Thanks all for the earlier thread of foreign reporting marks on an N&W layout. I used that to purchase some cars, to include two Southern Pacific covered hoppers. Would they look odd on a VA-based layout? My train mentor said yes but while I've not found photos of SP or UP cars, doesn't mean it did not happen.
Thanks!
Anything is possible, I've seen a picture of a National of Mexico boxcar in deep snow on the Churchill, Manitoba team track. As one senior fan put it when I was just a pup, the average freight car can run from the Yukon to the Yucatan - the question is - why? What is it carrying and to where? You're going to have to do some research - what was the typical cargo of SP covered hoppers? Was it something that would justify it shipping completely across the country or were there sources closer to the N&W (less tarnsportation cost to the customer)? In a cursory search of the net I've been able to find that they were used across the system, but lots of photos seem to have 2 and 3 bay cars in cement service in Arkansas (that could be because of one railfan who had a fondness for SP's cars). On the other hand, there had to be cement plants closer to Roanoke than Little Rock. Even if you decide to run the cars on your layout, though, it should be an occasional onesy twosey occurance not a daily routine.
N0. you are perfectly within your right to justify whatever cars you want. BUT purists and know it alls will see them as out of what is normal for whatever road and area you are modeling. So to shut them up you need to develop a plausible reaaon for them on your railroad such as whatever is in them came from somewhere on the SP.
You could say they were filled with chopped up cattle bones going east to a geletin plant. Empties going west. Geletin plants will get several hoppers a week. They used to be hauled in open top hoppers but contamination became a concern. I can't see why. Their going into acid and breaking down. Just one idea.
Pete.
Sure a car from the UP and SP would show up on the N&W. 100% chance.
An SP covered hopper could be carrying rice, cotton seed, cotton seed meal or potentially any other grain. A UP covered hopper could be hauling grain, soda ash, potash. SP and UP hoppers would be rare as hen's teeth, gons pretty rare, but boxcars, reefers and lumber flats 100% certain.
If you fast forward to the 1990's entire unit trains of UP coal gons and hoppers were delivered to the NS going to Georgia power (including UP power).
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Thanks everyone! This is very helpful and reassuring.
Cotton Belt (SSW) was a Southern Pacific affiliate. If you model post-64 there might be merger-partner interchange points...
What you should ask yourself is what type of commodities are shipped in covered hoppers and whether it was likely such commodities would be shipped cross country. A little research should answer both questions.