Ak-Sar-Ben - 8809A - Open Hopper, 2-Bay, Offset Side - NMRA - 1988

Specific Item Information: *** Road Name: BIRMINGHAM EASTERN *** 'Special Run Atlas Car East N-Trak NMRA 1988 Convention.' Product number: 8809A Original product price is not known.

Model Information: The Peaked End version of Atlas 2-Bay offset-side hopper was announced in October of 2008 and first delivered around February of 2009. It is very similar to their "flat-end" hopper which was introduced the previous year, with the major exception of (your guessed it!) the ends are peaked...

Prototype History: The late 1920s saw the introduction of the AAR standard “offset-side” 50- and 70-ton hoppers. The design went through several variations in the late 1920s and early 1930s before settling on two versions of the 50-ton car and one 3-bay, 70-ton car in 1935. Most roads went for the AAR standard designs, but the N&W, VGN, and Pennsy were notable holdouts. World War II brought the famous “war emergency” hoppers (only the N&W and MP bought the 70-ton version) and several composite versions of existing designs. After the war, AC&F found some brief success with a welded outside-stake hopper design, but the weld joints broke under the stress of loading and unloading rather than flexing like riveted joints. The offset-side design also had problems: the inside stakes were more prone to corrosion, and they suffered worse from loading and unloading stress than outside-staked hoppers. The design waned in the 1950s and was all but abandoned for new cars by 1960. Some roads (notably the C&O, the B&O, and the L&N) made the best of a bad situation by rebuilding their offset-side cars with all new outside-staked sides in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Road Name History: The National Model Railroad Association, Inc. advances the global scale model railroading community through education, advocacy, standards, and social interaction.

The National Model Railway Association is an organization focused on the model railroading hobby. It was founded in 1935. It is organized into 18 regions and 150 divisions. Most of the divisions hold regular meetings featuring interesting and informative presentations on subjects ranging from "how-to" clinics to prototype railroad slide presentations. Many also have a regular newsletter for members.

The NMRA organizes a national convention once per year. The location moves from year to year. The conventions offer unique special run cars to attendees.

Brand/Importer Information: Ak-Sar-Ben Hobby Co
Information on AkSarBen Hobby and their history is sketchy at best. Of course, AkSarBen is Nebraska spelled backwards so one might assume that they got their start in the Husker state. The most recent evidence of their existence, however, was in the 2010 Model Retailer Hobby Industry Directory listing them in Jacksboro, TN. The phone number listed is disconnected, so, who knows for sure? What is known is that AkSarBen Hobbies was owned by Allen Miller and got their start in the 1980's producing very high quality custom, limited edition HO and N Scale products. They probably have left the model train business for more than 20 years ago.