Freight
Reading Company Offset Side Hopper, Class HTc, #63321
Background & History
Offset Side Hopper car #63321 began life in the period between 1948 and 1957 when most of the offset side hoppers were built. It would have been in one of the classes HTt, HTu, or HTv. We were unable to determine the cars original number or Class. The cars were rated 55 tons, 33’ long with a 2260 cu. ft capacity.
In the 1960’s, a huge car rebuilding program began and most of the 6,000 offset side 2-Bay hoppers were rebuilt. Class HTa, HTb, and HTc was created as cars were rebuilt. Class HTa and HTb cars when rebuilt went to the B&O but retained the Reading Class numbers. Some of the HTc cars went to the B&O, with the remainder staying on the Reading. Our car #63321 became part of Class HTc.
Offset Side Hopper #63321 North of Reading, Date Unknown.
(Photo Courtesy of Charles Murphy, Jr., MP&RE Collection)
Shown above is the original paint scheme of the offset side hopper. This view shows the bulging sides that give the car its name. The photo comes from the book “RDG Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment” by Craig T. Bossler. The book is available in the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum store.
In 2002 we took delivery of what may be the last Reading Railroad offset side, 55 ton capacity hopper in existence. The car was owned by a short line railroad in upstate New York. Our Society purchased an Amtrak ballast hopper car, which was traded to the short line for our car.
MP&RE crews plan on repainting the car into the “Speed Lettering” paint scheme as shown above.