Regarding new Broadway H2A hoppers

[bbussey]

The 24" "N&W" started in late 1951.

Yes, but I saw a builder's photo that had the H2A date at 1956.  The group decorated with the smaller N&W was built in the 1940s.

[Mark5]

Yes, but I saw a builder's photo that had the H2A date at 1956.  The group decorated with the smaller N&W was built in the 1940s.

Yes, H2a's built up to late 1951 would have 17" N&Ws. All N&W hoppers built or re-built from that point forward were done in 24". N&W was pretty aggressive about repainting older hoppers as they got shopped such that by the mid to late 50's most hoppers (coal cars) were in the 24" scheme.

Scheme used up to 1951:
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/full/ns2074.jpeg

Scheme from late 1951 to 1957:

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/full/ns2077.jpeg

They changed the scheme again around 1957 when they dropped the line above and below the reporting marks (this is a Class H10):

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/full/ns2114.jpeg

Mark

[OHCR 4218]

Since I am modeling the NKP in 1964 as the N&W took over it looks like I should only get the 24" cars. Good for Wallet, bad for train length, although I am glad to know the Wabash cars are not as foobtastic as I thought.

[jmlaboda]

Since I am modeling the NKP in 1964 as the N&W took over it looks like I should only get the 24" cars.

I wouldn't bet on you being right about this... I saw both NKP triple offset-side hoppers and various VGN hoppers on the Southern Railway into the mid-70s, over ten and 15 years after those lines were merged.  N&W was never in a hurry to repaint their cars and I would bet if you looked hard enough (that is, if you wanted to include the earlier cars) that you could find shots of them well into your modeling era.

Does anyone know when the H2s started to be built?  As it stands for me only the smaller lettering will be right and I know I will be needing some since my freelanced road will be the routing for Pocahontas coal to Duke Power plants in the Carolinas.

[Mark5]

I wouldn't bet on you being right about this... I saw both NKP triple offset-side hoppers and various VGN hoppers on the Southern Railway into the mid-70s, over ten and 15 years after those lines were merged.  N&W was never in a hurry to repaint their cars and I would bet if you looked hard enough (that is, if you wanted to include the earlier cars) that you could find shots of them well into your modeling era.

I was lineside in the 1960s and 1970s and I can hardly remember seeing any coal hoppers with 17" lettering. My collection of photos seems to support this.

Does anyone know when the H2s started to be built?

H2a hopper production:

1948 15500-17484, 70145-70159
1949 17500-19499
1950 19500-20336
1951 20337-22889
1952 22890-24560
1953 22561-25499
1956 26000-29999, 31000-31999

13,500 total

(from Andrew Dow's N&W Coal Car book)

Mark

[robert3985]

This UP is a foobie .

Nice paint.  Foobie track too.   

[Mark5]

Looks like BLI is really gonna do these. Looking forward to the actual announcement with stock numbers so I can place an order ....

Mark

[Mark5]

Finally, these are listed with stock numbers:

http://www.broadway-limited.com/h2ahoppercars.aspx

Mark