B&MRRHS Home

B&M Freight Cars Home

Boston & Maine 5900 Series Hopper Cars

Index

• Builder's Photo
• Classification Card(s) for series
• Specifications
• ORER data
• ORER Notes
• Discussion, General Notes
• Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data
• ICC Valuation Data
• Paint Schemes
• References
• Photographs
• Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions
• Modeling
• Revision History of this page

Builder's Photo

NOTE: These were originally built as D&H 4319-4419 in 1905. They are listed as such in the 3/1907 ORER (if not earlier - that is the earliest ORER I have access to). Subsequent ORERs indicate the cars were transferred to the B&M in the late 1907-early 1908 time frame.
Standard Steel Car Co Photo, negative 258 - DK Retterer Collection, used with permission - of original D&H car. (click on image to see full resolution available)

B&M Classification Card(s)

For more info on the classification cards and "webitizing" them, see this web page

From 1942 class book.

Red text was black on original scan, above process removed it entirely, so (as best as I could read it) I re-added it
Click on image to see original scan at full resolution (or right-click → "Save Picture As" to download black and white image, to view it at full resolution)

From 1955 class book.

Red text was black on original scan, above process removed it entirely, so (as best as I could read it) I re-added it
Click on image to see original scan at full resolution (or right-click → "Save Picture As" to download black and white image, to view it at full resolution)

Specifications From Classification Cards

Additional data from Neubauer, Eric. Pullman-Standard Freight Car Production Including Predecessors (Pullman-Standard Freight Car Production.pdf)

Spec	Value
Builder	Standard Steel (Butler, PA)
Lot #	7
Car Numbers	5900-5999
Quantity	100
Build Date	Apr, 1905 [for D&H] 1907-1908 [Received by B&M]
AAR class	HT [on class card]
Description	D&H hopper gondola cars, 4 doors. Also referred to as "Seley" type Standard Steel Car Co. documents also refer to "Russell", but I am not sure in what context.
Lt Weight	36,500 (approx) (trucks, 13,740)
Cubic Cap'y	1,491 Cu. Ft.
Cap'y	85,000 (1942 and 1955 Classification Index p1, marked "Obsolete" in 1955 copy)
Trucks	Arch Bar type
Journals	5" x 9" (85,000 lbs nominal capacity)
Hopper Door Opening Gear	Winding gear and shaft, drawing 11810
Springs	ARA class "C"
Air Brake	8" x 12" brake cylinder
Side Bearings	60" center-to-center, 31¾" rail to top of truck side bearings
Center Plates	Spherical bearing surfaces, truck bearing cast with steel bolster
Coupler	5" x 7" shank, 6½" butt
Draft Gear	Miner Tandem spring

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data - 1907-1910

Dimensions	11/1907	8/1909
Length	34'-0½"	34'
Width
Height
Capacity	80000	80000

ORER Size Data - 1910-1926

Description			6/1910	2/1914	3/1914	11/1914	9/1915	9/1917	11/1926	2/1927
M.C.B. Designation						HM	HM	HM	GA*	HM
Inside Dimensions	Length		32'-2"	32'	32'	32'	32'	32'	32'	32'
	Width		8'-10"	8'-10"	8'-10"	8'-10"	8'-10"	8'-11"	8'-11"	8'-11"
	Height			7'-6"	7'-6"	7'-6"	5'-4"	5'-4"	5'-4"	5'-4"
Outside Dimensions	Length		34'	34'	34'	34'	34'	34'	34'	34'
	Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform	9'-2"	9'-2"	9'-2"	9'-2"	9'-2"	9'-2"	9'-2"	9'-2"
		Extreme Width
	Height from Rail	To Extreme Width
		To Eaves or top of sides or platform
		To Top of Running Board
		To Extreme Height
Door - Side opening	Width
	Height
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full				2120	2120	1530	1491	1491	1491
	Pounds		80000	80000	80000	80000	80000	85000	85000	80000

