Derrick, I'm using wood chip hoppers too, and had the same questions a while back. I got some good advice from folks, and if you do a search for a thread "wood chips and different hoppers" you'll find it. There was a fellow who responded who modified a box car to be a wood chip hopper, and did a remarkable job...think it was a Western Maryland car...and he had some photos. He could probably give you good guidance.
Maine Central used to use coal hopper cars with extensions, the bottoms would be all dented and scratched because the mill I worked at would use a gradall to unload the woodchips, these cars were either well cleaned after hauling coal or never hauled coal in the first place.
The tiny URL below is a link to Red Caboose. They make beautiful 40' drop bottom gondolas with extension boards for wood chips or beets, or what ever.
http://tinyurl.com/2uexf5
Klickymobster,
Years ago, Train Miniature produced 34' twin hopper cars with extension panels for all four sides which had to be applied by the buyer. They are very rare, but can be found sometimes at train shows and you might find them on Ebay. They weren't up to today's standards of detail, but they are still the only model of an early wood chip hopper.
And I think Walthers produced them for a while after they bought Train Miniature, so you should look in the Walthers items on Ebay.
Jcopilot
Sorry I should mention this is for HO scale
Hi all,
I am frantically looking for some sort of hopper to haul wood chips on my layout. What I really want are converted 40' hoppers with the sides on them. Unfortuantely, I cannot find cars like these. However, I did find a site that had conversion kits (this was a club's site...said something like they were a special run from either blair line or bar mills). Unfortunately, I did not bookmark the site, and I cannot find it after numerous google searches.
So my questions are, does anyone know the website I am talking about?
2. Where can I find prototype information on these cars?
3. Are there any tips for scratchbuilding such sides?
Thanks for your help! Have a great weekend!