Grain Hoppers



Over the years, traffic on the MRL main has had its ups and downs. But with the newly upgraded BNSF mainline between Laurel, MT and Great Falls, MT about the only significant BNSF traffic through here are the grain trains. Even with the price of grain going down by the minute (and BNSF's rate going up in the same period of time), it remains to be a typical busy season for grain shipment. A large percentage of the grain traffic has found it's way back on MRL's main to ease the congestion of BNSF's northern line and what's good for MRL is good for this modeler as well.

Typically, when I complete a new locomotive, I am anxious to put it to work. And although the power looks dandy, the rolling stock needs work. I have a pretty good mix of grain hoppers - most aren't too terribly special detail-wise (YET!!), nothing more than the factory details and paint. The Intermountain cars are great as-is, although they are in desparate need of Plano roofwalks and brake platforms and brass rungs/grabs. Santa brought me a new P2K PS2CD hopper (more) so the quality of the fleet is on the upswing. However, the Accurail, Athearn, and MDC cars are gonna need work. I'll be putting a set of jigs together to create new ends for those cars out of Special Shapes angle and brass wire. Some will get stripped and repainted but for the most part, I'm gonna keep the factory paint and color match for the new detail. As always, reference comes first and I intend to accumulate more than enough.

BNSF 424835 Photo BNSF 424835

BNSF 420996 Photo BNSF 420996

BNSF 422625 Photo BNSF 422625

BNSF 425429 Photo BNSF 425429

BNSF 434994 Photo BNSF 434994

BN 471892 Photo BN 471892

PLCX 18127 Photo PLCX 18127

All photos by Tammy and T. William Anderson


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