Hopper car ends

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Can someone explain the differences between the ends of 34’ hopper cars. I have 12 Athearn rtr coal cars with ends that are straight across the top. Athearn is offering a new series of numbers for these cars but the ends of the new cars are different. One end has a raised center with 2 equal slopes running to the sides of the car while the other end is raised but stops about 3/4 of the way across the car. What purpose do the raised ends serve, and why are the ends different on the same car?

Dave

2

Dave.

They are not the same cars. There were as many different hoppers as there were rail roads. Peaked end cars were developed to limit the spillage over the ends when tipped in a car dumper and also to limit the dust blowing out while moving. A very good reference book is Steel Open Top Hopper Cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad by Teichmoler. It gives a great run down of hopper car development from wood to the end of the great fallen flags.

Pete