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Covered Hoppers — 38xxxx series

To see a full-sized version of any of the photos, click on it.

CN 380xxx cylindrical hopper family

There are actually a number of different varieties of hoppers in the CN 380xxx series. CN 380068 has a capcity of 4500 cubic feet. Its was built by Vancouver Iron and Engineering Works in 1967 and is one of the series 380000-380099. These hoppers are a rarity and probably unique to CN. The photo was taken in Edmonton in Sep 97 when 386068 was coupled to its sister 380085.

CN 380600 has a capacity of 4550 cubic feet and was built by MIL in 1981. The photo was taken in Edmonton in winter 1996-97.

CN 382xxx cylindrical hopper family

The 382xxx series of cylindrical hoppers (382000-382699) was built by MIL in 1981. They are made of steel and have a capacity of 4550 cubic feet. Apparently they have a continuous trough hatch on the top (to be confirmed), not four separate hatches like many grain hoppers.

Some of this series may have been renumbered into the 380xxx series (to be confirmed).

The photos of 382125 and 382593 were taken in Edmonton in summer of 1996. The photo of 382689 was taken in Edmonton in August 1997. Note the different paint schemes.

CN 383xxx family of hoppers

CN 383136 is a slab sided 4750 cubic foot hopper built by Pullman (PS) Standard in Sep 1980. Most cars built in the US have the CNA mark on them, but this one seems part of the series 383100-383249 all built by PS around the same date. Similar cars earlier in the series (383000-383099) were built in Feb 1979, and later cars (383250-383367) wer built in Sep-Dec 1980. These were built by PS as well.

Compare this to CN 383381, obviously not the same type of car even though in the same numbering sequence. In fact, there are several other different types of car in the 383xxx series. 383500-383548 are Trinity-built versions of the 4750 cu. ft. covered hopper, built in Sep 1980. 383549-383595 are ACF-built 4650 cu. ft. cars built in Oct-Nov 1966. Both series were acquired second-hand by CN in 1987.

CN 383381 is a cylindrical hopper manufactured by National Steel Car in Sep 1979. It is notable for its CN North America paint scheme which was applied in Oct 93. Photo was taken in unfavourable conditions in Edmonton, Jan 97.

The CNNA paint scheme was not applied to very many freight cars. The exact number is not known. Others known to carry similar scheme are: CNIS 413028, CN 371897, and CN 557115. If anyone knows of others and/or has a better photo, please contact the Web Manager.

CN 384xxx hopper series

Most of the CN 384xxx series are slab-sided covered hoppers that were not all built at the same time (and, to be confirmed, not all built by the same manufacturer). What they do have in common is their paint scheme, although there are exceptions (384604 for example). They are gray with red lettering as shown in the photo. They have a capacity of 4750 cubic feet. They are often, but not always, used for grain.

The CN 384xxx series runs from 384000 to 384684. There is a project underway to determine which of these is still in service, and what is the new (i.e. build) date of each. If you have any info on this, have any observations of number and new date, please contact the Web Manager.

CN 384633 was photographed in Edmonton in February 1997.

CN 384674 is one of a few non-slab sided hoppers at the end of the series. It has four compartments, round roof hatches and a capacity of 4550 cubic feet. It was built in November 1978, possibly by Hawker Siddely. It has the logo "North American" on one end. It is probably from the NAHX 455000-455399 series and purchased by CN in either 1985 or 1990. The photo was taken near Edmonton in early 1998.

CN 386xxx bath-tub hopper series

Due to a shortage of grain cars, CN purchased new grain hoppers in 1996. These were the 386xxx series. There were 500 of these cars, numbered 386200-386699. They were manufactured during or around Nov 1996 by National Steel Car in Hamilton and have a capacity of 5150 cubic feet (386200-386399) and 5200 cubic feet (386400-386699).

CN 386425 was photographed in Edmonton in January 1997. Note how the paint scheme differs from the otherwise similar CN 388xxx series.

CN 388xxx bath-tub hopper series

CN purchased a thousand grain cars in the series 388000-388999 in late 1995 and early 1996. These were built in Trenton, NS and have a capacity of 5250 cubic feet.

CN 388637 was photographed in Edmonton in January 1997. Even though it is physically similar to the later 386xxx series, the later series did not use the same paint scheme.

CN 389xxx bath-tub hopper series

The 389000-389299 series was manufactured by the Trenton Works in Trenton NS in 1997. These steel cars have a capcity of 5250 cubic feet.

CN 389146 was manufactured in Jul 1997 and was photographed in Edmonton in fall of the same year.