What to use for hauling coal

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi all,
I’m sort of a newbie at this so please bear with me. I model modern CSX coal operations in the Appalachian Mountains in N scale and I am having trouble choosing what commercially available coal hoppers to use in my unit coal trains. I’m on a tight budget so I would like to keep things as inexpensive as possible. I could use the atlas 90 ton hoppers,

this would be my first choice because they are very inexpensive, but they generally aren’t used anymore in unit coal trains right?

Atlas also makes coalveyor bathtub gondolas,

I could get the undecorated version and then paint them in CSX colors but these were usually purchased and leased by power companies themselves and not railroads correct? Did CSX ever own any of these cars? Are they still used today?

Another option would be the Athearn bethgon coalporters.

I’m trying to stay away from these because they are pretty expensive.

What would be my best choice between these three cars? Are there any other options out there? Any help you can give me is appreciated.

2

Either the Atlas 3 bay hoppers or the Athearn Bethgons. Both are very common on CSX and also NS and Conrail.

CSX has no Coalveyers.

Nick

3

Thanks for the reply.
Are there many 3 bay hoppers used in unit trains today? I’ve never seen any in service around where I live. Pics would be very helpful.

4

Yes, in Indiana, we still get unit trains thru here with 3 and 4 bayers in the consists! Hey its your Road, Do what you want with it! Whats not saying that your road didnt bye those Hopper cars. Kevin

5

You might want to try using a locomotive.

Sorry, couldn’t resist that one.[;)]

-Ed

6

Yes,

We service two power plants that don’t have rotory dumpers, and use unit trains of three and four bay hoppers instead. We also service one plant with a dumper, and they normally only get unit trains of Bethgons.

Nick

7

Thanks again for the help. I think I’m going to get a fleet CSX 3 bay hoppers with a few conrail hoppers thrown in.

8

Beat me to it! [(-D]

Okay… so what locos would you suggest???

Recalling that we are asked for modern and not expensive… and I would add “interesting/different” [8D] How about some “run through” power for a unit train???

9

Conrail (and now NS) used 6-axle power on their coal drags down here in SW PA. Along the old Monongahela RR, you’d see everything from SD40-2s to big GEs. CSX sometimes runs their own trains through with similar power. Most trains had 2 engines, but sometimes they had 3, depending on tonnage.