rrebell There were covered hoppers in the 30's, just rather rare.
There were covered hoppers in the 30's, just rather rare.
Yep
https://riverraisinmodels.com/libraryData/prrh30h32.pdf
Plenty of these starting in the late 1940s
https://www.broadway-limited.com/1880h32coveredhopperprrfreightcarredwithwhitecirclekeystone4-packaho-2.aspx
Plus almost 1500 H30s by the early 1950s.
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=H30
An "expensive model collector"
Yes, they existed but were rare. The two I mentioned from my era were the beginning of the covered hopper revolution replacing other methods of transporting lots of products.
Point about eras, most modelers are guilty of not knowing a whole lot about eras they don't model.
I admit, I know very little "detail" about railroading after the early 80's. That's when I lost interest in the "progression" of the prototype. From 1960 back, I'm pretty well informed.
But I am a history guy in general, so that's what interests me, railroad history. That's why I model a time before I was even born.
Sheldon
In the 1960s Model Railroader used to have occasional photo articles entitled "One Man's Roster". Looks like there would be no shortage of material to revive the series.
Tichy makes some early ones but there are others out there of earlier design, Mine are Intermountain early ones.