Pere Marquette Hopper 20054

Built in 1946 by Greenville Steel Car Company in Pennsylvania. It was purchased by the Pere Marquette Railway before they merged with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in 1947. Covered hoppers like this transported dry bulk that could be ruined in severe weather conditions, such as cement, sand, grain, etc. It would be offloaded through the bottom hatches. When the Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake Ohio Railroads, and Western Maryland Railway merged together and created Chessie System in 1973, this covered hopper was never repainted to match the paint scheme. It eventually retired and was stored in Michigan. The Western Michigan Railway Historical Society repainted this hopper and sent it to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum. Today, it is displayed in the parking lot.