More new tooling from bluford

[unittrain]

Panel side hoppers http://bluford-shops.com/bluford_93_035.htm so steam and diesel era coal trains will expand I might be able to use a few in my 1980 setting, sure would make a good weathering project for that era 

[Chris333]

I think that first release is more roadnames than MTL ever did with theirs.  Just sayin'.

[reinhardtjh]

Nice! I hope some C&O ones come soon.

Edit: Well, crud.  It looks like the only 50-ton panel sided hoppers the C&O had were 23 cars rebuilt from the USRA hoppers announced previously

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've always thought those were cool cars.

Don't really have any need for them, but I applaud Bluford's continued awesomeness.

Are they going to have the puffed up interiors too? That would be serious boss-level stuff.

[Cajonpassfan]

I've always thought those were cool cars.

Don't really have any need for them, but I applaud Bluford's continued awesomeness.

Are they going to have the puffed up interiors too? That would be serious boss-level stuff.

+1 here!
I don't even know how one could make a one piece casting of that...
Cool stuff...
Otto

[daniel_leavitt2000]

You can, but the die would be crazy complicated: interior core plug would be removed first, interior side wall plugs second, then exterior dies. probably more trouble than it is worth.

Better solution: snap in bubble panels

[Bluford Craig]

I think that first release is more roadnames than MTL ever did with theirs.  Just sayin'.

In fairness to MTL, they did the 33' panel side car instead of the 30'6" car that we are doing. Our prototype is based on re-sided USRA rib side cars.

Craig
Bluford Shops

[Catt]

Craig,
  Those panels were used on bigger cars (3 & 4 bay) also any chance of seeing any of those down the line? Or the covered hopper roofs that were used at times to make the cars more useful?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

I don't believe that I have ever seen these cars in service but I have been a fan of them since I first seen an article in Model Railroader about building these in HO scale... too bad I don't need them, they are interesting cars!!!

[central.vermont]

Craig,

Being a Central Vermont fan I look forward to these but am not sure they did them in Black? I have asked this question over on the CV Yahoo Group. Have you got info to back this? Not saying it's not proto just haven't come across any shots in black.

Jon

[reinhardtjh]

Craig,
  Those panels were used on bigger cars (3 & 4 bay) also any chance of seeing any of those down the line? Or the covered hopper roofs that were used at times to make the cars more useful?

Yes, in 1935/36 (or 1932 depending on your source - sheesh) C&O rebuilt about 1500 cars from the 73000-76999 series originally built in 1923-24.  They just took the original number and tacked a "1" in front to make a 173000-176999 series (with lots of holes in the numbers).



These are close to the 79000-79999 series that Bluford did, but they are about 1' 8" shorter on inside measurements so not exactly the same.  The full arch dreadnought ends are rather cool looking though.

[Bluford Craig]

Craig,

Being a Central Vermont fan I look forward to these but am not sure they did them in Black? I have asked this question over on the CV Yahoo Group. Have you got info to back this? Not saying it's not proto just haven't come across any shots in black.

Jon

Open top cars on Canadian National and their subsidiaries were painted black until they switched to brown in 1948. Given the lettering style on this CV run, black is appropriate.

Craig
Bluford Shops

[thomasjmdavis]

I can't imagine that I won't pick up a couple of these.  But what I really want are some C&EI hoppers (offset or rib side, I don't think they had this sort of panel),  in late 40's lettering (lettering was large, but not the "block" lettering font of the late 50s and 60s).

[garethashenden]

Craig,

Being a Central Vermont fan I look forward to these but am not sure they did them in Black? I have asked this question over on the CV Yahoo Group. Have you got info to back this? Not saying it's not proto just haven't come across any shots in black.

Jon

Open top cars on Canadian National and their subsidiaries were painted black until they switched to brown in 1948. Given the lettering style on this CV run, black is appropriate.

Craig
Bluford Shops

What were the CV cars used for? Just locomotive coal or online customers as well?

[Steve Rodgers]

I can't imagine that I won't pick up a couple of these.  But what I really want are some C&EI hoppers (offset or rib side, I don't think they had this sort of panel),  in late 40's lettering (lettering was large, but not the "block" lettering font of the late 50s and 60s).

Me too! So I guess they will be coming pretty soon.