USRA 55 Ton Hopper

[Mark5]

The nice thing about the (body mounted) coupler pockets on the new Bachmann tooling is that Accumates are a simple and direct swap. MTs can't be too much harder.

Mark

[bbussey]

Not possible, because the coupler boxes on the Bachmann cars don't have the pockets for the MTL centering nubs.  But yes, the AccuMates swap in perfectly.

So on a side note — is the MTL ribbed twin hopper prototypical?  And if so, are any of the roads ever released on the model prototypical?  Because all of the photos referenced here in the thread are schemes that MTL has done over the years.

[Mark5]

So on a side note — is the MTL ribbed twin hopper prototypical?

Which one? They have multiple versions.

The 56000 flat end  - this resembles some VGN classes (can't remember which ones off hand - usually not the ones MTL has released  )
The 89000 "Arch end" (I call this peaked end without notch) - this looks a lot like the N&W HK class.
The 91000 notched peak end - this resembles N&W H5 and H7 classes fairly closely.

I have no idea what the actual prototype is (the 56000 body was released in the late 70s - the other variations are much more recent).

Mark

[asarge]

The couplers on this model look even more oversized for such a smaller body. The samples at the show had pretty crisp printing and the body looked good. Aside from the oversized coupler, they also looked looked they road a little high but I had no track to stick them on.

[asarge]

Here's a not so good picture of the hopper. I did sharpen it a bit.

[skm]

The Pennsy version is numbered in the series of GLa hoppers of similar (but different) design.
The PRR did have 300 USRA hoppers classed as GLd.

I think the MTL version is a 55ton USRA hopper too?
I was going to convert the ones I have into GLd's, I never bothered to actually measure them!

[pjm20]

I think the MTL version is a 55ton USRA hopper too?
I was going to convert the ones I have into GLd's, I never bothered to actually measure them!

MTL hoppers are closer to a PRR H31, which is a clone design of a 55 toner. The MTL car is just a tad to long, around 1 foot, but the difference will be noticeable if Bachmann took the time to tool these accurately. Also, it never hurts to have another hopper design out there.

[bbussey]

Here's a not so good picture of the hopper. I did sharpen it a bit.

Damn that looks good.  I'll be getting a few undecs for New Haven cars.

MTL hoppers are closer to a PRR H31, which is a clone design of a 55 toner. The MTL car is just a tad to long, around 1 foot, but the difference will be noticeable if Bachmann took the time to tool these accurately. Also, it never hurts to have another hopper design out there.

Yes, the 56000 series is what I was referring to.  I'm glad to hear that it is at least close to prototype.  But other than the Pennsy scheme done as a five-pack shortly after the model was released, what schemes are prototypical for the body?
 

[Dave V]

I may pick up a few Pennsy cars as "filler."  I have a bunch of the Bowser GLas, and they all have the vertical brake stands.  In a long coal drag plodding by you're not as apt to spot the differences as you might in, say, a mixed freight where each car is its own star.

[dougnelson]

Of the 300 PRR GLd (USRA) hoppers only 30 survived by 1955, so it is not likely that they appeared in the Shadow Keystone lettering shown.  They would be more correct in the Circle Keystone lettering.

Correct road numbers for the GLd are 220000 to 220299.

The PRR cars came with USRA Andrews style trucks.

It's unfortunate the Bachmann did not do the research to get the lettering correct on an otherwise well-done model.

Doug N.

[DKS]

Hmmm... those ribs look rather emaciated, and where does the brakeman get to stand?

[Iain]

Better match for the NS cars than the Atlas models

[Snark45]

Amen to Doug N.'s comments  --  especially since there's a beautiful broadside photo of this PRR class on P. 140 of John Teichmoeller's book. He also observes that it's "unlikely but possible" that the GLd's appeared in the scheme used by Bachmann.

Hard to understand why they didn't produce this model atop the Andrews trucks used under their "Northeastern-style" caboose...

Hary W.

[bbussey]

Hmmm... those ribs look rather emaciated, and where does the brakeman get to stand?

The pilot models at the show in the photo above look better.

I agree,  they should have done the CK scheme.  But the fidelity of the decos on recent Bachmann models hasn't kept pace with the improvement of the tooling.  So it will be undec 55-tonners for me to decorate as NH, or some of the black cars to strip if undecs will not be offered.  I can live with multiples of the two Bowser models as the Pennsy representatives in my rolling stock fleet.

[towl1996]

The TKM No. 78, http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&rlz=1G1ACAW_ENUS536&q=prr+gld, has a review article by Bruce Smith about an HO Gld model. He describes what is correct/wrong with the model. So armed with this info, only you can decide if this model is too foobie for you.

Now, if someone was interested in doing some custom PRR decals in CK with multiple road numbers, strip and repaint would be the order of the day and you're in the ball park.