* - could be a typo left over when car 5572 was no longer listed

ORER History

ORER Date (Year-Mo.)	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description
Cars in D&H ORER listings
1905 - 04	D&H 4319-4418	1	Gondola, Tandem Hopper [left over from ?? - I did NOT go back to see where this came from]
1905 - 06 Thru 1907 - 02	[I did not record any D&H data for these dates]
1907 - 03	D&H 4319-4419	101	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
1907 - 05	(same)
1907 - 10	(still no line in B&M listing)
Cars started to be sold/transferred to B&M
1907 - 11	D&H 4319-4419	101	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
	B&M 5900-5999	…	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1907 - 12	D&H 4319-4419	30	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
	B&M 5900-5999	52	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1908 - 01	D&H 4319-4419	30	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
	B&M 5900-5999	72	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1908 - 02	D&H 4319-4419	9	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
	B&M 5900-5999	86	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1908 - 03	D&H 4319-4419	1	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
	B&M 5900-5999	90	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1908 - 04	D&H 4319-4419	1	Gondola, Tandem Hopper, Composite
	B&M 5900-5999	99	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
At this point I am going to stop following the D&H car
1908 - 05	B&M 5900-5999	100	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1908 - 06	(same)
1908 - 07	(same)
1908 - 08	(same)
1908 - 09	(same)
1908 - 10	(same)
1908 - 11	(same)
1908 - 12	(same)
1909 - 01	(same)
1909 - 02	(same)
1909 - 03	(same)
1909 - 04	(same)
1909 - 05	(same)
1909 - 06	(same)
1909 - 07	(same)
1909 - 08	(same)
1909 - 09	(same)
1909 - 10	(same)
1909 - 11	(same)
1909 - 12	(same)
1910 - 01	(same)
1910 - 02	(same)
1910 - 03	(same)
1910 - 04	(same)
1910 - 05	(same)
1910 - 06	(same)
1910 - 07	(same)
1910 - 08	(same)
1910 - 09	(same)
1910 - 10	(same)
1910 - 11	(same)
1910 - 12	(same)
1911 - 01	(same)
1911 - 02	(same)
1911 - 03	(same)
1911 - 04	(same)
1911 - 05	(same)
1911 - 06	(same)
1911 - 07	(same)
1911 - 08	(same)
1911 - 09	(same)
1911 - 10	(same)
1911 - 11	(same)
1911 - 12	(same)
1912 - 01	(same)
1912 - 02	(same)
1912 - 03	(same)
1912 - 04	(same)
1912 - 05	(same)
1912 - 06	(same)
1912 - 07	(same)
1912 - 08	(same)
1912 - 09	(same)
1912 - 10	(same)
1912 - 11	(same)
1912 - 12	(same)
1913 - 01	"	99	"
1913 - 02	(same)
1913 - 03	(same)
1913 - 04	(same)
1913 - 05	(same)
1913 - 06	(same)
1913 - 07	(same)
1913 - 08	(same)
1913 - 09	(same)
1913 - 10	(same)
1913 - 11	(same)
1913 - 12	(same)
1914 - 01	(same)
1914 - 02	(same)
1914 - 03	(same)
1914 - 04	(same)
1914 - 05	(same)
1914 - 06	(same)
1914 - 07	(same)
1914 - 08	(same)
1914 - 09	(same)
1914 - 10	(same)
1914 - 11	(same)
1914 - 12	(same)
1915 - 01	(same)
1915 - 02	(same)
1915 - 03	(same)
1915 - 04	(same)
