Bluford Shops 74087 N Kansas City Southern White 3-Bay Offset Side Hopper #6829

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 delivered from a number of builders in large quantities. The last of these cars were delivered in the late-'60s and many remained in service through the '80s.

These ready-to-run models 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; body mounted brake hose detail; “coal” load except as noted; body mounted magnetically operating couplers; close coupling; friction bearing or roller bearing trucks as appropriate for each road name. All road names are produced in multiple road numbers.

In 1966 Kansas City Southern began to paint their locomotives and some classes of freight cars white. Surprisingly, these hoppers were included. In addition to coal and coke (as depicted in this run) KCS used these hoppers to move sand, gravel, crushed rock (note the load level line across the middle of the car) and even wood chips when they were running short on higher capacity hoppers. Eagle-eyed KCS fans will notice the lettering style of reporting marks and road numbers vary from our recently released KCS white wood chip hoppers. Both are correct. KCS’s stencil designs wandered quite a bit particularly in the early white paint era. 6 road numbers will be available in this road name.

Note: Pictures may be of another Road Number.