Currently UP is in need of any and all freight cars it can get a hold of. We have had a resurgence of old covered hoppers show up in Sparks that are going east on a pair of locals. They are a varied fleet of cars, made in the early to mid 60’s. They are 3-bay covered hoppers but a real jewel came in twice now, a CGW hopper with the Lucky Strike herald. A small group of 1963 hoppers have started showing up, quiet interesting when sitting next to a 2003 built 4-bay hopper carrying plastic. The new car holds almost as much as the two of these older cars. A dredging up of inter-modal cars has brought some 1969 built flat cars for piggy back and some TTX flats converted in the early 70’s for containers. If anyone is out getting pictures, start shoot these cars, for I feel it will be their last hurrah and when the new cars show up to replace them or traffic levels lower they will be gone forever. If you are a modeler of current railroads, this sure opens up the variety of cars usable on the layout.
Greg Elems
Greg Elems