Now Available, 70 Ton 3-Bay Hoppers in TWO DIFFERENT BODY STYLES in N Scale!
Bluford Shops is proud to announce N scale 70 Ton 3-Bay Hoppers in two different body styles. These ready-to-run cars will feature: diecast slope sheet-hopper bay-center sill assembly; injection molded plastic sides, ends, and hopper doors; fully molded brake tank, valve and air lines; slope sheet braces; separately molded vertical brake rod and lever assembly (a first on an N scale open hopper!); body mounted brake hose detail; coal load; body mounted magnetically operating couplers; close coupling; friction bearing or roller bearing trucks as appropriate for each road name. All road names will be available in multiple road numbers.
70 ton 3-bay offset side hoppers first appeared in the late '20s and by the late '30s had become an AAR standard design with cars being delivered from a number of builders in large quantities to railroads across the country. The last of these cars were delivered in the mid-'60s and many remained in service through the '80s.
The AAR had a standard 70 ton rib side hopper as well, however New York Central made changes to the AAR design in 1956 and their variation became popular with more railroads than the AAR stock standard! These cars were lower and shorter than later 90 and 100 ton cars but had more ribs (making for 14 full length panels.) Thirteen of the fifteen ribs were welded in place instead of riveted. These cars were built by a number of builders from 1956 through the late 60s with many serving through the 1990s and perhaps beyond...
Check out the features...
Diecast slope sheet-hopper bay- center sill.
Separate hopper door castings.
Body mounted brake hose detail.
The body mounted draft gear boxes with high reliability screw-shut lids were specifically designed for close coupling and resisting pop-aparts.
Accumate couplers are factory installed but you can drop in MTL #1015's without modifications.
Slope sheet braces.
Fully dimensional brake cylinder, lever, and brake rod assembly - a first on an N scale open hopper!
Air tank and valve assembly is different between the two hopper designs. The brake wheels are also different.
Injection molded plastic sides and ends.
The Offset Side car features the corner pleating design most commonly seen on the prototype.
Adjustable height, removeable coal load.
Bluford Shops products are not intended for children under 14.