I am building a Steam/Early Diesel layout, circa 1948-1950. Did they have covered hoppers and covered gondola's during that time ? I am modeling a sanding tower and bin, and have read that they shipped sand in covered gon's, but I cannot recall any being around during that time. It seems that it just came in "uncovered" and they dryed it, before use. Any comments will be appreciated... Thanks.
The 2-Bay Covered Hopper Car is based upon a design similar to the steam-era 70-ton railcars produced during the late 1930's to the late 1950's by American Car & Foundry / ACF of Berwick, PA. Prototype examples of this style freight car are still in use on America?s railroads today.
Thanks guys. it would be prototypical for sand to be delivered either by a drop-bottom 'gon, or by a covered hopper. Question answered... Thanks again.. Bob
They didn't use newer cars like covered hoppers for company sand service. They may have been carrying sand, but if so, it was to glass makers or forges and foundrys for moldmaking. Sand to sand houses came in old boxcars or in gondolas. Retrofitted covered gondolas were around, but they almost always were created to carry some commodity, without investing in newer expensive freight cars. In otherwords they carried bulk fertilizer, commercial sands (like molding sand,etc) ,and low grade stuff that needed weather protection. Later, in the DE era these cars would have found there way to company service, as they were replaced with more modern cars or the railroads lost the traffic ; but not during the time of the steamer that was essentially foreclosed by 1960 everywhere in NA.
