Grain Train - Covered Hopper Obsession

[TomPM]

As proof of my hopper obsession my son and I had an operating session involving all the covered hoppers I have. We called it the Grain Train. It is moving covered grain hoppers from the Midwest to the Yettobebuilt Grain Silo.

The lead locomotive of the Grain Train is an Athearn Penn Central U33C.

Providing extra power is a Bachmann Spectrum Reading SD-45. As you can see the locomotive still needs some detailing such as the railings installed.

The first car of the Grain Train is an Accurail Penn Central ACF hopper.

Next car is an Athearn Penn Central 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Now coming is the Athearn Rogers Grain Co. 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Next is the Athearn Farmers’ Co-op 54’ P/S covered hopper.

 

[TomPM]

The fifth car is the Rail Runner/Athearn Seaboard System 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Following that is the Bev-Bel/Athearn Peavy 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Then along comes the Walthers/Athearn Albert City 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Car number 8 is the Athearn New York Central ACF hopper.

Car nine is the Bev-Bel/Athearn Ralston-Jefferson ACF hopper. After a few trips around the layout this car had to be cut out of the train and placed on a siding due to the fact that the internal weight had come loose and the car was subject to rolling over.

Next is the Athearn Farnhamville 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Now we have the Roundhouse Farnhamville 54’ P/S covered hopper.

This followed by the Roundhouse Klemme Co-op 54’ P/S covered hopper.

 

[TomPM]

Which is followed by another Roundhouse Farnhamville 54’ P/S covered hopper.

And another Roundhouse Farnhamville 54’ P/S covered hopper.

Then we have an AHM Illinois Central ACF hopper.

Car number 16 is an IHC Lehigh Valley ACF hopper.

And bring up the rear is an Athearn Penn Central Wide Vision Caboose.

 

[MasonJar]

Hi Tom,

Beautiful weathering job on all cars... as usual!!

I am going to have to look up your how-to again sometime soon...

Andrew

 

[Drew Toner]

Covered hopper city!!



But they do look really good Tom


Drew

 

[Ralph]

Alllllriiiiight Tom!!! Roll that Penn Central Grain Train!!!!! :thumb:
Know what?...I have the same NYC hopper with the same weight problem! Touch o' glue was needed. Great covered hopper line up and nice weathering on all.
Ralph