drawings for the necessary modifications.

Heap Shields

The author describes how he added heap shields (and other details) to 2- and 4-bay American Models hoppers. Includes construction and final-model photos.

Here's What I'm Working On - Class H30's

Models made from RTV molds.

Improving the Looks of Your Iron-ore "Jimmies"

Based on real-world experience the author describes how to do close coupling, and how to create realistic loads.

Improving the Pacific Rail Shops ACF Center-Flow Covered Hopper

The author describes how he modeled the PRS car, which is now sold by Des Plaines Hobbies under their S Scale America brand name, in a more modern version. Includes many model and construction photos.

Jim's Hopper Car

The author describes how Jim Kindraka's covered hopper cars (resin kits) were completed. Includes model photos and one prototype photo of an NYC two-bay hopper.

Johnstown America's Grainporter

The Magor Company started building aluminum carbodies for covered hoppers to reduce the weight of the cars. The Johnstown America Corporation builds aluminum-bodied, coal-carrying Bethgons.

Kitbashing 'Big John' from an American Models PS-2

The author built his model from two AM PS-2 models. Includes a prototype and model photo, a scaled drawing, and a bit of prototype information.

Kitbashing a Modern Trinity Aluminum Covered Hopper

Using various parts from Atlas, Walthers, and Intermountain cars, the author built a covered hopper from an open hopper car.

Kitbashing a PRR H25 Hopper Car

The author takes a Bowser H21 hopper and converts it into an H25. Includes prototype photos of both to see the differences. Lots of model photos are included as well, as well as a parts list.

Kitbashing an L&N 60-ton Rebuilt Hopper

Like the prototype, the author took a Athearn 50-ton hopper and converted it to this model. Includes cutting diagrams and materials list.

Kitbashing Narrow Gauge Hopper Cars

The author built accurate models using the Tichy Train Group's standard gauge hoppers.

L&N Coke Car

The 1932 box car was based on the PRR's X29 box car, so the author was able to start with an S Scale America kit of that model to build this unique car. Includes prototype photos and lots of construction photos.

Lionel ACF Covered Hopper Conversion

The author describes how he took a recently-released Lionel cylindrical hopper and converted it to scale, and painted and lettered it after a prototype NYC car. It also covers historical information about the prototype car.

Maine Central Covered Hoppers

The author describes how he modified MDC cars to use for heavy-duty cement and lime services. Includes one prototype photos, several model photos, and a parts list.

Mini-Quad Couplers

Modifying Rapido couplers to create I-beam couplers to permanently couple ore cars. The prototype did it that way also. The article shows before, construction, and after photos.

Modeling Southern Ry. 55-ton Offset Side Hoppers

These twin-bay steel hoppers are modeled by the author using an Athearn kit. The article includes prototype and model photos, and a parts list.

Modifying the River Raisin Airslide Hopper

The author briefly shares what he did to create an SP and a C&NW model. Includes a photo of each.

Narrow Budget Narrow Gauge

The author kitbashes Model Die Casting's HO-scale three-bay hoppers as reasonable models of the EBT Sn3 cars.

NASG ACF Brass Car Anniversary

The author recalls the first NASG brass car project from 31 years ago. Includes several photos of the covered hopper and other project cars.

New Bulk Covered Hoppers

The author shares a number of photos of two-bay covered hoppers that are only about a month old.

New York Central Lot 588-H Hopper

The author built this three-bay hopper by using two two-bay American Models hoppers. Includes construction photos.

Norfolk & Western HC-1 and HC-2 Covered Hoppers

The N&W cars are identical to the PRR H30/H30a and H32 class cars. A bit of information from the previous article by the author was corrected in this one, and he goes into greater detail about the 60 N&W cars. The PRR owned 1/3 of the common stock of N&W, which may have influenced the re-use of the design. Includes two prototype photos.

OC/CN Side Discharge Ore Car

Includes prototype photos and scale drawings, with on a brief text.

