Sand Train Hoppers

[bigblow69]

Does anyone make 2 bay GATX hoppers that UP uses on sand trains? I'm looking at building a unit train but don't want to spend a couple thousand doing so.

[runs2waynoka]

Nope, no one makes those Trinity 3281 cu ft hoppers.... nor the Greenbrier 3250 cu ft hopper, the other primary frac sand hopper-

www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=62339

Based on what shows up around here, older 2-bay cars and just about any old 3-bay ex grain hopper seem to be about as common as the newer cars in sand service. The unit sand trains do however seem to be comprised of mostly the newer cars however.

[bigblow69]

I have a feeling someone will make one and Retail will be $50. I think a Trainman level of detail car would be all I need.

[fr8kar]

There are plenty of older grain hoppers used in sand service, along with the usual two-bay suspects. Feel free to mix and match as the prototype does.

[mlehman]

I'd bet there will be a new, distinctive frac sand hopper on the market within a year. Modern modeling is hot, as is the frac sand boom. I'll never need one, but I can see plenty of potential for whoever brings this model to market first.

I'd also agree this model doesn't need to be done in a platinum edition. Something a little cheaper will move many more units, given this is the sort of car that moves in packs, like hungry wolves...

[bdhicks]

You can always model the raw sand before it's processed. The sand train out of the Twin Cities ran with just regular uncovered Thrall gons.

[bnsftcdiv]

The UP pulls Sand out of Winona are in open gone as well. I believe it to be unprocessed sand, so it can be shipped that way.

Still hope to see the Trinity hoppers though

Dave Burman
Modeling the modern Twin Cities


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