"Coalporter" Dimensions and Drawings

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi Folks:

Ive an idea to try to scratchbuild some generic “coalporters” in n scale, they will NOT be rivet counter type models, but will get the job done for me. I’m doing this with some other kinds of cars as well, but the problem that I am running into is I cannot find dimensions for a full scale car that I can make my plans from (Ideally, it would have a line drawing as well) – does anyone know where I Can find one? – most of the rest of mine come from greenbriars site, but they dont make this kind of car

Thanks
TIM
San Luis and Rio Grande

2

You’ll probably find more references under the name “Bethgon” or “Bethgon II” than under the tradename ‘Coalporter’.

Some early history:

http://crcyc.railfan.net/crrs/gon/gong52xproto.html

Here’s an image search to get you going:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bethgon+ii+drawings&client=opera&hs=EAK&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=vGG8n4Oz0B9SUM%253A%252C96Exa7PFE5ZnmM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTSUOqUVMJEqIPtpvX9r6OSXWXZ2A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjv4e2gzrjmAhXDVt8KHcdvDm0Q9QEwAHoECAoQBg#imgrc=vGG8n4Oz0B9SUM:

You do know there are HO and N models of these cars, right? You could buy one of those and take dimensions and construction from it for scratchbuilding or the necessary ‘mass production’ for a proper unit train…

3

Tim,

Look at MR October 1999 page 84, where a proto drawing shows in an article written by Ceorge Sebastian Coleman,

I have used these drawings to build a few of my own as to have a unit train…

All the best,

Dredgeboater

Better to be roughly right than to be exactly wrong…