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Boston & Maine (2nd) 7000 Series Hopper Cars

Index

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

Builder's Photo

USRE photo, James Kinkaid Collection, used with permission (click on image to see full resolution available)

Photos of B&LE cars - see Discussion, General Notes area below

B&M Classification Card(s)

Does one exist?

There are general arrangement drawings of the B&LE cars in various Car Builder's Cyclopedias (same plans every time, 1937 (p284?); 1940 (p268), 1943 (p276?) etc. thru the 1960 CBC)

Specifications From Eric Neubauer Data

Neubauer, Eric.Evans Products Builder's photographs , unless otherwise specified

Spec	Value
Builder	Original: B&LE 75001-76500 and/or 65001-67000 (see discussion below) Rebuilt for B&M: Evans (Washington, IN)
Lot #	Original: B&LE (see discussion below) Rebuilt and sold to B&M: USRE lot # 620
Car Numbers
Quantity
Build Date	1936 (B&LE) (Jul, 1936 and Jun, 1937 per Neubauer) Rebuilt for B&M Apr-Jun, 1967
Sides	Offset, 13 stakes (ribs) (per B&MRRHS Modelers Notes No 37)
AAR class	HT
Lt Weight	50,000
Cubic Cap'y	5773 2775 Cu. Ft.

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data

Description			7/1967	10/1967
AAR Mechanical Designation			HT	HT
Inside Dimensions	Length			40'-8"
	Width			10'-4"
	Height
Outside Dimensions	Length		41'-8"	41'-8"
	Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform		10'-6"
		Extreme Width		10'-6"
	Height from Rail	To Extreme Width		10'-8"
		To Eaves or top of sides or platform		10'-8"
		To Top of Running Board
		To Extreme Height		10'-8"
Door - Side opening	Width
	Height
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full		2775	2775
	Pounds		154000	154000

ORER History

ORER Date (Year-Mo.)	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description
1967 - 07	7000-7099	100	Hopper, Self Clearing
1967 - 10	(same)
1968 - 01	"	99	"
1968 - 04	(same)
1968 - 07	(same)
1968 - 10	"	97	"
1969 - 01	"	96	"
1969 - 04	(same)
1969 - 07	"	89	"
1969 - 10	(same)
1970 - 01	"	87	"
1970 - 04	"	85	"
1970 - 07	"	83	"
1970 - 10	"	78	"
1971 - 01	"	74	"
1971 - 04	"	73	"
1971 - 07	"	72	"
1971 - 10	"	69	"
1972 - 01	"	67	"
1972 - 04	(same)
1972 - 07	(same)
1972 - 10	"	46	"
1973 - 01	(same)
1973 - 04	(same)
1973 - 07	"	44	"
1973 - 11	"	41	"
1974 - 01	"	38	"
1974 - 04	(same)
1974 - 07	(same)
1974 - 10	"	32	"
1975 - 01	"	27	"
1975 - 04	(same)
1975 - 07	(same)
1975 - 10	(same)
1976 - 01	(same)
1976 - 04	(same)
1976 - 07	(same)
1976 - 10	(same)
1977 - 01	"	24	"
1977 - 04	(same)
1977 - 07	(same)
1977 - 10	(same)
1978 - 01	(same)
1978 - 04	(same)
1978 - 07	(same)
1978 - 10	"	14	"
1979 - 01	"	11	"
1979 - 04	(same)
1979 - 07	(same)
1979 - 10	(same)
1980 - 01	(same)
1980 - 04	(same)
1980 - 07	"	9	"
1980 - 10	(same)
1981 - 01	"	6	"
1981 - 04	"	5	"
1981 - 07	(same)
1981 - 10	(same)
1982 - 01	"	3	"
1982 - 04	(same)
1982 - 07	Not listed

ORER Notes

Discussion, General Notes

• Per Don Clerke
  Also Northern New England Color Guide

  Bought from B&LE

• Note "ears" on trucks for outside brake beams

• offset side 3 bay 13 stakes

• B&LE 3-bay 70 and 90 ton hoppers (the source for this series of B&M hoppers)
  This information was collated by Ed Hawkins, and much of it can be found in the main@RealSTMFC.groups.io list (see 18-22 Feb, 2021 thread "heavy duty trucks on B&LE hoppers")
  Some of it is based on B&LE diagrams Ed had access to.
  Some additional info was provided by Ed about the same time, in personal emails and phone conversations.
  Due to the paucity of pictures of the B&M cars, it is hard to pin down EXACTLY which B&LE series contributed cars to the B&M, however, our best guess are the cars in 75001-76500 (HT16 and HT18), or possibly (if cars were "de-rated", or the 90 ton trucks were replaced with 70 ton trucks) in 65001-67000 (HT17 and HT19).

