A covered hopper is a self-clearing enclosed railroad freight car with fixed roof, sides, and ends with openings for loading through the roof and bottom openings for unloading. Covered hopper cars are designed for carrying dry bulk loads, varying from grain to products such as sand and clay.The cover protects the loads from the weather. Dry cement would be very hard to unload if mixed with water in transit, while grain would be likely to rot if exposed to rain.
The DRGW roster information below has not been updated since 1999 by Jim Eager. If you know of the current deposition of a car listed below or you spot missing, inaccurate data, have model suggestion or a picture for any Rio Grande boxcar we'd love to see & hear about it. Contact the RGM&HS webmaster at: rgmhswebmaster@rgmhs.org
Covered Hoppers 1887 – 1959
| Series | Lbs | Type | I L | CuFt | Bldr | Blt - | Yr | Ret | Commodity | Design | Notes |
| 18197-18224 2nd | 154 | LO | 41-00 | 2893 | PS BUT | - | 1959 | Minerals | "3 bay, round hatch, PS2" | ||
| 18225-18374 2nd | 154 | LO | 41-00 | 2927 | ACF BWK | 2- | 1958 | Minerals | "3 bay,*13 rib, rnd hatch" | ||
| 18275-18324 | 154 | LO | 41-00 | 2927 | ACF BWK | 12- | 1957 | Minerals | "3 bay,*13 rib, rnd hatch" | ||
| 18300-18315 | 100 | LO | 30-00 | 1806 | Rblt | -1942= | 1943 | 1955 | "Sand, Cement?" | Roof & hatches added | Ex-18224-18271 |
| 18325-18349 | 154 | LO | 29-03 | 2003 | PS BUT | 12- | 1956 | Cement | "2 bay, round hatch, PS2" | ||
| 18350-18374 | 140 | LO | 29-03 | 1958 | GATC | - | 1946 | Cement | "2 bay, square hatch, ACF clone" | ||
| 18375-18399 | 140 | LO | 29-03 | 1958 | PS BUT | 5- | 1949 | Cement | "2 bay, square hatch, ACF clone" | ||
| 18400-18424 | 140 | LO | 29-03 | 1958 | ACF BWK | 10- | 1951 | Cement | "2 bay, square hatch" | ||
| 18425-18449 | 140 | LO | 29-03 | 1958 | PS BUT | - | 1952 | Cement | "2 bay, square hatch, ACF clone" | ||
| 18450-18474 | 140 | LO | 29-03 | 1958 | PS BUT | - | 1953 | Cement | "2 bay, square hatch, ACF clone" | ||
| 18475-18499 | 154 | LO | 29-03 | 2003 | PS BUT | 2- | 1956 | Cement | "2 bay, round hatch, PS2" |
KEY:
| Lbs | Weight capacity in lbs x 1,000 |
| Type | AAR car type code (i.e. XM = boxcar, etc |
| IL | Interior Length or tank |
| Bldr | ACF = American Car & Foundry; BSC = Bethlehem Steel Car; CSCC = Chicago Steel Car Co.; GATC = General American Transportation Co.; H&B; = Haskell & Barker; IC&E; = Illinois Car & Equipment; KCSS = Kansas City Structural Steel; LCC = Litchfield Car Co; MPC = Michigan-Peninsular Car; MC&F; = Missouri Car & Foundry; MCW = Michgan Car Works; MVC = Mt. Vernon Car (PSC); OFC = Ohio Falls Car; PAC = Pennsylvania Car; PCC = Peninsular Car Co.; PSC = Pressed Steel Car; PS = Pullman-Standard; PUL = Pullman; SSC = Standard Steel Car; W&F; = Wells & French; WSCF = Western Steel Car & Foundry (PSC) |
| Date-Yr | Month and Year built |
| Ret | Last year class was listed in ORER |
| Commodity | Most commonly shipped |
| Design | General design features: YSD=Youngstown Sliding Door, YPD=Youngstown Plug Door; YPDX=Youngstown Plug Door Exterior Post; PPD=Pullman " Plug Door; SPD4=Superior Plug Door; ID=Improved Dreadnaught ends, cush=cushioned underframe, Duryea=Duryea cush u.f., FS=ACF Freight Saver cush u.f., Waugh=Waugh cush u.f., EOC=end of car cushioning |
| Notes | General notes |
