PRR H21 Hopper Extension

[Jesse6669]

A TRW member asked me to design and print an N-scale hopper extension to fit the Bowser H21 for him.   Here's the resulting model: 

   

   

I'm going to get a bunch (at least 30) made or print them myself  , but wanted to see if there's any interest out there and if so, roughly how many.  Lemme know (reply here or PM). 

 

[bigdawgks]

What were these used for?

[Jesse6669]

What were these used for?

Some SPF will likely chime in but mainly for coke (coking coal) which is less dense than regular coal and so the loads would cube out before weighing out on the standard hoppers.

[jargonlet]

Are you sure the guy wasn’t trying to make an H22a without cutting the hopper down?

[Jesse6669]

Are you sure the guy wasn’t trying to make an H22a without cutting the hopper down?

The actual request was to make extension that fit the N scale H21 to look like the H22 Bowser made in HO.  I think you are correct about cutting the sides (or going to town with a belt sander) and adding a new top rail; which could still be done I suppose if you want it to be more accurate. 

Now you've got me thinking-- If the height of the H21A is the same as the H22A, the model could be made by adding the "fake" original top rail around the H21 mode, but you'd need to also sand off the ribs.  A kit with 4 pieces with slots for ribs, and maybe the top brace.  Seems like a lot of work.

[Mark5]

The actual request was to make extension that fit the N scale H21 to look like the H22 Bowser made in HO.

Nice crisp rendering. 

Here's info on the proto and of course Bowser's HO version: https://bowser-trains.com/history/h22history.html

[jargonlet]

@Jesse6669 I think you may be on the right track.  I made an H22a in n scale a number of years back.  I remember lobbing off the top and adding a fake top chord and then fabricating a new top.  If there were an easy way to file down the ribs on the side and add a 3d part, it would make the convention pretty easy.  Your 3d work and print does look quite nice.

[Jesse6669]

@Jesse6669 I think you may be on the right track.  I made an H22a in n scale a number of years back.  I remember lobbing off the top and adding a fake top chord and then fabricating a new top.  If there were an easy way to file down the ribs on the side and add a 3d part, it would make the convention pretty easy.  Your 3d work and print does look quite nice.

   

I'm going to attempt the surgery on the H21 to remove about 2 feet off the top and replace with this:   

     

So there's an option for an "easy" H22A conversion that's about 2 feet too tall, or an accurate H22A with a bit of cutting needed. 

[towl1996]

If you add 2 more feet to your extension you would have a H21F. I couldn't find a pic online, so I took a pic from Teichmoeller's hopper book. There were only 56 cars of this class, but it would be an "easy" conversion.

I'm interested in a couple of the H22 conversions.

[Lemosteam]

If you add a flange at the bottom, the H21f is attainable.  It was only an extension atop the H21a to make this class atop a Bowser model.

The H22  is in the same Techmoeller book above.

[Jesse6669]

Well, just to say "yes, it's possible" I cut down the Bowser H21 and added the revised extension with a chord on the bottom.  No fillers or anything used and I primed over the old paint.  The 3D print could do with a little tweak or two, mostly in the supports but otherwise it was fine.
   

Prototype (not a very good pic unfortunately): 

[Chris333]

What was the reason for such a low car with extensions?

[Slim Rail Mike]

This site http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=H21 has a comment that the h21f was for woodchips. That would explain the need for extra volume.

[spr1955]

What was the reason for such a low car with extensions?

I agree, why cut 2' off the top of a hopper to add an extension. what a waste of effort. Seems counter productive, unless the hopper is already close to capacity. Lot of work to squeeze a tiny amount of capacity, IMHO.

Dave

[Jesse6669]

I agree, why cut 2' off the top of a hopper to add an extension. what a waste of effort. Seems counter productive, unless the hopper is already close to capacity. Lot of work to squeeze a tiny amount of capacity, IMHO.

Dave

I'd guess the original car was just a lighter capacity car built when trucks or branch line tracks couldn't support heavier loads-- As PRR infrastructure improved, they added the extra 2 feet.