Bluford Hopper Sample Shots

[Mark5]

WM had 14 panel in the 80000 series

I'll have to look that up in my Funk and Wagnalls...  That could get expensive!

Lee

Here's my source:

Hi Guys,

WM did have the 14-Panel cars in their 80000 series. The only difference was ribs on the WM cars did not have the slight taper at the very top and bottom. As far as I know, they were all red so the grays are thus far a question mark.

L&N inherited some of these cars from the C&EI split beginning with L&N 72775.

We will do them in EL down the road with the only difference being the rivets.

Craig

[inkaneer]

Let me state two things.  First I am not interested in any of the roads in either the first or second batch so I will not be saving my pennies to buy these.  That being said, here is the second thing and let me say that I readily admit that I am not a rivit counter but can anyone tell me what is different about these cars from the Atlas or MDC/Roundhouse/Athearn 3 bay hoppers?  I know these are supposedly 70 ton cars and the Atlas are supposedly 90 ton cars but other than that.......................???  Inquiring minds want to know, you know.

[Robbman]

The Atlas (and MT and LL) cars are all the same design, a longer and taller higher cubic capacity car of N&W design, so it's not even close to these.

[mplsjct]

The MDC/Roundhouse/Athearn rib side cars have a different (less) rib count on the sides than the forthcoming Bluford cars.

[wm3798]

Definitely "close enough" for a WM 80000 series car.  I hope they do the original paint with the yellow ends and circle R (indicating roller bearing trucks)...

These cars also lasted well into the Chessie era, both in the original paint and in the Cat Litter scheme...

There were none of these in the Gray scheme, those all being 100 ton cars.

Lee

[Dave V]

I'm just very happy to see a new body style that will work for my early CR era, even if in small numbers.

[asarge]

Hope this picture comes out. Here is a comparison of the new Bluford car to the Atlas 90-ton Ribside. The Bluford car is very different.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's a nice weathering job on that yellowball car.

[asciibaron]

Oh man... Now I can start amassing B&O hoppers for the Cherry Run to Rutherford run-throughs...

many of those traveled the L&HR, sometimes with Reading power.  i'm sure at least once a WM unit made it to Maybrook

[Bruce Bird]

Hey Lee- page 16 of the WM Color Guide has 80000s in both WM red and Kitty black.  I'd be in for 40 or so....

[wm3798]

Hmmm.  There is a quarry there near Ligonier... Maybe a 4 pack is in your future?

Lee