  For the "Slope sheet support" types, and side stakes, see discussions below

  Group 1 - 90 ton (2664 cu. ft.; 40'-5" Inside length) cars
  B&LE Class	B&LE Car #s	Builder	Lot	Build date	# cars	# stakes	Slope Sheet Support	Hand Brake	Notes
  HT4	60001-60300	SSC	G-7240	1931	300	10-A	Type "1"	Ajax	Likely NOT the source for the B&M cars, due to - Wrong number of stakes - Wrong inside length - Wrong build date
  	60301-60600	PSC		1931	300	10-A	Type "1"
  	60601-60950	ACF	1215	1931	350	10-A	Type "1"
  	60951-61050	GSC	O.O. 177	1931	100	10-A	Type "1"
  HT4 common characteristics: 31'-6" truck centers, Blaw-Knox brake step, Ajax corrugated hopper doors, Wine door locks, Vulcan pedestal-type truck with Simplex clasp brakes & Barber lateral motion device, originally with KD-1012 brakes, multiple-wear 33" steel wheels. 5'-8" wheel base trucks. Truck springs: 9 double coils, ARA Type D per group. Journals 6 1/2 x 12, diagram specifies 33" wheels. Originally painted black with white lettering While it's noted in the B&LE diagram that these HT4 cars were equipped with Blaw-Knox brake steps, it's [Ed Hawkins] belief that they were probably not original equipment, but rather were installed when these cars received major repairs as of 1941.
  HT4 photos: SSC builder photo 60300 (6-1931) available from Keith Retterer (also posted in this main@RealSTMFC.groups.io thread) ACF builder photo 60625 p. 285, 1937 CBC GSC builder's photo of 60951 GSC builder's photo of 61012 After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: GSC photo of 60476 (May-1949) After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: GSC photo of 60476 (May-1949) After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: GSC photo of 60476 (May-1949)
  Group 2 - 70 ton (2775 cu. ft.; 40'-8" Inside length) cars
  B&LE Class	B&LE Car #s	Builder	Lot	Build date	# cars	# stakes	Slope Sheet Support	Hand Brake	Notes
  HT16	75001-75750	ACF	1488	1936	750	13-B	Type "2A"	Ajax	Most likely source of B&M cars
  	75751-76000	GATC		1936	250	13-?	?	Miner
  HT18	76001-76500	ACF	1633	1937	500	13-C	Type "2B"	Ajax
  HT16 and HT18 common characteristics: Cor-Ten Steel, 31'-8" truck centers, Blaw-Knox brake step, Dreadnaught hopper doors, Wine door locks, Vulcan pedestal-type truck with Simplex clasp brakes & Barber lateral motion device, AB brakes, single-wear 33" steel wheels. 5'-8" wheel base trucks. Truck springs: 24 Class 158, 24 Class 159. Journals 6 x 11, diagram is silent on the wheel diameter. Cars built in 1936 & later received brown paint. ACF paint specs for lots 1488 & 1633 - Scully Brown Products entire body & truck side frames; white stencils.
  HT16 and HT18 photos: General arrangement drawing of B&LE 40'-8" IL, 90-ton triple (also applicable to 70-ton version), p. 284-285, 1937 CBC. Also p. 268, 1940 CBC; p. 270-271, 1943 CBC (HT17); ditto p. 276-277, 1946 CBC and published in every CBC through 1960. ACF builder photo of 75001 ACF builder photo 76064 p. 251/269, 1940 CBC (also in 1943, 1946, and other later CBCs). After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: 75325 (Jan-1953): p. 227, 1953 CBC (also in 1957, 1961).
  Group 3 - 90 ton (2775 cu. ft.; 40'-8" Inside length) cars
  B&LE Class	B&LE Car #s	Builder	Lot	Build date	# cars	# stakes	Slope Sheet Support	Hand Brake	Notes
  HT17	65001-65800	P-S	5521	1936	800	13-B	Type "2A"	Miner	Possible source of B&M cars
  	65801-66000	PSC		1936	200	13-?	?
  HT19	66001-67000	P-S	5555	1937	1000	13-C?	?	Miner
  HT21	67001-68000	P-S	5622	1940	1000	13-C	Type "2B"	Superior	Less likely the source of the B&M cars (due to build date)
  HT22	68001-68650	P-S	5660	1941	650	13-C	Type "2B"	Ajax
  HT17, HT19, HT21, HT22 common characteristics: Cor-Ten Steel, 31'-8" truck centers, Blaw-Knox brake step, Wine door locks except for 200 H17 Pressed Steel cars with Fort Pitt door locks, Dreadnaught hopper doors, Vulcan pedestal-type truck with Simplex clasp brakes & Barber lateral motion device, AB brakes, two-wear 33" steel wheels. 5'-8" wheel base trucks. Truck springs: 32 Class 158, 24 Class 159. Journals 6 1/2 x 12, diagram is silent on the wheel diameter.
  HT17, HT19, HT21, HT22 photos: General arrangement drawing of B&LE 40'-8" IL, 90-ton triple (also applicable to 70-ton version), p. 284-285, 1937 CBC. Also p. 268, 1940 CBC; p. 270-271, 1943 CBC (HT17); ditto p. 276-277, 1946 CBC and published in every CBC through 1960. P-S builder photos 65001 & 66601 p. 269 & p. 352, respectively, 1940 CBC. P-S builder photos 67001 at the Illinois Digital Archives web site. P-S builder photos 68101 at the Illinois Digital Archives web site. After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: GSC photo of 66624 (Jul-1950) After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: GSC photo of 66624 (Jul-1950) After repair/refurbishment/rebuild: GSC photo of 66624 (Jul-1950) B&LE 66834 (1960) B&LE 69268 (unknown date)
  Group 4 - 90 ton (2775 cu. ft.; 40'-8" Inside length) post-war cars
  B&LE Class	B&LE Car #s	Builder	Lot	Build date	# cars	# stakes	Slope Sheet Support	Hand Brake	Notes
  HT23	68651-69075	P-S	5712	1942	425	13-C	Type "2B"	Superior	Not likely the source of the B&M cars (due to build date)
  HT24	69101-69900	P-S	5725	1943	800	13-C	Type "2B"	Ajax
  HT23-HT24 common characteristics: High Tensile Steel, 90-tons, 31'-8" truck centers, Wine door locks, Dreadnaught hopper doors, Vulcan pedestal-type truck with Simplex clasp brakes & Barber lateral motion device, AB brakes, two-wear 33" steel wheels.
  HT23-HT24 photos: P-S builder photos 69050 at the Illinois Digital Archives web site. P-S builder photos 69101 at the Illinois Digital Archives web site.
  Group 5 - 90 ton (back to 2664 cu. ft.; 40'-5" Inside length) post-war cars
  B&LE Class	B&LE Car #s	Builder	Lot	Build date	# cars	# stakes	Slope Sheet Support	Hand Brake	Notes
  HT26	62001-62500	P-S	8022	1952	500	10-D	Type "2C"	Ajax	Likely NOT the source for the B&M cars, due to - Wrong number of stakes - Wrong inside length - Wrong build date
  HT26 common characteristics: Wine door locks
  HT26 photos: 62004 p. 209, 1953 CBC P-S builder photos 62049 at the Illinois Digital Archives web site.

