We are pleased to announce availability of a limited number of 73′ Wood Chip Hoppers in HO Scale. A total of four numbers have been produced: MP 592808, MP 592955, MP 592985, and MP 592904. These cars represent Missouri Pacific’s last series of wood chip hoppers, MP 592800-592999, purchased in 1980.
Background Information.
Missouri Pacific Railroad purchased 1000 73′ Wood Chip Hoppers from Greenville Steel Car starting in 1972 through 1980. The cars were purchased to replace smaller, open top hoppers and meet growing demand from lumber and paper industries served by MP in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Many of the cars are still in service today on Union Pacific and connecting short lines hauling wood chips. Additionally, in later years, some of the cars were sold by UP to private leasing companies for hauling light density steel and aluminum scrap.
Wood chips are a by-product of finished lumber manufacturing. Loaded cars of wood chips are sent by lumber producers to paper companies and other companies that produce manufactured lumber products such as particle board and oriented strand board (OSB).
Greenville’s car design is ideally suited to haul light density, high cubic foot material such as wood chips. Each car is rated at 100 tons loading capacity and can accommodate 7000 cubic feet of material. 10 outlet gates on each car enable rapid discharge of the light density material at customer facilities.
