In January 1948 General American Transportation Corporation built 50 70-ton offset-side triple hopper cars (Lot 2994) for the Belt Railway Company of Chicago. The cars weighed 47,000 pounds and their capacities were 2775 cu. ft. They rode on Barber S-2 trucks and had Ajax hand brakes. The BRC number series for these cars was 2000-2049.
The Soo Line purchased these 50 cars in October 1950 and numbered them as 68501-68599, odd numbers only. Some were repainted freight car red and a few were eventually given three-foot block billboard letters. Accurail has this version in it’s product line. Other cars were painted over in black with new Soo Line reporting marks and car numbers in white. On at least some of these black cars, the original white Belt Railway of Chicago lettering and large herald began to show through the black paint. It is this version we have attempted to replicate in our series of limited-run cars. The cars are painted a weathered black with a faint “The Belt Railway Co. of Chicago” lettering, the large and distinctive “belt” herald, “B.R.C.” reporting marks and car number. These are overprinted by the white Soo Line reporting marks and car numbers. This is a unique effect in HO models and Accurail has done fine work in representing the prototype.
Two car numbers are available. Our 2009 limited-run models are based on Accurail kits with magnetic knuckle couplers. The cars were painted and lettered by Accurail using artwork provided by the SLHTS.
Soo Line (ex-Belt Railway of Chicago) Triple Hopper Car #68505
&
Soo Line (ex-Belt Railway of Chicago) Triple Hopper Car #68541