  Rebuilds done by GSC (Photos included above)

  O.O.	# cars	Date	Car type(s)
  536	325	5-1949	HT4 (possibly others?)
  545	300	7-1950	HT19 (possibly others?)
  550	200	ca. 1951	triples
  553	300	ca. 1951	triples
  570	1000	ca. 1951	triples
  604	500	ca. 1953	triples
  664	500	9-1955	HM25 (possibly others?)
  674	250	ca. 1956	triples

  Abbreviations used above:

  Abbreviation	Full text
  SSC	Standard Steel Car Co.
  PSC	Pressed Steel Car Co.
  ACF	AC&F
  GSC	Greenville Steel Car Co.
  O.O.	Office Order (term used by GSC)
  CBC	Car Builders' Cyclopedia
  P-S	Pullman-Standard

• Side stakes (ribs) on the car side There appear to be 4 variations in the side stakes applied to these car

  "A"

  10 stake cars, built in 1931
  These cars appear to have ONLY the end stakes (both inside and outside) as angles. All the rest (both inside and outside) are "hat" sections.
  (You can tell the internal stake design by looking at the rivet pattern on the car side - a single column of rivets indicates the inside stake is an angle)
  See builder's photos of 60300, 60951, and 61012
  Per the "rebuilt" photos of 60476, they may have retained this configuration their entire life.

