Charlie,

I agree that we need a greater variety of both hoppers and flats, plus more gons too.

I disagree with this point:

. . . But part of the is that flats probably were among the most
customized and least standardized cars. . . .

I would have to say that stock cars are probably the most variable cars. There were very few standard
designs from manufacturers, and many roads rebuilt old boxcars into stock cars that were absolutely
unique designs. And as for under representation, what do we have in HO right now (outside of resin and
one or two wooden craft kits): Athearn (sort of UP, but with problems), Proto 2000 Mather (mostly leased
by small roads, or in small lots by larger roads), Accurail ex-USRA (GN only), Central Valley (NP only),
Bowser PRR (PRR and only one or two allied roads), maybe some of the Walthers/TM cars (generic, and they
leave a lot to be desired in terms of quality), and the Roundhouse Old Time car (Clinchfield, anyone?).
Many stock cars were also less than 40', and the Roundhouse car is the only one available in a shorter
length. That's all I can think of that are reasonably accurate. The rest are junk, though you might be
able to do something with a few of them.

I guess if you model GN or NP, you are in pretty good shape, since they both are represented by fairly
accurate cars, and both leased Mather cars as well. Just about every other road gets short changed.

Kind regards,


Garth G. Groff