1915 - 05	(same)
1915 - 06	(same)
1915 - 07	(same)
1915 - 08	(same)
1915 - 09	(same)
1915 - 10	(same)
1915 - 11	(same)
1915 - 12	(same)
1916 - 01	(same)
1916 - 02	(same)
1916 - 03	(same)
1916 - 04	(same)
1916 - 05	(same)
1916 - 06	(same)
1916 - 07	(same)
1916 - 08	(same)
1916 - 09	(same)
1916 - 10	(same)
1916 - 11	(same)
1916 - 12	(same)
1917 - 01	(same)
1917 - 02	(same)
1917 - 03	(same)
1917 - 04	(same)
1917 - 05	(same)
1917 - 06	(same)
1917 - 07	(same)
1917 - 08	(same)
1917 - 09	(same)
1917 - 10	(same)
1917 - 11	(same)
1917 - 12	(same)
1918 - 01	(same)
1918 - 02	(same)
1918 - 03	(same)
1918 - 04	(same)
1918 - 05	(same)
1918 - 06	(same)
1918 - 07	(same)
1918 - 08	(same)
1918 - 09	(same)
1918 - 10	(same)
1918 - 11	(same)
1918 - 12	(same)
1919 - 01	(same)
1919 - 02	(same)
1919 - 03	(same)
1919 - 04	(same)
1919 - 05	(same)
1919 - 06	(same)
1919 - 07	(same)
1919 - 08	(same)
1919 - 09	(same)
1919 - 10	(same)
1919 - 11	(same)
1919 - 12	(same)
1920 - 01	(same)
1920 - 02	(same)
1920 - 03	(same)
1920 - 04	(same)
1920 - 05	(same)
1920 - 06	(same)
1920 - 07	(same)
1920 - 08	(same)
1920 - 09	(same)
1920 - 10	(same)
1920 - 11	(same)
1920 - 12	(same)
1921 - 01	(same)
1921 - 02	(same)
1921 - 03	(same)
1921 - 04	(same)
1921 - 05	(same)
1921 - 06	(same)
1921 - 07	(same)
1921 - 08	(same)
1921 - 09	"	98	"
1921 - 10	(same)
1921 - 11	(same)
1921 - 12	(same)
1922 - 01	(same)
1922 - 02	(same)
1922 - 03	(same)
1922 - 04	(same)
1922 - 05	(same)
1922 - 06	(same)
1922 - 07	(same)
1922 - 08	(same)
1922 - 09	(same)
1922 - 10	(same)
1922 - 11	(same)
1922 - 12	(same)
1923 - 01	(same)
1923 - 02	(same)
1923 - 03	(same)
1923 - 04	(same)
1923 - 05	(same)
1923 - 06	(same)
1923 - 07	(same)
1923 - 08	(same)
1923 - 09	(same)
1923 - 10	(same)
1923 - 11	(same)
1923 - 12	(same)
1924 - 01	(same)
1924 - 02	(same)
1924 - 03	(same)
1924 - 04	(same)
1924 - 05	(same)
1924 - 06	(same)
1924 - 07	(same)
1924 - 08	(same)
1924 - 09	(same)
1924 - 10	(same)
1924 - 11	(same)
1924 - 12	(same)
1925 - 01	(same)
1925 - 02	(same)
1925 - 03	(same)
1925 - 04	(same)
1925 - 05	(same)
1925 - 06	(same)
1925 - 07	(same)
1925 - 08	(same)
1925 - 09	(same)
1925 - 10	(same)
1925 - 11	(same)
1925 - 12	(same)
1926 - 01	(same)
1926 - 02	(same)
1926 - 03	(same)
1926 - 04	(same)
1926 - 05	(same)
1926 - 06	(same)
1926 - 07	(same)
1926 - 08	(same)
1926 - 09	(same)
1926 - 10	(same)
1926 - 11	(same)
1926 - 12	(same)
1927 - 01	(same)
1927 - 02	(same)
1927 - 03	"	97	"
1927 - 04	(same)
1927 - 05	(same)
1927 - 06	(same)
1927 - 07	(same)
1927 - 08	(same)
1927 - 09	(same)
1927 - 10	(same)
1927 - 11	(same)
1927 - 12	(same)
1928 - 01	(same)
1928 - 02	"	80	"
1928 - 03	(same)
1928 - 04	"	73	"
1928 - 05	"	69	"
1928 - 06	(same)
1928 - 07	"	64	"
1928 - 08	"	62	"
1928 - 09	"	61	"
1928 - 10	"	55	"
1928 - 11	"	50	"
1928 - 12	"	45	"
1929 - 01	"	37	"
1929 - 02	"	34	"
1929 - 03	"	31	"
1929 - 04	"	27	"
1929 - 05	"	25	"
1929 - 06	"	18	"
1929 - 07	"	15	"
1929 - 08	"	11	"
1929 - 09	"	5	"
1929 - 10	"	3	"
1929 - 11	5999	1	"
1929 - 12	Not listed