  "B"

  13 stake cars, built 1936-7
  These cars have first and 5th stake in from each end (both inside and outside) as angles. All the rest (both inside and outside) are "hat" sections.
  Again, look at the rivet patterns on the car side
  See builder's photos of 75001, 65001

  "C"

  13 stake cars, built 1940 and later
  These cars have all the external stakes as "hat" sections
  However, the internal first and 5th stake in from each end on the are still angles.
  All the rest of the internal stakes are "hat" sections.
  Again, look at the rivet patterns on the car side
  See builder's photos of 76064, 67001, 68101, 69050, 69101
  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  "D"

  10 stake cars, built in 1952
  These cars have all the external stakes as "hat" sections
  However, the internal *end* stakes are angles. (All the rest of the internal stakes are "hat" sections.)
  See builder's photos of 62049

  
  Given the paucity of photos of the B&M cars, I don't know if ALL the B&M cars had "all hat" exterior stakes, or if some had angle-iron exterior stakes.

• Slope sheet supports

  "Type 1"

  The 1931 cars had a (what I will call) "Type 1" slope sheet support (similar to most? other hoppers): a "channel" coming up from the center sill to the slope sheet, and a crossways angle iron support for the sheet itself:
  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  "Type 2"

  Later, the slope sheet supports were 3 "beams" running lengthwise from the end sheet to the vertical sheet coming up from the body bolster.

  "Type 2A"

  "Strap" supports
  The slope sheet supports were 3 "channel"(?) sections (rolled or pressed is unknown, but it seems to be a "single" channel, not "back to back" channels) that ended at the top end of the slope sheet (cut off "vertical" relative to the ground). Then there was a strap (maybe 1/2" x 2"?) that was attached to the slope sheet support, and wrapped around to the end sheet, going 8-12" up the end sheet, with 3 rivets fastening it to the end sheet.
  This is (sort of) shown in the drawings in the 1937 - 1960 CBCs
  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  "Type 2B"

  "Angle" supports
  The slope sheet supports were 3 channel sections (rolled or pressed is unknown, with "back to back" channels). The web and one flange of each channel (forming a "T" shape) then wrapped around the end of the slope sheet to the end sheet, again for about 8-12" (3 rivets)
  Note originally they mahe have been a single channel/angle (see builder's photos of 67001, 68101)
  Note I think these pictures are after a GSC rebuild, but I believe they are the similar to the "original" type "2B" design
  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  "Type 2C"

  Stamped? supports
  The slope sheet supports now appear to be 3 stamped "hat" sections
  The following image was extracted from this image in the Illinois Digital Archive (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  Note as cars were rebuilt, it is likely that the "strap" supports were converted to "Angle" supports (as shown on 66624)

• Spring packages in trucks

  Note the following only covers the outmost row of springs. It appears there were at least 2, if not 3, rows of springs in the trucks

  90 ton trucks

  For the 90 ton trucks, of whatever era, there seem to always be 3 visible [possibly nested] springs "in line".
  Also note, for the earliest 90 ton trucks (under the HT4 class) there were 2 internal webs in the truck bolsters as shown here (see arrows at top of image)

  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  70 ton trucks

  For the 70 ton trucks, of whatever era, there seem to always be 3 visible [possibly nested] springs, but the middle one is "inset":
  Also note, for the 70 ton trucks, and later 90 ton trucks (HT16s thru HM25s) there was only 1 internal web in the truck bolsters as shown here (see arrow at top of image)

  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  Note that while the above image is actually from a B&LE 2-bay hopper, the trucks are the same. It can also be seen in the image of B&M 7013 (at the top of the page) .

  Widget attached to trucks

  This widget appears in the photos of 66624 after the rebuild.

  The following image was extracted from this photo in the James Kinkaid Collection (click on the image below to see it "full size")

  

  Per Dennis Storzek (same main@RealSTMFC.groups.io list thread as above)

  It's the "strut cylinder" that senses the loaded condition of the car for the AB system modified as an "empty-load" brake equipment. A piping diagram is illustrated on page 991 of the 1946 CBC.

