Most of us think of ballast cars dumping their loads on tracks, but Kevin DeGroff shows us another use for the cars. This easily modeled facility is a ballast transfer pit.
Location: Olean, NY
Photo Date: 8-19-89
Photographer: Kevin DeGroff     Added: January 9, 2002

Most were originally built in 1992, most likely by Trinity Railcar. The 43' H1K stands out as a hopper firmly associated with Eastern Pennsylvania. Conrail purchased 200 cars, placing them in series CR 493000 to 493199. The cars have a capacity of 2300 cubic-feet or 201,000 pounds.
Class: H1K
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: 10-8-97
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 30, 1999

During the 1990's, the H1K was often associated with Wimpey Minerals just outside Palmyra, PA. The limestone quarry started operations in the 1950's for Bethlehem Steel, which had plants in nearby Lebanon to the east and Harrisburg to the west. It began as Millard Quarry, but when Bethlehem Steel began down-sizing in the early 1980s, shutting down many operations in Eastern Pennsylvania, they sold the company to Wimpey Minerals. Fortunately, Wimpey continued shipping large amounts of ballast using the H1K for many shipments.
Class: H1K
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: 10-8-97
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 30, 1999

It appears that all 200 H1K's remained in service until 1997, when the entire class was transferred to Norfolk Southern. By 2004, however, only 197 remained in Conrail reporting marks. Originally painted the H1K in a bright, almost-white gray that quickly gathered a coating of grime and grunge that the trucks kicked up through the open foot boards.
Class: H1K
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 5-96
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 15, 1998

Conrail usually used the Ortner H1K in unit ballast trains (symbol BAL) originating at Millards/Wimpey. The cars have air-line couplings between the cars, allowing a crewman to remotely open the bay doors, spreading the ballast onto the track below. However, they also saw other service hauling ore and limestone to construction companies and utilities.
Class: H1K
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: 10-8-97
Photographer: Robert Russell     Added: October 30, 1999

CR 50989 was originally built as PRR 258491. It went straight from PRR paint to Conrail, without passing through PC.
Class: H43D
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: ?-04
Photographer: Kyle Mulligan     Added: May 3, 2005

A former PRR car in nasty shape.
Class: H43B
Location: Allentown, PA
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Lon Godshall     Added: June 12, 1999

A rather typical ballast car, which had been repainted from it's PC colors into Conrail on 10-78.
Class: H34
Location: Middleboro, MA
Photo Date: 6-26-91
Photographer: Dave Santos     Added: January 9, 2002

One of many former Erie Lackawanna ballast cars that Conrail inherited.
Class: H34E
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: ?-04
Photographer: Kyle Mulligan     Added: June 3, 2005

A former Erie Lackawanna car showing its abused nature.
Class: H34E
Location: Buffalo, NY (Frontier Yard)
Photo Date: 10-3-01
Photographer: Mike Rose     Added: January 9, 2002

A two-bay, side-dump "Ortner" ballast hopper from series CR 53100-53249. Conrail built them in Hollidaysburg from Bethlehem Steel kits.
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 6-22-00
Photographer: Mike Rose     Added: January 9, 2002

A nice overhead shot of the car. Notice the lovely rust, a feature common to all hopper cars.
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 6-22-00
Photographer: Mike Rose     Added: January 9, 2002

A close-up of the brake rigging.
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 6-22-00
Photographer: Mike Rose     Added: January 9, 2002

Class: BH1D
Location: Oak Island, NJ
Photo Date: 3-16-05
Photographer: Jeff Lubchansky     Added: June 3, 2005

Though similar to a Difco side-dump car as pictured below, this is a former Delaware Lackawanna & Western car #97019 built in 1956
Location: Altoona, PA
Photo Date: 10-98
Photographer: Paul Tupaczewski     Added: January 9, 2002

Difco side dump.
Class: SD24A
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Photo Date: 6-97
Photographer: Robert Waller     Added: July 17, 1998

A side dump car hauling rip-rap. CR53535 and several others of its kind were in Mifflin PA in the summer of 1981. The stencils are fuzzy, but I can make out a 1978 built date.
Class: SD42A
Location: Mifflin, PA
Photo Date: ?-81
Photographer: John Sieber     Added: June 3, 2005

Painted Conrail in January 1979, this hopper is dumping its ballast onto the track.
Class:
Location: Unknown
Photo Date: Unknown
Photographer: Wes Reminder     Added: July 17, 1998

Class: CC71B
Location: Buffalo, NY (Frontier Yard)
Photo Date: 10-3-01
Photographer: Mike Rose     Added: January 9, 2002

Class: H34
Location: Selkirk, NY
Photo Date: 6-98
Photographer: Mike Rose     Added: January 9, 2002

Penn Central (Former PRR) ballast hopper. Built 11-55.
Class: H34D
Location: Reading, PA
Photo Date: 6-18-98
Photographer: John Schodowski     Added: October 23, 1998