A forumite asked for help making coal loads for hopper cars. A few years ago, I made a couple coal loads for two Weaver hopper cars. The photos below show the materials and the process used to make them. I wish I could remember the name of the abrasive that I used for the “coal.” A member of another forum offered to send some to anyone willing to pay shipping. I received a coffee can of the stuff. Still have lots of it.
I put this in its own thread so that I could put a note about the photos in the title.
Photo #1 - Foam block, some tools, and hopper car that will get the load.
Photo #2 - Line on foam for cutting.
Photo #3 - Small piece of foam that will be used for the load.
Photo #4 - Fitting the foam into the hopper car.
Photo #5 - Trimmed bottom of foam to match hopper car ends.
Photo #6 - Top of foam higher than car sides to allow for coal piles.
Photo #7 - Too much flash, coal pile foundations are not visible.
Photo #8 - Foam wrapped with masking tape to preven
Some great ideas on the coal loads. My wife bought some ‘Santa Coal’ for Christmas - she was going to give the bags to one of our grandsons as a gag. It is small pieces of licorice flavored (I think) gum and it is perfect for O gauge layouts & comes in bags about the size of the original Lionel bags.
However, I found out the hard way that loose coal in a hopper is about as messy as the Lionel 397 coal loader. I spilled the hopper moving it[#oops]
My grandson enjoys grabbing a piece out every once in a while as the trains operate, so guess I will keep it and try some of your methods, too.
I’ve kicked around the same idea as you for doing the same with my cars, just been o busy/lazy to do it. My plan will be to use black aquarium gravel for the coal itself. If the color isn’t quite right, that’s what the black paint is for. Looks good!
Have any of you guys made any sand or stone loads also … or am I one of the few ? I think some forget all that ballast stone just did’nt fall from the sky around those tracks … LOL . And I hardly ever see a sand pile or load in any layouts or sets . Ya know those old steamers did have sand for traction and both diversify a layout or line of cars … [^]