Pacific Rail 3-bay Covered Hopper Into a 2-bay Cement Hopper

The author describes how he took the Pacific Rail Shops' 3-bay hopper to make his own C&NW 100 ton cement covered hopper. Includes many step-by-step photos.

Pennsy Class H21g Quad Hopper

The rebuild into H21g of over 6,000 hoppers began in 1960, with 3,000 still in operation in 1970. Includes prototype photos and scaled drawings.

Pennsylvania H30/H30a And H32 Covered Hopper Cars

The author provides a more complete history of these cars. Includes several prototype photos and scaled drawings.

Pennsylvania H30A Covered Hoppers

A brief description of this car, with prototype photos of the PRR, PC, and Conrail versions, and scaled drawings of the Conrail car.

Pennsylvania RR Open Quad Hoppers

A brief history and scaled drawings of the PRR H21 hopper.

Protofile Part 60

This installment covers the Soo Line "Super Jumbo PS-2" covered hopper. Includes a prototype and a model photo, and a parts list.

Protofile: Modeling a U.S. Leasing Airslide Covered Hopper part 62

This article covers the Rock Island covered hopper, and the author shows how he modeled one starting with a Eastern Car Works Airslide covered hopper kit. Includes model and prototype photos, as well as one drawing.

PRR 85-ton Quintuple Hopper Car

PRR H24 #180002.

PRR Class H30 Three-Bay Covered Hopper Part 1

The author describes improvements he has made to the Bowser model. A large part of the article is to simulate shadow-lines on the model, because our models are seldom viewed under ideal lighting conditions.

PRR Covered Hoppers

This articles covers the PRR classes H30 and H30A. In addition to historical information, the article also includes numbers constructed, diagrams, close-up photos of all parts of the cars, and side-profile photos.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 1

These articles briefly describe the prototype and then some comments on how the car can be modeled in several scales. Includes representative prototype and model photos. This first article covers the following PRR covered hoppers: GLe, H21d, H30, H30a, H32, and H33.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 1 Addendum

Several drawings and photos of O-scale models of the GLe, H30, H32, and H33 classes.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 2

This installment covers the H34 and H40 covered hopper classes.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 3

This installment covers the H41 and H42 classes.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 4

This installment covers the H44 and H45 three-bay cylindrical hoppers. Includes photos and diagrams.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Revisiting the H30 and H30a

This article goes into detail about the differences between these two cars. Includes several close-up prototype photos.

PRR GLA and GLCA Hopper Cars Part 1

History of the GL, GLa, GLb, GLc, and GLca hoppers, and includes many prototype photos.

PRR H25 "Sawtooth" Quad Hopper

After a bit of history behind the development of this particular hopper, the author builds his models from an Athearn 40-foot, 70-ton quad hopper (the two center hoppers have to be reworked). Prototype, and model and construction photos are includes, as well as a part list.

PRR H30 Covered Hopper Model: HO Scale

This is a product review of the Bowser model. It also includes quite a bit of history on the prototype car, including the N&W similar cars. Includes one model photo of the completed car.

Re-detailing an FGDA PS-4740 Covered Hopper

Re-paint the Athearn GATC 2600 Airslide Hopper

Painting, applying decals, and weathering of this car.

Replacement Grain Hatches

Detailing hatches on covered grain hoppers.

Sand Hoppers For the RD&S Railroad

The author transforms a Weaver PRR H30 and a N&W HC-1 covered hopper as sand service models for his layout. Includes lots of construction photos.

Scale Scene

The author adds more details to an American Models 4-bay hopper car and letters it for the CNW.

Scale Scene

The author reviews the past and present availability of S-scale hoppers, and covers detailing the American Models and American Flyer cars. Photos of many of the hoppers are included.

