CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Coal Car Cornucopia - 05-01-2020

Rail Fan Adventure --

Here are some recent finds...some vintage, some not.

1. NKP hopper 64370 is in Whitewater Valley’s vintage collection at Connersville IN. The trucks were embossed W&LE, and Wheeling & Lake Erie had hoppers like these.
NKP hopper 64370 is in Whitewater Valley’s vintage collection at Connersville IN. The trucks were embossed W&LE, and Wheeling & Lake Erie had hoppers like these.

2. Nickel Plate’s New Castle Div. came in to Connersville from the north. NKP hopper 64370. View 2. Connersville IN.
Nickel Plate’s New Castle Div. came in to Connersville from the north. NKP hopper 64370. View 2. Connersville IN.

3. HYWX hopper 2576 is Georgia Power. It was built by Johnstown-America 02-2000 with 236,400 load limit and a volume of 4,400 cubic feet. Reading & Northern has acquired or leased these to haul anthracite coal. They were parked at Tamaqua PA on 10-14-2019. They used to be common on NS but not seen on CSX.
HYWX hopper 2576 is Georgia Power. It was built by Johnstown-America 02-2000 with 236,400 load limit and a volume of 4,400 cubic feet. Reading & Northern has acquired or leased these to haul anthracite coal. They were parked at Tamaqua PA on 10-14-2019. They used to be common on NS but not seen on CSX.

4. RBMN hopper 8333 just came into West Hazleton on the Jeddo Job. 3418 cu. ft. and 205,700 load limit. It is ex-PA Power & Light 629 and built by Bethlehem (06-1971). These car were bare metal for the most part which is of a low-alloy, high strength composition. This type of steel oxidizes in a unique manner in which rust forms that retards further corrosion. AEP had similar unpainted hoppers. W Hazleton PA.
RBMN hopper 8333 just came into West Hazleton on the Jeddo Job. 3418 cu. ft. and 205,700 load limit. It is ex-PA Power & Light 629 and built by Bethlehem (06-1971). These car were bare metal for the most part which is of a low-alloy, high strength composition. This type of steel oxidizes in a unique manner in which rust forms that retards further corrosion. AEP had similar unpainted hoppers. W Hazleton PA.

5. RBMN hopper 7519 is a quad hopper. It is ex-GCCX (General American Marks – GATX) 19396, nee-D&RGW same number. West Hazleton PA. 10-15-2019.
RBMN hopper 7519 is a quad hopper. It is ex-GCCX (General American Marks – GATX) 19396, nee-D&RGW same number. West Hazleton PA. 10-15-2019.

6. RBMN hopper 7544. 200,200 lbs. built 12-1977. It is also ex-GCCX, nee-D&RGW 19499. That “Ease Up” stencil must have been applied while used on CSX. CSX put it on tubs that had a light load device which determined the braking pressure on empty cars. W Hazleton PA.
RBMN hopper 7544. 200,200 lbs. built 12-1977. It is also ex-GCCX, nee-D&RGW 19499. That “Ease Up” stencil must have been applied while used on CSX. CSX put it on tubs that had a light load device which determined the braking pressure on empty cars. W Hazleton PA.

7. TILX hopper 50089 belongs to Trinity Industries Leasing Co. It was built by Trinity in 05-2009. Shelby KY. 11-03-2019.
TILX hopper 50089 belongs to Trinity Industries Leasing Co. It was built by Trinity in 05-2009. Shelby KY. 11-03-2019.

8. TILX hopper 49975 was built by Trinity 12-2008 and has a volume of 4323 cubic feet. Shelby KY.
TILX hopper 49975 was built by Trinity 12-2008 and has a volume of 4323 cubic feet. Shelby KY.

9. WFRX, MILX, FURX and NDYX are now Wells Fargo Rail. WFRX hopper 935517 was built by Freight Car America’s Roanoke VA plant (now closed I think) in 05-2007. It has 4200 cubic feet volume. It is ex-BUKX (Louisville Gas & Electric) 120912, nee-BNBX (Greenbrier Management Services) same number. Shelby KY.
WFRX, MILX, FURX and NDYX are now Wells Fargo Rail. WFRX hopper 935517 was built by Freight Car America’s Roanoke VA plant (now closed I think) in 05-2007. It has 4200 cubic feet volume. It is ex-BUKX (Louisville Gas & Electric) 120912, nee-BNBX (Greenbrier Management Services) same number. Shelby KY.

