Bluford Shops Woodchip Hoppers

Bluford Shops Woodchip Hopper

Bluford Shops – Hear our plea, read the post on November 13, 2012 when we asked Bluford Shops to produce woodchip hopper cars in our road name following our discovery of a photo in the 1960 Frisco Annual Report.

We are not to be disappointed with the announcement posted today on Bluford Shops web site.

Bluford Shops promotional language regarding woodchip hoppers states: Beginning in the late 50s, woodchips went from something to be disposed of to a valuable commodity. Since woodchips are less dense than coal, gravel and other hopper loads, many railroads added high extensions to standard hoppers for this service. The extensions were simple affairs, either rib-sided or flat-sided that were welded to the top chords of standard hoppers. Like our coal hoppers, these N scale models will come ready-to-run with knuckle couplers, and loads.

Regarding our road they state: Frisco was a 5,700 mile system radiating from their hub in Springfield, Missouri, linking Kansas City and Dallas in the west with St. Louis, Memphis and Birmingham in the east. Although Frisco was a long time strategic ally of Santa Fe, it was Burlington Northern they would merge with in 1980.

These hoppers will be available in six road numbers. According to the artwork posted, one of them will be 5913 (as seen in the 1960 annual report). Additional road numbers are not available at the time of this posting but a three car set can be ordered using item number 16083 with an MSRP of $74.37. A two car set will be listed as item number 16082 with an MSRP of $49.95, and a single car will bear item number 16081 with an MSRP of $24.95.

Pre-orders are open at now and Bluford Shops forecasts delivery in the third quarter of 2013.

Thank you Bluford Shops!