Bethlehem Steel introduced its first 100-ton quad hopper in 1963. Although based on the Norfolk & Western’s H-11 triple hopper design, Bethlehem’s 12-panel version was two feet longer with a capacity of 3,209 cubic feet.
In 1964, Bethlehem began producing a 3,483-cu.-ft. version which was 11′-7″ high versus 11′-0″ for the 3,209-cu.-ft. version. Over the next 19 years Bethlehem built 4,560 of these larger cars, and they became the most numerous of the builder’s quad hoppers.
Buyers included the Denver & Rio Grande Western (2,795 cars); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (1,300); Burlington Northern (200 built for the CB&Q); Chicago & North Western (165); and Great Northern (100).
The side rib pattern also separates an early version from a late version. On the early version, the first and 13th vertical ribs extend from the top to the bottom of the sides. On the later version, the first, second, 12th, and 13th ribs extend from the top to the bottom. This means the model’s rib pattern marks it as an early prototype built between 1964 and 1972, so it should have the reinforcing angles to be correct.
The car’s plastic body has excellent detail. The cross sections of the grab irons, ladders, and stirrups are well- proportioned along with the latches on each door. Painting and lettering are even and crisp, and the dimension data is legible even without magnification.
Trainworx is offering these cars as kits (you have to add your favorite brand of trucks and couplers) and as ready-to-run models.
On the latter, Trainworx supplies Micro-Trains’ Barber 100-ton roller-bearing trucks (correct for the prototype) and low-profile wheels. Trainworx shims the trucks with M-T’s washers. The wheelset gauge and the coupler height meet National Model Railroad Association standards.
The wheels scale out to 33″ in diameter, while the prototype cars run on 36″-diameter wheels. This small difference isn’t noticeable to most viewers. NorthWest Short Line offers metal scale 36″-diameter wheels if you feel the need to have accurate wheelsets. The shims would then be unnecessary.
If you prefer body-mounted couplers, each end of the separately cast underframe has a pad where you can attach these. Trainworx has thoughtfully provided a predrilled hole for the mounting screw.
Our car weighed 0.9 ounces, just short of the 1.025 ounces called for in the NMRA’s Recommended Practice for an N scale freight car (one-half ounce plus .15 ounces per inch of car body length). Each car includes a nicely done cast coal load that can be removed so more weight can be added if desired.
Coal hoppers spend about half their lives empty, so you’ll want to paint the metal weights already inside the cars so they blend in better when you’re running empties back to the mines.
Trainworx is selling these decorated cars with different car numbers as well as undecorated versions in either black or mineral brown.
While the C&S car matches the prototype drawings, the ICG, MP, and UP versions won’t. The ICG built its own cars based on the Bethlehem design with 14 panels rather than 12. The MP and UP prototypes differ slightly in height and slope sheet angle. While purists may rightly fuss about the ICG cars, the discrepancies with the MP and UP hoppers are minor.
Overall, these are excellent models of a common prototype, and I expect many N scalers will be running long strings of these well-designed hoppers.
Prices vary by road name:
Kit, three-packs, $25.50 to $30
Kit, six-packs, $54
Kit, 24-packs, $170 to $195
R-T-R, three-packs, $41.50 to $46.50
R-T-R, six-packs, $87
R-T-R, 24-packs, $185 to $215
Undecorated black or mineral brown kits $6.50, R-T-R $12.50 each
Three ½-ounce weights, 75 cents
Manufacturer:
Trainworx
P.O. Box 127
Delta, CO 81416
970-874-9747
www.wic.net/trainworx
Description:
Plastic kit or ready-to-run model
(See Web site for specific car numbers)
Road names:
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Chicago & North Western
Colorado & Southern
Denver & Rio Grande Western
Great Northern
Illinois Central Gulf
Missouri Pacific
Union Pacific
Undecorated (black of mineral red)
