Walthers Ore Cars

[csmith9474]

Just as a side note, the width of the cars had to do with the dimensions of the ore docks. This had to do with the width of the cars in relation to the spacing of the tracks on the docks. The western docks were a little wider so the track spacing was also a little wider, thus a wider and shorter (height) car.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Tyhatts: I've got 240 of the cars and they are very good. This type of car was introduced in the 40s and are still being used and made today. There are two types of cars in use on the iron hauling railroads. These are what can be called Minnasota cars as they are used by the DM&IR and a few others up there. The other cars are refered to as Michagan cars and used by the likes of the LS&I in the UP of Michagan. The main differance is the Minnasota cars are wider by a little. Since these are the only iron ore cars avaliable now I'm useing them for my UP railroad. I'd rather use the MDC taper side cars but you take what you can get. Actually mixing them makes for an interesting looking train.

[jrbernier]

The Walthers ore car is correct for 'Minnesota' ore car. And they are still used. The MDC ore car is correct for a 'Michigan' ore car. The nice thing about the Walthers car is that they couple close - The MDC cars need to be modified so that they will couple close like the prototype.

Jim

[csmith9474]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomikawaTT

As illustrated, the Walthers ore jimmy is accurately lettered for its primary prototype, the DM&IR, as built to carry high-quality iron ore. These cars were later modified by adding a little height to the sides in order to carry an equal weight of taconite pellets - 70 tons. I saw a yardful of the prototypes in (I think) 1992.

Taconite mining is alive and well in Northeastern Minnesota today.

As well as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Yooper territory). My father-in-law works at the Tilden Mine in da UP, and I have spent a little bit of time railfanning the LS&I. It is cool to see the mining operations, to include the railroad, from the mine to da ore dock in Marquette.

[tomikawaTT]

As illustrated, the Walthers ore jimmy is accurately lettered for its primary prototype, the DM&IR, as built to carry high-quality iron ore. These cars were later modified by adding a little height to the sides in order to carry an equal weight of taconite pellets - 70 tons. I saw a yardful of the prototypes in (I think) 1992.

Taconite mining is alive and well in Northeastern Minnesota today.

[csmith9474]

I don't know what particular era they are from, but it is your railroad. I personally wouldn't see a problem if you wanted to run them behind an AMD-103 custom painted for the Deleware and Hudson, so go ahead and run them behind that geep 38.

And yes, they are still operated today by a couple of railroads.

[Anonymous]

hey everyone

im thinkin about buying a couple sets of the walthers gold line ore cars

im just hoping to get some opinions on them ???

what era are they from ?? would it be wrong to run them with my gp-38's ?

are they a modern type of car ?

thanx everyone