hopper name?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

How did hopper cars get their name?

2

Well it’s open to discussion, but, it could have been:

  1. In the early days they didn’t have wheels, but large springs. They literally “hopped” down the track.

  2. they were orignally used to haul rabbits in bulk.

  3. “Hopper”: “a funnel-shaped receptical for delivering material (as grain or coal)” -Merriam-Webster. A “hopper” is a bin you dump a bulk solid into, then discharge it from the bottom (see toilet). That pretty much describes a hopper car.

(Not the toilet, the bulk solid dischaged from bottom.)

3

That would make such a car with flat spots on the wheels “Thumper?”

[:D]

4

Especialy that mixed “Hopper” Train that UP haules around. My God does that Train have Flat wheels. Allan.

5

hopper n. a container with an openining at the bottom through which its contents can be discharged,------ the word was around before its was applied to a “hopper”

6

Hopper car…Noise makers with very loud Flat spots on the wheels that go THUMP THUMP THUMP BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG,etc. Allan.