MTL PRR H47 Hopper

[Ed Kapuscinski]

My own Chuckpak arrived yesterday, including the new MTL PRR H47 covered hopper.


Can someone (Joe, I'm hoping), explain the rationale behind the extended draft gear trucks?

And does anyone know what other trucks will fit under here (I'm guessing there's a clearance reason for these)? Anyone had any luck with Atlas ones, or other MTL trucks?

[tom mann]

I replaced mine with Atlas 100ton trucks and FVM wheels.  Looks great (but as I recall I had to raise the height with a washer).

[wm3798]

Are those the new 36" mid-pro wheels under there?  Nice looking car, overall...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Are those the new 36" mid-pro wheels under there?  Nice looking car, overall...

Yeah, they're really nice, which makes it really suck for having to replace the trucks.

[Kevin Yutz]

I do agree that the extended draft gear trucks make it look...well...odd.

Wonder if there will be one in CR...didnt they have some of the H47s inherited?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yes they did, and if 1and1 hadn't eaten our images, I'd be posting them now, mostly because I'm concerned about the silver vs gray color on the car.

[Mark5]

Are those the new 36" mid-pro wheels under there?  Nice looking car, overall...

Yeah, they're really nice, which makes it really suck for having to replace the trucks.

They didn't put 36" wheels on a 70 ton truck did they?

Keep in mind this model has (era incorrect) low mount brake wheel right?

The PRR cars were built my Magor in 1965.

Still looks good though! ;D (I did a similar thing - bought the SEABOARD car - nice scheme on the same body)

Mark

[Mark5]

Yes they did, and if 1and1 hadn't eaten our images, I'd be posting them now, mostly because I'm concerned about the silver vs gray color on the car.

The cars were delivered unpainted with black lettering according to:

http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=H47

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Cool, then the silver is correct, and I stand corrected!

[asciibaron]

Cool, then the silver is correct, and I stand corrected!

that's not exactly true... they were an unpainted aluminum which doesn't mean it was a shiny finish - as it ages, it dulls.

this car is about 3 years old.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C2994%5C1967%20cn%20cov%20hopper%20355055%20marshalltown%20ia.jpg

[Robbman]

Keep in mind this model has (era incorrect) low mount brake wheel right?
Mark

It's a Evans 4780... so the entire car is technically incorrect, other than being a three bay LO.  Biggest difference is the ends.

[inkaneer]

My own Chuckpak arrived yesterday, including the new MTL PRR H47 covered hopper.


Can someone (Joe, I'm hoping), explain the rationale behind the extended draft gear trucks?

And does anyone know what other trucks will fit under here (I'm guessing there's a clearance reason for these)? Anyone had any luck with Atlas ones, or other MTL trucks?

Could be a factory mistake.  I converted my Atlas 90 ton hoppers to MT trucks/couplers using the bulk packs of trucks/couplers.  Of the 20 trucks 19 had the short extension couplers and 1 truck had the medium extension coupler.  The PRR equipment diagrams list this car [H47, H47A Aluminum covered hopper car] as having a length of 55' 1" over the strikers and 57' 8.5 " coupled.  That leaves 2 feet 7.5 inches for 2 couplers or 1 foot 3.75 for each coupler.  Not enough for extended draft gear boxes

[bbussey]

Ed you can use the standard-length-coupler Barber RB trucks and add the 36" wheels.

[bbussey]

It's a Evans 4780... so the entire car is technically incorrect, other than being a three bay LO...

Same thing applied when they launched the bodystyle with the Seaboard Air Line release (a Magor prototype if I remember correctly).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed you can use the standard-length-coupler Barber RB trucks and add the 36" wheels.

Cool, although it IS frustrating that I have to do this to a brand new car.