Difco Side Dump Cars

[dickiee]

I am trying to find out what era the Difco Side Dump Cars are from. I have been unable to find any reference to them before the 1980's. Info would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[mlehman]

If you're referring to the Walthers cars, they are from approx. the 1980 era and later. Earlier versions were smaller and somewhat different. Several other manufacturers produced similar designs. 

[GN-Rick]

The Great Northern Railway acquired 100 of the Walthers' style cars in 1968 or so. They were painted black with a unique style of lettering (for the GN). As they were non-revenue equipment, they were given X-series numbers, denoting MOW. Can't quite recall the series exactly, but I believe they were the X-7000 to X-7099.

[dickiee]

Thanks to both Mike and Rick for the quick reply to my question. Yes , my reference was to the Walthers cars. They seem like such a good idea that I thought they had been around a lot longer. My layout is built sort of around the early fifties so they won't fit in. Too bad! Walthers has a good price on them this month. Thanks again!

[P42 108]

I am not sure where they came from, but I do have one of them. It is bright orange and lettered for Amtrak. I am purchasing another one that is also bright orange- this time lettered for CSX. These are used for ballast and other materials on maintanence trains, and that is what they are used for on my model railroad.