B&M (2nd) 7000 Hopper Cars

Boston & Maine (2nd) 7000 Series Hopper Cars

Index

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 Builders 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 1/1968
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 Builders 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 individial 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