Paint Schemes

As relettered for B&M

Black, white lettering, white (only?) intertwined BM herald

References or other data

• Apparently there is a Richard Hendrickson article on these cars in the March 1984 issue of Prototype Modeler.
  However, I have not seen it, and it is not yet at https://trainlife.com/pages/the-magazine-library

Photographs

Page	Car #	Photo Date yr-mo-day		Visible?				Markings									Paint Scheme	Herald	Notes
Northern New England Color Guide
p36	7094	1970-10	Y	X	B?			BM	G	G	N	N	?	N	N	N	as rebuilt	as rebuilt
B&MRRHS Bulletin Issue included in "page" column
vIV #2 p10	7024	1968-05-14		X	Ap			BM	G	G	N	N	N	N	N	N	As rebuilt	As rebuilt
vVIII #1 p25b	7065, others	1967		X			X	BM	G	G	N	N	N	N	N	N			note different locations of herald (different cars in different series?)
Don Clerke inserts into B&MRRHS Bulletin
i 8 photo 13	7x4x			X				BM			N	?	N	N	N	N	As rebuilt	As rebuilt	Weathered
Evans Products Builder's photographs
p33	7013	1967-04	Y	X				BM	G	G	N	N	N	N	N	N	As rebuilt	As rebuilt
NMRO (Scott Whitney) CDs/DVDs (as of 18-Apr-2020) I will have one line (sort of) telling the CD & folder path, then individual car listings will have filename in "page" column
Path:	Photos → Color-SJW → Rolling-Stock
bmW1.jpg	W1		Y	X	p			BM	R	R	N	N	1	N	N		MOW yellow	small intertwined BM	rebuilt discharge hoppers. note W55 to the left
bmW55.jpg	W55		Y	X	p			BM	R	R	N	N	1	N	N		MOW yellow	small intertwined BM	note W1 to the right

Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions

Models

Scale	Manufacturer	Stock number	Car number	Paint scheme	Notes
N	Bluford Shops	73761	7043	Original?	Single car. unknown accuracy of car body. Paint scheme looks close.
N	Bluford Shops	73762	?	Original?	Two pack . unknown accuracy of car body. Paint scheme looks close.
N	Bluford Shops	73763	?	Original?	Three pack. unknown accuracy of car body. Paint scheme looks close.
HO	Accurail	7542	7056	Original?	unknown accuracy of car body. Paint scheme looks close. Car described as "70-Ton Offset Triple Hopper"
HO	Athearn	ATH70279	7094	As delivered?	unknown accuracy of car body. Announced Oct, 2016. Listed as "discontinued" on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Athearn	ATH70280	7021,46,61,83?	As delivered?	4 pack. Hard to read car numbers on web site. unknown accuracy of car body. Announced Oct, 2016. Listed as "discontinued" on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Athearn	ATH70281	7017,38,53,87?	As delivered?	4 pack. Hard to read car numbers on web site. unknown accuracy of car body. Announced Oct, 2016. Listed as "discontinued" on web site, Dec, 2020

Per the main@RealSTMFC.groups.io list (see 19-20 Feb, 2021 thread "heavy duty trucks on B&LE hoppers")

• the old Ulrich triple hopper MAY be based on these cars (I'm not sure if the Ulrich model was of the 40'-5" or 40'-8" cars)
• The trucks with clasp brakes were available on Roundhouse/MDC for their B&LE hoppers (albeit roller-bearing journals). MDC part 2919, "Roller Bearing (heavy duty)" (1984 time frame).
  I thought I read as of 2004 or 2012 they were still available as an Athearn part (different part number), but they don't appear on the Athearn web site as of Feb-2021
• The trucks are also 3D printed (2020-2021 time frame) by Corey Bonsall - see
  www.ebay.com/usr/bonsallscalecarshops
  or
  facebook.com/bonsallscalecarshops

Revision History

File History for THIS page

Date	Who	Description
31-Dec-2019	KG Akerboom	Initial release
17-Mar-2020	KG Akerboom	Standardized Don Clerke "source" link
04-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Re-did references/photos section
25-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated per B&MRRHS Modelers Notes No 37
05-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Moved ORER notes into separate section
21-Jul-2020	KG Akerboom	"Photos" table - changed "vertical" text to PNG of "sideways" text; added "Markings" columns
06-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Eric Neubauer data
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
20-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added more Eric Neubauer data
12-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Added model info
22-Jan-2021	KG Akerboom	Added "Re-"Builder's Photo
20-Feb-2021	KG Akerboom	Added possible source car series, truck info, More data from Ed Hawkins, B&LE builder's photos
26-Feb-2021	KG Akerboom	Added more info (Side stakes, slope sheet supports) on B&LE cars
30-Oct-2022	KG Akerboom	Updated per [almost] complete ORER data.
04-Jan-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed headers and footers...hopefully