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Atlantic Coast Line 2-bay covered hoppers

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  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Thursday, February 3, 2022 10:58 PM

     The  Atlantic Coast Line did have two bay covered hoppers with the triangular cutouts between the hoppers in the sidesheets.  Morning Sun's "Atlantic Coast Line Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment" shows three different classes of 1958 cu.ft. hoppers with the aforementioned cutouts and square hatches, in the following number series:

Class L-5:   Nos. 86100-88099      Built by Pullman-Standard and, ACF

Class L-9:   Nos. 88100-88399      Built by American Car & Foundry

Class L-4a   Nos. 116000-116567  Originally built by ACF, in 1950-51.  Rebuilt in                                                      1966 by Chicago Freight Car Company with                                                        circular instead of square hatches.

     A lot of ACL covered hoppers had sheet metal panels attached to the ribs to carry the reporting marks and weight data.  You didn't mention the scale you model in but in HO, Intermountain-Railway offered an ACL car, which is probably out of stock which can be seen at:         www.intermountain-railway.com

      They currently have the best plastic models of the 1958 on the market (free standing vs. molded on, ladders and grabs), available in other roadnames.  Decals for ACL LO's (covered hoppers) are available in multiple scales from K4 decals.  They can be found at www.greatdecals.com.  Click on "Suppliers" and scroll down.  Good luck!

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,676 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, February 3, 2022 8:43 PM

Bowser makes some:

https://www.bowser-trains.com/history/70tcoveredhistory.html

Also old Eastern Car Works kits if you are a masochist.

  • Member since
    May 2020
  • 1,056 posts
Posted by wrench567 on Thursday, February 3, 2022 7:16 PM

 I have seen HO scale two bay hoppers with the center cutout. I believe they were resin casting cars. I don't recall the manufacturer. I do recall an article somewhere where the modeler modified and cut the center off of Atlas two bay covered hoppers and swapped the covers too.

  Good luck.

     Pete.

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • 12 posts
Atlantic Coast Line 2-bay covered hoppers
Posted by Bozo Texino on Thursday, February 3, 2022 6:23 PM

I'm looking to create a small fleet of ACL 2-bay covered hoppers, circa late-50's. The only photos of prototype cars I can find on line have triangular shaped cut outs on their sides. Photos of model cars show a more common car without the cutouts. Knowing that model manufacturers often create "foobies," did ACL have cars without the cut outs? If so, can someone supply a car number or range?

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