So Distinctly Modern it must be made in Traditional O Gauge

What freight equipment is left that is so distinctly modern it must be made in Traditional O Gauge proportions, immediately.

My choice are the 3-Bay High-Sided Hoppers.

4191 CUBIC FOOT COVERED HOPPER

Available from TrinityRail is a car optimized for soda ash service. This 286,000 lb. gross rail load, three hopper car has a capacity of 4,191 cubic feet. The standard car has six 30-inch diameter roof hatches and three 30-inch by 30-inch discharge outlets.

5161 CUBIC FOOT COVERED HOPPER

TrinityRail offers several covered hopper designs, including a standard 5,161 cubic foot car. This high capacity, through sill car is designed for the efficient shipment of grain products, sugar and dry chemical products. This 286,000 lb. gross rail load covered hopper has standard 24-inch continuous trough hatch and standard 30-inch by 30-inch discharge outlets. A wide assortment of options is available including a variety of hatch and gate configurations as well as interior lining if required.

AMERICAN RAILCAR INDUSTRIES

T5200 Through-Sill Covered Hoppers

These are all similar cars. The shortest 4,191 Cu. Ft. Capy. version can be reduced to S Scale Length and Height to match the proportions of Traditional O Gauge Cars and operate on O-27 curves. The paint schemes from the longer cars can then be applied to the short hoppers.

Thes

National Steel Car also has built some similar Hoppers

Rail Road names for these High-Sided Hoppers include:

CSX GRAIN EXPRESS

NS

BNSF Circle-Cross

BNSF Swoosh

UP We Will Deliver

UP Building America

CP Rail

Canadian Pacific Railway

DM&E

Then there are grain and chemical companies that lease the cars.

Minnesota Soy Processors

ADM

Cargill

There are a whole lot more to find.

Andrew

Modern hoppers make great private name billboard cars with a rainbow of graphic art. I think manufacturers would benifit as people would want to collect a series like with billboard reefers. Being moderately priced, they would attract knick knack collectors who aren’t into trains.