North American Car Corporation PD3000 Covered Hopper Phases & Details

Weld Seams     Roofwalk Supports     Corner Posts     End Types     Roofwalk Types     Roping Loops   Click on features above to go to that section onthis page.

Weld Seams

Phase 1a Car

Phase 1a cars have a low horizontal weld seam.
The vertical panels are arranged in a wide-wide-medium-wide-wide pattern.

Phase 1b Car

Phase 1b cars have a low horizontal weld seam.
The vertical panels are arranged in a wide-narrow-wide-wide-narrow-wide pattern.

Phase 2 Car

Phase 2 cars have a high horizontal weld seam.
The vertical panels are arranged in a wide-wide-narrow-narrow-wide-wide pattern.

Phase 3 Car

Phase 3 cars have a high horizontal weld seam.
The vertical panels are arranged in a narrow-wide-wide-wide-wide-narrow pattern.

Roofwalk Supports

Phase 1 Cars

Phase 1 cars have two wide roofwalk supports along the side of the car with four thinner supports in between.

Phase 2 and 3 Cars

Phase 2 and 3 cars have three wide supports along the side of the car with a single thinner support in between.

Roofwalks

Phase 1 Cars





Phase 1 cars have a slotted pattern on the roofwalks. Looking at the shadows on the top of the cars is an easy method to identify them.

Phase 2 and 3 Cars




Phase 2 and 3 cars have a hole pattern on the roofwalks. Again, the shadows can be helpful.

Corner Posts
Phase 1 Cars
Generally, Phase 1 cars have an outside facing corner post.
There are a few exceptions out there with the AEX cars.

Phase 2 and 3 Cars
Phase 2 and Phasae 3 cars have an inside facing corner post.

End Types

The PD3000s were built with cover plates over the access holes in the end
sheets. The cover plates were either square in shape or tilted on a 45 degree
angle to look more like a diamond. Over time, these cover plates were
removed and not replaced. Spring Mills Depot will be producing cars with
various cover plate configurations based on photos.

 

Roping Loops

The roping loops on the PD3000s were generally located in two different locations on the cars.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 cars had them welded to the ends of the bolsters, USUALLY pointing
inwards toward each other (there are a couple of exceptions). Phase 3 cars have the looping
holes cut into the carbody. Some Phase 3 cars have both. Spring Mills Depot PD3000s will
have the correct roping loops per the prototype.

Phase 1 and 2 Cars
Roping loops welded to bolsters and point towards each other.

Phase 3 Cars
Roping loops in carbody.

Both types on Phase 3 cars.