Broadway Limited's ARA 70-Ton 4-Bay Hoppers are in (PICS)

[bbussey]

Six packs.  In stock at MBK and probably BLW (even though the product page still states reservations).  Limited quantities at MBK.

[Chris333]

Can't read the dates on the Erie cars to know if I care. Large diamond so they could be newer paint jobs.

[Missaberoad]

Do these cars have peaked ends?

[garethashenden]

Do these cars have peaked ends?

No. Well, they shouldn't. At least the B&M cars shouldn't.

[Missaberoad]

Thanks...

Soo line and DSS&A had some ex C&O Ara 4 bays
They had peaked ends however, and I don't remember seeing pics of these cars...

[bbussey]

Can't read the dates on the Erie cars to know if I care. Large diamond so they could be newer paint jobs.

Too late for you I think.  Service date on the Erie scheme is 1/55.

Do these cars have peaked ends?

Non-peaked ends.  Pics of the HO versions are on the BLI Facebook page and their website.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

BLI is on a roll! I really like my H32s. I hope they keep pumping new cars out.

[bbussey]

I picked up the third Milwaukee six-pack.  Going to strip two of the cars to redress as NH, and unload the other four.

[Missaberoad]

Non-peaked ends.  Pics of the HO versions are on the BLI Facebook page and their website.

Thanks again!

[central.vermont]

I picked up the third Milwaukee six-pack.  Going to strip two of the cars to redress as NH, and unload the other four.

Why don't you redress them all Brian. Sell the other four.............I know where a couple would end up!!     

Jon

[bbussey]

That might not be a bad idea.

[Chris333]

Surprised they don't offer mixed roadname packs.

[garethashenden]

Surprised they don't offer mixed roadname packs.

Would they mix that much? I know the B&M cars just stayed on the B&M. The coal comes in by sea and then goes to feed hungry steam engines around the system in these cars.

[OldEastRR]

I picked up the third Milwaukee six-pack.  Going to strip two of the cars to redress as NH, and unload the other four.

Is that new MS decal set for NH freight usable for these cars?

[bbussey]

My package arrived today from MBK.

















The body wrapper is plastic, while the bays and slopes are diecast.  The bracing and appliances are plastic.

I like that the car has all of the brake appliances and the bracing in the ends, interior detail, and the brake line along Side-R is a nice touch (not pictured).  Features I don't like include the coal load, the thick inner-bracing and the brakewheel design – which is lacy but is not a pattern that I recognize.  The model definitely is an improvement over the Atlas/RivaRossi, Roco, Model Power cars of 40 years ago.  But I feel for $25 list per car, it should have been a little bit more high-end.

I am very impressed though with the coupler design, which was introduced on the N&W hoppers.  This MTL/Accu-Mate hybrid takes the best features of both couplers and combines them.  Hopefully BLI will offer the couplers separately at some point, as they are the perfect replacement for the Bachmann and McHenry couplers.