NYC hoppersauthenticity question

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi

I am reserching the NYC 40ft hoppers cat.n.17620 HO by bachmann

this hoppers have an overall brown paint scheme with white numbers and letters the number is 862746

Not beeing able to find much about this hoppers i would like to ask if anyone knows if this Bachmann 17620 NYC 40ft hoppers are prototopically correct in terms of paint scheme and numbering to represent the mid 1950s time period

Thanks very much for your reply

stefano

2

Hi

I have discovered that the serial numbers 862746 on the side of this hopper seems to be correct as they where built in 1940 .Some of this hoppers where converted in 1953-57

Whas brown the correct paint scheme for the NYC hoppers [or infact freight cars in general] in the mid 1950 s ?

thanks

3

That model does not look OK for ANY railroad I can think of. If ANYONE can point out a prototype, please do so.

Stefanuccio, I think the model is wrong. The paint and lettering look maybe (MAYBE) OK.

NO, I don’t like it.

Ed

4

I agree with Ed! It just looks awkward…

Those center two hopper doors that are not the same size as the end two? And a 40 foot car with four hoppers? Most 40 footers had just two hopper doors if I am not mistaken.

There are several other options out there, Athearn blue box, Accurail, Roundhouse, Bowser…

I’d pass on this version of a Bachman hopper car. Find some prototype photos and use them as a guide.

Good luck, ED

5

No 1 Car #862746 was a 31’6" Two Bay Hopper rebuilt by Greenville from older cars.

No.2 Brown is the correct color for the mid 50’s time period. See Below:

6

stefano,

I would opt for an Accurail hopper. The kits are relatively inexpensive, have nice detailing, and are easy to put together. Here’s their product page. I also like the fact that Accurail lists the BLT and/or NEW dates next to each release right on their website.

Tom

7

Bachman basically cloned athearn’s cars,then used more bogus paint schemes than athearn, so they’re not typically accurate for any prototype. While accurail’s cars do have blt/paint dates, they too, will use bogus paint schemes to sell cars.mh

8

Hi Rick

Thanks very much indeed for the load of information i was struggling to obtain.So it seems [if i have properly understood]that this hopper is a re-bult from older version if this is correct the NYC has re-built this hoppers between 1953 and 1957 ?.Also the colour and numbering at least until 1956 is correct ?

stefano

9

No! It’s a correct color and number on an incorrect car. The NYC did Not have USRA quad hoppers!As you will find, many manufacturers will use any car in any paint scheme to sell them. More prototypical cars come from Atlas, Branchline(now Atlas), Intermountain, Kadee, Exactrail and Red Caboose. Among some others.

10

Ok Got it

Thanks MHorton need to learn a lot on American Railroads but also on the models i chose .Unfortunately were i live there is not much choise so i have to learn the hard way

Thanks to all that with a lot of patience and good advice help me to move the first steps in the world of american railroad

regards

stefano

11

Not a problem, just beware of Bachman freight cars, as a rule, they are probally incorrect 90% of the time. Ciao mh