In late 1946 / early 1947 Canadian Pacific built in their home shops a single covered hopper numbered 38000. Unlike most covered hoppers of the era, the side bracing ribs were installed inside the car similar to the AAR Standard Hopper of the era, resulting in the flat 'slab side' appearance.

 

In 1948 they placed the first of several orders with the National Steel Car company for 200 covered hoppers of similar design. These cars had 10 square hatches, 8 hoppers, and 14 small openings along the side sill.

The next order in 1950 was identical except for the use of 6 hatches, with the center pair being rectangular and about double the size of the hatches near the ends of the car. This became the standard for the next six orders through 1957.

A single order in 1958 utilized 6 equal size hatches before the switch in 1959 to 8 round hatches which remained the standard for all remaining orders.

The first order of cars for Canadian National was built by Canadian Car & Foundry in1951. They differed somewhat from the Canadian Pacific cars in their use of 12 square hatches, and no openings above the side sill. Starting in 1954 they switched to 6 unequal sized hatches like the CP, although the first order still had the closed sill. The orders in 1956-7 were identical to new CP cars, and the remaining cars built from 1960-62 were also identical to the then standard 8 round hatch design.

TH&B also ordered cars that were identical to the current standards. Cars built in 1956-7 utilized the 6 unequal hatch arrangement with open sill, and the 1962-64 cars had 8 round hatches. PGE also rostered cars to this design in 1962.

The only other owner of these cars was Canadian General Transportation Company (CGLX) who purchased two 6-hatch cars in 1957.

We offer models of the 12-hatch and 6-hatch CN cars with closed sills, and the 6- and 8-hatch variations with open sills.