Blue Ended TCMX Hoppers

[bubbajustin]

Do these things carry something special normal hopper's wouldn't? Thay aren't "bulged out" like a normal hopper. I belive thay are owened by the CIT Finacial group right?

THANK'S,

Justin

[CShaveRR]

You're right about the owner, Justin. But I'm not sure what you mean by "bulged out". Without a number from one of the cars, I can't tell you how old these cars are ("bulged-out" cars might just be older). Just the fact that they have blue ends (or any other color, for that matter) suggests that they have rotary couplers on that end, which in turn suggests that they're most likely in coal service (I saw a few exceptions to that rule today--both old steel useta-be coal gons with rotary couplers in scrap and tie service and fairly new aluminum cars with covers, in feed service).

[Anonymous]

These things...

[CShaveRR]

Oh--covered hoppers!

Forget what I said about rotary couplers, in that case--doesn't apply here. These cars have sides of aluminum construction (though the blue portions, and structural components are steel). The sides don't bulge because they weren't designed to--simple as that. I believe that these cars are slightly larger in volume than your typical grain car, and would therefore be used for slightly less-dense commodities, such as soybean meal.

Thanks for the picture, Tyler!

[bubbajustin]

Thanks for the picture Ty! I was going to go to the Teen Railfan Place, and get the pic. Most importantaly, thank you Carl! Sorry I wasn't specific. You know how. Most covered hopper's you see these day's are "bulged" in the sides to allow for the car to carry more volume, and not be as tall. I posted my latest pic on the TRFP,and Ty asked me what thay were for. I said the normal stuff that a hopper would carry. I wanted to make sure. Thanks!