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Conrail Cyclopedia MoW: Ballast Service 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   8-19-89 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 Ballast Pit Kevin DeGroff (184K) 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. Location: Unknown   10-8-97 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 493045 H1K Rob Russell (57K) 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. Location: Unknown   10-8-97 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 493071 H1K Rob Russell (68K) 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. Orginally 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. Location: Wyomissing, PA   5-96 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 493132 H1K Bob Waller (65K) 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. Location: Unknown   10-8-97 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 493197 H1K Rob Russell (48K) CR 50989 was originally built as PRR 258491. It went straight from PRR paint to Conrail, without passing through PC. Location: Unknown   2004 Photo Online: May 3, 2005 CR 50989 H43D Kyle Mulligan (102K) A former PRR car in nasty shape. Location: Allentown, PA   [no date] Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 51528 H34B Lon Godshall (60K) A rather typical ballast car, which had been repainted from it's PC colors into Conrail on 10-78. Location: Middleboro, MA   6-26-91 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 51782 H34 Dave Santos (86K) One of many former Erie Lackawanna ballast cars that Conrail inherited. Location: Unknown   2004 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 52820 H34E Kyle Mulligan (77K) A former Erie Lackawanna car showing its abused nature. Location: Buffalo, NY (Frontier Yard)   10-3-01 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 52866 H34E Mike Rose (102K) 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   6-22-00 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53114 BH1D Mike Rose (113K) A nice overhead shot of the car. Notice the lovely rust, a feature common to all hopper cars. Location: Altoona, PA   6-22-00 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53114 BH1D Mike Rose (104K) A close-up of the brake rigging. Location: Altoona, PA   6-22-00 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53114 BH1D Mike Rose (153K) A side view of the side-dump car.. Location: Unknown   1998 Photo Online: June 3, 2005 CR 53155 BH1D Stephen Agostini (64K) An BH1D located at the end of a train. Location: Oak Island, NJ   3-16-05 Photo Online: June 3, 2005 CR 53193 BH1D Jeff Lubchansky (135K) 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   10-98 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53276 Paul Tupaczewski (91K) Difco side dump. Location: Wyomissing, PA   6-97 Photo Online: July 17, 1998 CR 53516 SO42A Bob Waller (58K) An SD24A 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. Location: Mifflin, PA   Summer 1981 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53535 SD24A John Sieber (86K) Painted Conrail in January 1979, this hopper is dumping its ballast onto the track. Location: Unknown Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53822 CC71B Wes Reminder (45K) I really know nothing about this class of ballast car at the moment. Location: Buffalo, NY (Frontier Yard)   10-3-01 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 CR 53858 CC71B Mike Rose (89K) Penn Central: Another of those about which cars I know little. Location: Selkirk, NY   6-98 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 PC 51543 H34 Mike Rose (79K) Penn Central (Former PRR) ballast hopper. Built 11-55. Location: Reading, PA   6-18-98 Photo Revised: June 3, 2005 PC 51636 H34D John Schodowski (69K) Delaware Lackawanna: The Delaware Lackawanna up in Scranton purchased some old Conrail ballast cars, spraying out the CR reporting marks and replacing them with their own. We thought it might be interesting to see what has happened to some of Conrail's lowliest equipment. This is a H34C class car. The CR numbers are unknown. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 Dl 401 Paul Strubeck (167K) Another old H34C class ballast car. Not sure on the CR number. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL 403 Paul Strubeck (157K) This one survived in Penn Central reporting marks until the bitter end. An H34A class. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL 404 Paul Strubeck (137K) A closer view of the PC logo and COTS. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL 404 Paul Strubeck (161K) Another former CR ballast car. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL 406 Paul Strubeck (85K) Another angle of DL 406. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL 406 Paul Strubeck (147K) The DL number of this car is unknown. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL ? Paul Strubeck (207K) The PC logo from another DL car. Location: Scranton, PA   11-28-05 Photo Online: December 28, 2005 DL ? Paul Strubeck (232K) Copyright (c) 1998-2009 Robert S. Waller. All rights reserved. Photos for personal use only. 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