ORER Notes

• This series NEVER gets "*" indicating "Air Brakes" (1902-04 thru 1909-06)

Discussion, General Notes

• 32' Seley hopper bottom composite gondola
• Per Tim Gilbert

  The #5900-5999 series was the last of the early hopper designs which started in 1886. While all-steel hoppers were built during the 1890s with massive underframes, the B&M opted for the lighter composite designs. In terms of matching cubic capacity with the load limit, the #5900s were perhaps a better match than the first steel gon series, the #80000s. They [#5900s] cost $800 per car vs. the $975 of the #80000s. There were no reorders or new designs before this design which was phased out of revenue service in the early [sic - actually late] 1920s. Indeed, there was a gap in B&M owning any hoppers between 1926 and 1929 when the four bay #8000s were purchased. [actually - very little gap]

  With 5" x 9" journals, the nominal capacity should have been 80,000 lbs, while the light weight of this design allowed a load limit of 99,500 pounds. To be conservative, both the B&M and the prime user of this design, the D&H, mandated a nominal capacity of 85,000 pounds - an effective load limit before 1925 of 93,500 pounds (110% of 85,000). These cars were retired just about the time that Load Limits instead of 110% of nominal capacity were accepted as the maximum weight of a load.

Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data

Acquisition Books (1898 - 1917 only)

Volume number refers original book number
Page numbers refer to numbers on pages in original book, NOT to pages in PDF file(s)
Dates refer to first/last dates expenses were recorded in the acquisition book, NOT to car delivery dates

Car Number(s)	Vol	Page	First Date	Last Date	Builder	$ / Car	Notes
5900-5999	1	162	1907-10	1908-03	Russell Car Co.	$952	ex-D&H 4320-4419

Car Books (1923-06 thru 1936-10, then 1944-05 thru 1960-03)

Volume number refers original book number
Part number refers to PDF file part as posted on B&MRRHS site
Page numbers refer to pages in PDF file(s) (L/R = Left or Right side of that PDF page)

Car Number(s)	Vol	Part	Page	Date	Action	Location	New #	Notes
5985	1	5	3	1928-03-27	Destroyed			Car Disp. records (see below) have 1928-02 date

Car Disposition Records

Source(s)
Box	Folder	Folder name	Link Title	Approx. Start date	Approx. End date
1	3	Freight Car List Old	5900 series Seley hoppers	1927-1928?	1930?

Data
Car Number	Date Built	Disposition Date	Disposition
5900	1905-05	1929-09	Sold for Scrap
5901	1905-05	1929-03	Sold for Scrap
5902	1905-05	1928-08	Destroyed
5903	1905-05	1929-05	Sold for Scrap
5904	1905-05	1928-09	Sold for Scrap
5905	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5906	1905-05	1928-12	Sold for Scrap
5907	1905-05	1928-12	Sold for Scrap
5908	1905-05	1929-07	Sold for Scrap
5909	1905-05	1929-06	Sold for Scrap
		1929-06	Sold to Salem Term Co.
5910	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5911	1905-05	1928-09	Sold for Scrap
5912	1905-05	1929-08	Sold for Scrap
5913	1905-05	1929-08	Sold for Scrap
5914	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5915	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5916	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5917	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5918	1905-05	1928-10	Sold for Scrap
5919	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5920	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5921	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5922	1905-05	1928-08	Sold for Scrap
5923	1905-05	1928-09	Sold for Scrap
5924	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5925	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5926	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5927	1905-05	1928-05	Sold for Scrap
5928	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5929	1905-05	1928-03	Sold for Scrap
5930	1905-05	1929-06	Sold for Scrap
5931	1905-05	1929-09	Sold for Scrap
5932	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5933	1905-05	1928-12	Sold for Scrap
5934	1905-05	1929-06	Sold for Scrap
5935	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5936	1905-05	1929-07	Sold for Scrap
5937	1905-05	1928-06	Sold for Scrap
5938	1905-05	1928-03	Sold for Scrap
5939	1905-05	1929-07	Sold for Scrap
5940	1905-05	1928-10	Sold for Scrap
5941	1905-05	1929-05	Sold for Scrap
5942	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5943	1905-05	1928-05	Sold for Scrap
5944	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
		1929-02	Sold for Scrap
5945	1905-05	1928-12	Sold for Scrap
5946	1905-05	1928-12	Sold for Scrap
5947	1905-05	1929-02	Sold for Scrap
5948	1905-05	1928-03	Sold for Scrap
5949	1905-05	1928-10	Sold for Scrap
5950	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5951	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5952	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5953	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5954	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5955	1905-05	1928-06?	Sold for Scrap
5956	1905-05	1928-08	Sold for Scrap
5957	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5958	1905-05	1929-07	Sold for Scrap
5959	1905-05	1928-09	Sold for Scrap
5960	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5961	1905-05	1928-07	Destroyed
5962	1905-05	1929-03	Sold for Scrap
5963	1905-05	1929-02	Sold for Scrap
5964	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5965	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5966	1905-05	1928-08	Sold for Scrap
5967	1905-05	1928-12	Sold for Scrap
5968	1905-05	1929-05	Sold for Scrap
5969	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5970	1905-05	1928-10	Sold for Scrap
5971	1905-05	1928-09	Sold for Scrap
5972	1905-05	1928-05	Sold for Scrap
5973	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5974	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5975	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5976	1905-05	1929-07	Sold for Scrap
5977	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5978	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5979	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5980	1905-05	1928-08	Sold for Scrap
5981	1905-05	1929-07	Sold for Scrap
5982	1905-05	1928-03	Sold for Scrap
5983	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5984	1905-05	1929-02	Sold for Scrap
5985	1905-05	1928-02	Destroyed
5986	1905-05	1928-10	Sold for Scrap
5987	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5988	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5989	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5990	1905-05	1928-11	Sold for Scrap
5991	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5992	1905-05	1929-06	Sold for Scrap
5993	1905-05	1928-05	Sold for Scrap
5994	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5995	1905-05	1928-05	Sold for Scrap
5996	1905-05	[not listed, presumed retired before list created]
5997	1905-05	1928-08	Sold for Scrap
5998	1905-05	1929-04	Sold for Scrap
5999	1905-05	1929-10	Sold for Scrap

