On Nov 20, 2008, at 7:15 PM, Don Smith wrote:

    In 1953 the M&StL had two groups of 1958 cu. ft. covered hoppers.
One group of 50 cars
numbered 70101 - 70199 and the other group of 10 cars numbered 70051
- 70069. Both
car number groups were odd only. The 50 car group has been well
documented. The unique
feature of the group of 50 is that the rooftop hatches had
equidistant spacing rather than the
far more common spacing of most other 1958 cu ft cars in which the
center two hatches on
each side were relatively  close together.  I've never seen any
pictures or information about
the group of 10 numbered 70051 -70069.

     With the soon to be available  kit of  1958 cu. ft. covered
hoppers from Intermountain  I'd
like to build some M&StL cars of both groups.  Can anyone tell me the
roof hatch spacing of
the group of 10? Whether they were equidistant hatch spacing or the
more common center
hatches close together?  Information on the year built,  running
board type and paint color
(probably black) would also be helpful. the posting of this question
on the Yahoo M&StL
group has so far drawn a blank. Thanks in advance. Don Smith

Don,
I have in my collection a GATC builder's photo of M&StL 70051, built
6-40 by GATC. The car matches the IM model with the same hatch
arrangement. Even the locking bar arrangement is essentially the same
as the version used by AC&F. The cars had "open" sides, Equipco hand
brakes (like the version in the IM PFE R-40-10 kit) and Apex running
boards. I can't tell for sure but I believe the brake step is not an
Apex, but rather one of fabricated sheet steel. The photo of 70051 is
very dark, and I can only presume it was painted black. I'd say the
M&StL 70051-70069 prototype cars are as close to a dead-ringer for the
IM model as one can expect to get.
Regards,
Ed Hawkins


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