Sugar Beet Hoppers

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hey all,

I cant remember where but some time ago i saw an article about i beleive it was the Southern Pacific hauling Sugar beets, My question is are there any pictures or articles floating around that have pictures and description of the hoppers they use? or would they just use Covered hoppers for this task?

Thanks

Ken

2

They were open top wood side gons. i am sure someone thats an Espee fan here can get a pic or two.I have the book life and times of a locomotive engineer by Charles Steffes. he relates some info on the trains,but no pictures.

I have seen some pictures that Trains have used over the years. It was like seeing a brand new SD40 pulling 36 foot cars.Nothing like holdovers from another era still working hard.

Heres a link for you http://espee.railfan.net/freight_sugar-beet-gons.html

3

Kalmbach’s Industries Along The Tracks 3 by Jeff Wilson has a chapter on sugar beets that has numerous photos of the Southern Pacific cars. Strongly recommended.

That entire series of books from Kalmbach is invaluable - these are not reprints of old MR articles but all new material.

Dave Nelson

4

Howdy Ken; There was an article not to long ago in one of the magazines on beet a loader. For many years unit beet trains on the Espee were hauled in GS drop bottom gondolas with extended wood (plywood or plank) sides. These same type cars were also used for wood chips. In the eighties modified covered hoppers (roof removed) came into beet service.

Hope this helps, Rob

5

Sugar beet gons

http://www.pwrr.org/prototype/sugarbeet/index.html

6

What time frame are you looking at? The wood gondolas were used as late as 1993. The last few years, ITGX and HLMX rapid discharge cars were used.