ICC Valuation Data (circa 1914)

For more info on the ICC valuation data, see this web page

"Owning" RR	Car # / Range	Val Sheet #	Index on Page	Car Type	Built Date	Builder	Capy	Underframe	Body	Notes
B&M	5900-5975	BM-21	69	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1905	Standard St[eel] Car Co	80	steel	wood	[interesting these are NOT marked "2nd hand"]
B&M	5976-5999	BM-21	70	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1905	Standard St[eel] Car Co	80	steel	wood	[interesting these are NOT marked "2nd hand"]

Paint Schemes

References or other data

• Magazine/Book article(s)

Photographs

Page	Car #	Photo Date yr-mo-day		Visible?				Markings				Paint Scheme	Herald	Notes
Earl Tuson's B&M Site (as of 17-Apr-2020) Select "Coal Cars, 1900-1930" link under the "B&M Equipment" heading (Same photo as builder's photo above)
	D&H 4320	ca. 1907		X	B									Per web site, labelled for D&H, but never delivered to them - delivered as B&M 5900 series instead.

Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions

Models

I am not sure how close the F&C Seley hopper kit is to the ones the B&M got.

Scale	Manufacturer	Stock number	Car number	Paint scheme	Notes
HO	Funaro & Camerlengo	3090	[decals]		"D & H Modernized ONE PIECE BODY Seley Composite Hopper with Decals" Unknown accuracy for B&M car
HO	Old & Weary Car Shops	?	?	brass, unpainted	Found a reference to this car here

Note there is a discussion here about 3D printed bodies for Seley hoppers

Revision History

File History for THIS page

Date	Who	Description
31-Jul-2019	KG Akerboom	Initial release
29-Mar-2020	KG Akerboom	Added data from 19 more ORERs
04-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Re-did references/photos section
19-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Added more web sites: B&MRRHS Flickr, Fallen Flags, NMRA Archives, Earl Tuson. Also Scott Whitney (NMRO) CDs
05-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Moved ORER notes into separate section
09-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Added 1942 class cards
11-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated class card table
14-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Added data from 4 more ORERs (1911,1919,1921,1931)
28-May-2020	KG Akerboom	updated 10/1919
18-Jun-2020	KG Akerboom	Added D&H Builder's photo from DK Retterer Collection
21-Jul-2020	KG Akerboom	"Photos" table - changed "vertical" text to PNG of "sideways" text; added "Markings" columns
07- thru 16-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added ORER data (History only, not dims or notes yet) for 63 more registers, courtesy of James Kinkaid
23-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Eric Neubauer data (and D&H ORER data)
10-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added E. Neubauer ORER data (car counts only, 15 issues)
17-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Car Book Data
17-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Standardized formatting of Classification Card(s) section
22-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated 1942 Classification Card(s)
25-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Added 1955 Classification Card
29-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated Classification Card data table
12-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Added model info
31-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated misc stuff
10-Apr-2021	KG Akerboom	Added info from 47 more ORERs 1903 thru 1917
04-Jul-2021	KG Akerboom	Reorganized Car Book Data (Car # to 1st column, 2nd/other changes to new rows)
06-Sep-2021	KG Akerboom	Added car disposition record data
17-Oct-2021	KG Akerboom	Added remaining 7/1928 - 10/1947 ORERs
22-Jan-2022	KG Akerboom	Added ICC Valuation data
19-Oct-2022	KG Akerboom	Updated per [almost] complete ORER data
04-Jan-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
25-Feb-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed link to scanned data (car books)