Hmm...Time to Call Upon the Experts.

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I took these a few weeks ago in my local yard, and I have seen many a time CSX “Company Sand Service” hoppers, but never anything like this. These were sitting near the locomotive facility, close to the sanding tower where the Company Sand Service hoppers sit. So my question is…what are they?

I would like to model a couple of these but I can’t, of course, unless I know what they are. Any information is appreciated.

Thanks.

2

Those cars carry sand for use in locomotive sanders, which is why they were parked near the sanding tower. Transporting the sand in closed cars keeps it dry.

3

Right, but does anybody know what they’re made out of?

4

Well, I went back down there this evening, still sitting there. I looked and it looks like a tank car with an extended bottom. Hmm…[?]

5

Those cars are made of formed steel plates. You could probably kitbash one out of a Walthers funnel flow tank car kit. Any of the kits similar to 932-7203 would be a good start. It least it would give you the round ends and the funnel flow bottom.

You could use a pvc pipe or something similar to make up the main body. Or possibly you “roll your own” body out of sheet stock([.030?]Plastruct). by warming the plastic in a double boiler(remember to wear hand/eye protection!) and then using a wooden dowel about 12" long with a diameter similar to the tank car ends.

This would all be by trial and error until you get it to look like what you want.
Some ladder stock, paint, decals etc. and you would be done.

As for the paint job? Well it looks like Oscar Meyer WeeNee Mobile on rails!

Rick

6

Haha, I hadn’t though about the Weenie Mobile. Thanks for your response, as that is what I was looking for. The funnel-flow tank car kitbash makes sense to me now. I believe I will look into that…

Thanks again.

7

They are covered hoppers originally made for either some sort of ore (phosphate??) or cement service. They were not used by very many railroads.

Dave H.

8

LO-9, 2-bay "Whale Belly covered hoppers! CB&Q used them in cement service in the 1960’s. As Dave stated, only a couple railroads used these, including the CB&Q cars re-lettered into BN.

I just recently picked up two of the cars at:

http://www.railwayclassics.com/

On the left click on “Rolling Stock”

And then click on “The GATX Pressure Slide ‘Whale Belly’ Cement Hoppers”

There are pictures of the prototype cars as well as the models available.

Enjoy!