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I am trying to model a correct looking F3 A-B-B-A locomotives with some coal hoppers from that era. Say around 1946-49

What type of hoppers should I buy and who makes them? I would like to stick to 2 bay hoppers only because I can fit more cars on the layout.  

Thanks,

ce36c14f3e46b1d49158fb556e73321af3_phIII

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For that time period, PRR hoppers were oxide red in color with a circle keystone lettering scheme.  Pennsy had over 30,000 GLa 2-bay hoppers.  Lionel has produced a very good version of them.  They have released four 3-packs to date (12 different numbers) plus there are 3 additional numbers that were part of the M1a Coal Hauler set.  The railroad had a few (300 total) USRA 2-bay hoppers as produced by Atlas.  The other huge class of PRR hoppers were the H21 4-bays as produced by Atlas.

Pennsy coal trains often contained cars other than PRR.  Berwind was one commonly seen road.  Both the Lionel GLa style (one 3-pack and a single hopper in the Coal Hauler set) and the Atlas USRA style would work in your train.  The MTH 2-bay fishbelly hopper in Western Maryland is a prototypically correct model as well.  You should use the old lettering scheme with the round logo.  The large slanted lettering (speed lettering) for Western Maryland is too new for your era.  MTH issued two 6-car sets and a pair of separate sale WM hoppers a couple of years ago.

Pennsy never had any offset side cars.    The car itself fits your era, in other roadnames.    However, a coal train would probably have a majority of PRR cars in most cases.   

the car at the museum shown in your attached photo is a PRR GLC hopper in a paint scheme older than the circle keystone.   It would be an appropriate car also for your era but starting to phase out.    The MTH car is a very good model of the Western Maryland Fishbelly (and some others) but does not match the PRR GLC.

Atlas did the USRA hopper in 2 sets of PRR circle keystone.   but as Bob mentioned, PRR only had about 300 of them and 30,000 of the GLAs.

The weaver car is a model of a modern longer 2 bay car based on a prototype I think built by Pullman Standard for the L&N.    I don't think too many other roads had a modern welded 2 bay car like that.     they do have the advantage of being a good bit cheaper than the others so make good train filler.

"And lastly where most of the H31B hoppers scrapped out? Does any one make a hopper like this?"

The H31b's were converted from composite (wood) sides to steel sides beginning in the early 1950's (1952, I think).  Like the USRA hoppers, there weren't many of them, only 500 in total.  The MTH composite 2-bay hopper is a passable model of one.  It is a couple of scale feet too long and some other details don't agree with the prototype car, but its not too bad.

I have about 6 of these with car loads... but they are a complete disaster during operations. They like to short out on Gargrave and Ross switches, they lean to one side, the trucks separate, and they have the wrong brace details, and I am still trying to figure out if I use them what trucks should I swap them out with?

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