Prototypes of 42' 4-bay hoppers

[bpickering]

I'm kinda curious about the (perhaps dubious) heritage of some of the mass-market hopper-cars out there. I'm speaking of any of the following:

• Tyco
• Current IHC (like http://gallery.bcentral.com/GID4729088P1370267-MODEL-TRAINS-FOR-COLLECTORS-AND-OPERATORS/IHC/HO-SCALE/IHC-35102-42-4-Bay-Open-Hopper-Ontario-Northland-6031.aspx)

I haven't had much luck, though, at identifying a specific prototype. I'm not really sanguine that the variety of roads I've got these in really all had them, and I don't know the range of when they were in use anyway.

I'm thinking of playing with these as both 1) cheapies that my son can play with without my losing hair [:D] and 2) opportunity to practice painting/weathering. Even so, it would be nice if they at least vaguely resembled prototypes when I'm done! My main modelling interests are UP and CP, mid-50s (yes, yes, I know, they don't physically connect... I'm working on that part), so if neither of those roads had such, I would be looking first for other roads in the Northwest that might have had these.

Brian Pickering

[dehusman]

Most of the R-T-R offset quad hoppers are models of a B&O design from the late 20's and early 30's.

Dave H.