S-Helper S Scale 2-Bay Peaked End Fishbelly Open Hopper, Norfolk & Western

Beginning with steam locomotives, railroads needed a way to transport the black diamond of fuel: coal. While gondolas could do the job, specially designed cars were developed in the late 1800s to haul the commodity. As a result, coal hoppers would become one of the most numerous types of cars built. Their specific purpose was to bring coal from the mines to the end customers – railroads, factories and coal yards for home delivery. 

Coal hoppers had a basic design of a large open top area for loading, slope sheets on the interior to aid in unloading, and bays at the bottom with door that would open to quickly unload a car. From there, designers always tried to find a way to increase capacity from a basic design.

The 2-Bay Peaked End Fishbelly Open Hopper is an example of progressive freight car design. From a basic 50T outside braced car, the floor was lowered to sit lower between the trucks giving these cars the “fishbelly” appearance. These cars were popular from 1937 through World War II. Originally, these cars had flat ends. Additional modifications to increase capacity was to add heap shields or peaked ends to the car. This version of the 2-Bay Peaked End Fishbelly Open Hopper is the basis for our model.