Train Addiction Help Line: 1.866.840.7777
Apr 10, 2022 - N Scale
Bluford Shops - N Scale - 3-Bay Offset Side Hoppers
Dear N Scale Customers;
Bluford Shops has announced the 3-Bay Offset Side Hoppers
Canadian National adopted the 12” billboard lettering for hopper cars in 1958. Then in 1965, this group of cars was renumbered into the 320000 series, often without a full repaint. Two years later, they began to receive their ACI tags. It is at this stage that we present these CN cars in 6 road numbers.
These Ontario Northland cars feature the “Canadian Style” hopper arrangement with the center hopper bays facing the brake wheel end instead of the “A” end of the car. This style was only used on Canadian roads but was not universally applied (the CN cars in this batch do NOT have the reversed center bays for instance.) Coal was not a big commodity on the ONT but metallic ores were. This group of 6 road numbers includes “nickel ore” loads.
Santa Fe received this group of hoppers equipped with 70-ton roller bearing trucks from Greenville Steel Car in 1960. Santa Fe had a respectible trade in hauling coal but these hoppers could also be found hauling coke, unprocessed clay, copper concentrate, ballast, scrap tinplate, slag and stone. These cars will be available in 6 road numbers.
Chicago & North Western inherited this group of hoppers with their 1968 acquisition of Chicago Great Western. By the mid-70s they were receiving this paint scheme with the large “Employee Owned” version of the C&NW ball and bar logo and re-equipped with roller bearing trucks. The CGW reporting marks were retained. This was not unusual because changing a car’s number could require amending equipment trusts and/or lease agreements. These cars will available in 4 road numbers.
70 ton 3-Bay Offset Side Hoppers first appeared in the late '20s and by the late '30s had become an AAR standard design with cars delivered from a number of builders in large quantities. The last of these cars were delivered in the late-'60s and many remained in service through the '80s.
These ready-to-run models feature: diecast slope sheet-hopper bay-center sill assembly; injection molded plastic sides, ends, and hopper doors; fully molded brake tank, valve and air lines; slope sheet braces; separately molded vertical brake rod and lever assembly; body mounted brake hose detail; “coal” load except as noted; body mounted magnetically operating couplers; close coupling; friction bearing or roller bearing trucks as appropriate for each road name. All road names are produced in multiple road numbers. Draft artwork is show and is subject to improvement by our crack team of railroad historians.
Order Due Date: June 6, 2022
Anticipated Delivery Date: June 2023
Looking for more Bluford Shops Hoppers? Click here!
Product Details
© 2024 Pacific Western Rail Systems
Train Addiction Help Line: 1 866 840 7777