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Stewart Fish-Belly Hopper 

(photo from Stewart Hobbies' web site)

The Western Maryland was many things, but it was mainly a coal hauling railroad.  When you model a coal-hauling railroad, you need lots of hoppers.  Luckily, Stewart Hobbies has provided WM fans with lots of Channel Side and Fishbelly hoppers.

It has been pointed out in many forums that the detail on these hoppers is rather chunky, and the dimensions aren't exactly correct.  However, when you need a ton of hoppers, you take the best you can find, and the Stewart are currently the best :-)

I've only seen these hoppers in speed lettering.  That means I have some paint stripping to do as I would rather they be in herald.  I may super detail these in the future, but that is low on my current priority list.  I have around seven of these, but I may sell them if I don't strip and reletter them.

At the Timonium Great Scale Model Train Show on January 24, 2003, I picked up a four pack of special run WMRHS hoppers.  These hoppers represent the earliest speed-lettering scheme.  Note that the dimensional data and numbers are in Roman.  The date on these hoppers is 1-53.  Here is a photo of one of the hoppers before I put it together.