Reply To: Atlas covered hopper color

[Charles Duckworth]

The round hatches are designed to seal out moisture better; so the lading carried was normally lime, sand, and fertilizer. Commodities that would be difficult to unload by gravity if they got wet. The grain covered hoppers had large rectangular hatches that allowed a grain elevator to easily load the car from a spout. These hatches would keep out moisture but not as well as the round ones.