Track Cleaning Coal Hoppers

Greetings All,

Track Cleaning Coal Hopper Project Phase 1

Followers of this blog know that there is no train like a coal train. Model railroaders know there is no track like clean track. Over the years I've converted several freight cars and a pair of cabooses into track cleaning cars using cut down hardwood or Masonite pads to shine the rails. 

Legendary model railroader John Allen used the same method on his Gorre & Daphetid RR and had one or two in each of his trains. This worked well for him and has worked well for the N.Y.C.T.L.

A small dilemma cropped up recently when I was running a unit coal train with my lightning striped NYC diesels. The two cabooses used in the Penn Central Car Movements coal trains are PRR focal orange units. Good for the PC. No good for the NYC!   

Since I like to have at least one track cleaning car in every train a NYC coal train ran with an EBRR track cleaning car equipped with a hardwood pad. Not what I want on a unit coal train.

So I looked at some of my older coal hoppers and came up with an idea using the below parts that were readily available. A treat stick, a good quality paper straw and Aleen's tacky glue.

I've cut the straws and wedged them into the recesses of the bottom of the coal hopper. Two holes are drilled in the hardwood pad and the cut down treat stick was tapped in with a hammer. After I adjusted the straws so the sticks would slide in easily I glued the straws into position.

Here is a track cleaning coal hopper on a test run. No more track cleaning boxcars or PRR cabooses on my NYC coal trains!

With the success of the first car I made two more. This way one can run on an empty train, one a loaded train and one in reserve for use on another coal train or elsewhere as needed. 

Note the pad on the right. All four sides have been beveled using a razor and rough grit sand paper. This is an important step that will allow the pad to go over uneven joints and thru turnouts.

A track cleaning coal hopper is just in front of the NYC caboose.

The track cleaning coal hoppers work great and are just what was needed. In Phase 2 of this project the L&N hoppers will look a lot different.

The proof is on the pad! All of that New York Central lightning striped equipment sure left its mark on the RR! The pads are easily cleaned using an alcohol wipe or by light sanding.

The Track Cleaning Coal Hoppers in action!

Track Cleaning Coal Hopper Project Phase 2

Just before he passed away in August 2018 our late friend Engineer Ed had HO scale decals custom made for his Hoschton Railway. Part of the order included decals for coal hoppers. Here are the L&N hoppers just out of the Patti O Paint Shop.

HR 651786 sporting a patch out paint job that left the "Dixie Line" intact. I think Ed would have liked this as the slogan for his freelanced RR was "Hoschton Serves the South".

Two fully painted black HR coal hoppers loaded at Hudson Coal.

A newly painted Hoschton track cleaning hopper coupled up to a 
pair of previously painted HR 100 ton hoppers in a unit coal train.

The Hoschton Hoppers in an Engineer Ed inspired coal train;

This project has paid big dividends. It honors Engineer Ed who loved running coal trains on the NYCTL, keeps the tracks clean and the unit coal trains pure. That is a win-win-win.

Modelers can find similar ready to install Masonite track cleaning kits at PPW/A-Line. A google search will also give you plenty of how to articles to make them yourself.  

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya soon!!!