10. MILX hopper 25196 was built by Freight Car America at the Johnstown PA plant (now closed) in 06-2005. It is also 4200 cubic feet. Ex-RWSX (Georgia Power’s R. W. Scheer plant). Shelby KY.
MILX hopper 25196 was built by Freight Car America at the Johnstown PA plant (now closed) in 06-2005. It is also 4200 cubic feet. Ex-RWSX (Georgia Power’s R. W. Scheer plant). Shelby KY.

11. Sister car. That old water tank is the last steam-era servicing structure left at Shelby KY. It is being eaten by kudzu! MILX hopper 25194.
Sister car. That old water tank is the last steam-era servicing structure left at Shelby KY. It is being eaten by kudzu! MILX hopper 25194.

12. FURX hopper 930909 was built Freight Car America at Roanoke in 05-2006. 4200 cubic feet also. Ex-RWSX 6175. Shelby KY.
FURX hopper 930909 was built Freight Car America at Roanoke in 05-2006. 4200 cubic feet also. Ex-RWSX 6175. Shelby KY.

13. NDYX hopper 934302 was built by Trinity in 05-2006 and has 4207 cubic feet volume. It is ex-FURX. Evidently it was originally HYWX 6059. I still don’t know the significance of the cardinal logo. Shelby KY.
NDYX hopper 934302 was built by Trinity in 05-2006 and has 4207 cubic feet volume. It is ex-FURX. Evidently it was originally HYWX 6059. I still don’t know the significance of the cardinal logo. Shelby KY.

14. NDYX hopper 931124 is identical except built 04-2006. Lease hoppers are generally always equipped for rotary dumping or rapid discharge which offers flexibility to the power plants they haul to. Ex-HYWX 6022. Shelby KY.
NDYX hopper 931124 is identical except built 04-2006. Lease hoppers are generally always equipped for rotary dumping or rapid discharge which offers flexibility to the power plants they haul to. Ex-HYWX 6022. Shelby KY.

15. DKPX hopper 5656 belongs to Duke Power dba Duke Energy Carolinas. Built by Freight Car America’s Danville IL plant 08-2005 with a volume of 4200 cubic feet. Ex MQRX 5656, originally MBKX 5656. This car gives away that this train was probably heading to Duke’s Brice plant near Chesnee SC on the former Clinchfield. All taken at Shelby KY on 11-03-2019.
DKPX hopper 5656 belongs to Duke Power dba Duke Energy Carolinas. Built by Freight Car America’s Danville IL plant 08-2005 with a volume of 4200 cubic feet. This car gives away that this train was probably heading to Duke’s Brice plant near Chesnee SC on the former Clinchfield. All taken at Shelby KY on 11-03-2019.

16. KGLX hopper 1466 belongs to Progress Rail Leasing Corp. It was built by Johnstown America 08-1999 with 236,500 load limit and a volume of 4300. Shelby KY on 01-01-2020.
KGLX hopper 1466 belongs to Progress Rail Leasing Corp. It was built by Johnstown America 08-1999 with 236,500 load limit and a volume of 4300. Shelby KY on 01-01-2020.

17. HIPX gon 98535 was built by Johnstown America 02-1998, has a load limit of 244,200 and a volume of 4480. It is ex-PMRX (Progress Rail), nee-MARX (MidAmerican Energy Co.). HIPX is confusingly NRG Energy Co., Reliant Energy, Houston Industries or Houston Light & Power. Go with NRG Energy. Shelby KY.
HIPX gon 98535 was built by Johnstown America 02-1998, has a load limit of 244,200 and a volume of 4480. It is ex-PMRX (Progress Rail), nee-MARX (MidAmerican Energy Co.). HIPX is confusingly NRG Energy Co., Reliant Energy, Houston Industries or Houston Light & Power. Go with NRG Energy. Shelby KY.

18. HIPX gon 24177 was built by Freight Car America at Danville IL 12-1977. It has 244,100 load limit and 4480 volume. Both of these tubs were at Shelby KY on 02-02-2020.
HIPX gon 24177 was built by Freight Car America at Danville IL 12-1977. It has 244,100 load limit and 4480 volume. Both of these tubs were at Shelby KY on 02-02-2020.

My sincere thanks to Carl Shaver for digging up the history on some of these cars. What is mundane today, is history tomorrow.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young