Scratchbuild a Wartime Hopper Car Part 1

The author describes how to scratchbuilt a wooden hopper in S-scale (differences between scales are discussed as they affect materials or steps). This installment describes how to build the center sill, bolsters, end sills and braces, underframe, brake rigging (both K-2 and AB brakes), kingpin blocks, the car's sides, the car's ends, the slope sheets, and assembling and details the superstructure. Includes many detailed drawings. (By the way, there is a photo of the author on the Web; he is the second one up from the lower right-hand corner)

Scratchbuild a Wartime Hopper Car Part 2

The author continues the article, this time building the center sill slopes, the midframe plates, the bottom slope plates, the hopper doors, and adding detailing, brake rigging, ladders, grab irons, and the couplers.

Scratchbuilding a G Scale Ore Car

Model and prototype photos, as well as scale drawings, of the Apache Railway's 22-foot ore car. Includes construction photos of this 1:24 scale model.

Scratchbuilding a PRR GLa Twin-bay Hopper

The author describes in step-by-step details how to build this model, and how to build a model from scratch using styrene.

Super Detailing a Covered Hopper

The author describes how he super-detailed an S-Helper Service PS-2 hopper. Includes photos of the finished model.

The Before and After Photos of My Restoration of a Late 40s Sheet Tin O Scale Rail Craft Panel Side Hopper

(this article has got to have the longest title ever!) A photo essay of how the author severely weathered the car.

The G&W/Pacific Rail Shops ACF Center Flow Hopper Car

The author describes the kit and the issues he noted as he built three of them. The article contains several model photos, and plenty of close-up prototype photos to aid the modeler.

The Kadee PS-2 and the class H34

Prototype photos and drawing about the H34.

The Short-lived C&EI Two-bay Hopper

The history of this particular A.C. Gilbert model.

The Slippery Slope: Modeling Two WP Covered Hoppers

The author converted the Athearn 55-foot ACF Centerflow WP hopper cars from 4 bays to 3, replaced grab irons and ladder rungs, and added roof hatches. Painting and weathering completed the project. The WP covered hopper roster is given, as well as a parts list. Includes prototype and model photos.

The Sterlingworth Steel Hopper Car

The author describes how he scratchbuilt this 1900s steel hopper out of styrene and brass. Includes model drawings and photos. A sidebar is included on how to build a rivet machine, which was documented in the June 1968 Model Railroader issue.

Thrall 4,750 Cubic Foot Covered Hopper

The author takes you through the process of scratchbuilding one of these cars. Includes several close-up model photos and a parts list.

Three by Losse

A photos of an H21c, an X32, and unlabeled open-top, two-bay PRR hopper.

Tips for Modeling a Realistic Coal Train

Which kinds of hoppers to use for modeling a coal train in the era that you model.

Trinity 5161 Part 2

Prototype photos of the CGEX closed hopper car.

Twin Quads?

The author describes how he detailed two American Models 4-bay offset-side hoppers, including removable loads. One was modeled after a B&O and another after a C&O hopper. Includes several photos of the completed models.

Ultimate Conversion of American Flyer 640 Hopper to Scale

The author describes how he converted an A.C. Gilbert AF offset-sides, two-bay hopper to a scale model by adding details, and replacing the couplers and trucks. Includes photos.

Upgrading a PRR H21 Hopper

After describing the history of this quad hopper, the author describes how he detailed the Bowser HO-scale model. The article includes several prototype photos and lots of model close-up photos.

Upgrading HO Hopper Car Kits

The author describes how he super-detailed an Athearn hopper car to make it look better so that it matches the Westerfield cars he also runs on his layout.

Upgrading the Bowser GLA Hopper

The author explains why some HO-scale modelers might still want to upgrade an older model, such as this Browser model, and shows several details he added to his model.

Weathering Hoppers

Weathering black hopper cars so that their detail shows up better in photographs.

What's On Your Workbench Today?

In this new column, the author shares how he made the poling pockets for a hopper car.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

The author shares two photos of his work bench space and the PRR GLa hopper cars that he is scratchbuilding.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

A SOO Line American Models hopper receives decals, and a Great Northern Wood Sheathed 10' IH ARA box car built from a Standard Railway Casting Company kit.

Wood is Good

The author describes how he built an older Lehigh Valley Models phosphate hopper car. The article includes many close-up photos of the process