What is available that I can use for carting gravel and cement? I have Atlas 4 bay centreflow hoppers, are these used for this purpose of do I need to buy something else?
Good morning Paul.As a general rule,4 bay hoppers are not used for aggregates,or cement.Aggregates are very heavy,and cement is extemely heavy.ACF 2 bay center flows are a very common cement hopper car,and aggregate is usually transported in open top hoppers(again the 2 bay variety,but not always).As usual,there are exceptions to EVERY rule.I hope this will help you in some way. Best regards.Gordon
Here are a couple of pictures of the types of hoppers used for cement hauling on the Union Pacific here in Oregon. The 3-bay style were used a lot in the late 1980's, but I haven't seen them around lately. They seem to be using the 2-bay style almost exclusively. As always it depends on the era you are modeling and the railroad. I'll try to find some prototype photos when I have more time. [ 17 November 2001: Message edited by: upguy ]</p>
Thanks for the pics guys, UPguy I model UP so if you like you can send me those hoppers Well the general consensus is 2 bay hoppers I will have to keep a lookout for some. You can see in this picture on the right side is a gravel yard service by a siding off the mainline. On my layout extension I am building a siding for the cement works. I currently have a friend building the cement works for me. Hopefully in the next 8 weeks this will be installed. [ 17 November 2001: Message edited by: Colonel ]</p>
Here is a picture of a "real" cement hopper taken near Haines, Oregon. I couldn't post the photos that I would have liked to because they where taken with a "normal" camera and I don't own a scanner. I may soon have to buy a scanner, so I won't have this problem again.... The cars that I posted pictures of earlier were of a Delaware Valley (now Bowser) 3-bay hopper, and the other two were Atlas 2-bay hoppers. I also have some of the Kato 2-bay hoppers on my layout. Any of these cars should work fine for cement hoppers. Most of them will look much better with a healthy helping of weathering and/or graffiti. One of the modules that I plan to model will be a small version of the cement plant at Nelson, Oregon (between Huntington and Baker City. A lot of cement hoppers are handled by the local between Nelson and LaGrande...which is going to be a focal point on the layout. [ 18 November 2001: Message edited by: upguy ]</p>
In keeping with the 2-bay cement hopper theme...here's a shot I took of an SP H-100-31 class ACF Centerflow hopper at West Colton, Ca. [ 18 November 2001: Message edited by: Mankind ]</p>
Paul, for covered hoppers look for Atlas (PS2 and ACF - Punchbowl), Precision Masters/Red Caboose (PS2 modern - Tom's), MTL (ACF - Punchbowl/Tom's/N SCaler), and I think Intermountain do an ACF 2-bay as well. Gary.
<center>I've only got this and a 2 bay CCDX Hopper for this line. I'm planning on more when the layout scenery is mostly completed.</center> I know, I know, its a 4 bay not 2. [ 19 November 2001: Message edited by: A&A 6183 ] NEVERMIND THIS ONE. [ 20 November 2001: Message edited by: A&A 6183 ]</p>
