Reading 55 ton Hoppers

The Reading Railroad 55 ton Fishbelly Hopper car was a popular model of railroad car that was used to transport coal and other bulk materials. The car was designed with a distinctive fishbelly shape that allowed it to carry more weight than other hopper cars of the same size. The car was also equipped with a flat end, which made it easier to unload the contents.

The car had a capacity of 55 tons and was built with a steel frame and wooden sides. The car was 30 feet long, 9 feet 3 inches high, and 10 feet 8 inches wide. The car was painted black with a red anthracite logo.

The Reading Railroad 55 ton Fishbelly Hopper car was developed in the 1930s and was used extensively until the 1960s. The car was used to transport coal from the mines to the power plants and other industrial facilities. The car was also used to transport other bulk materials such as sand, gravel, and grain.

The Reading Railroad 55 ton Fishbelly Hopper car was operated by the Reading Railroad, which was a major railroad company in the northeastern United States. The car was part of the company’s fleet of rolling stock, which included locomotives, boxcars, and other types of railroad cars.

The Reading Railroad 55 ton Fishbelly Hopper car had a long lifetime and was in use for several decades. The car was eventually retired from service and replaced by newer models of hopper cars 1.

 

Note: One car has a Microtrains Coupler and truck on one end. (Bottom car in photo below. An Accumate truck can be provided if derired.)

 

There is a short video demonstration run of these cars here: Reading 55 ton Hoppers in mp4 format