Donated to The CRHS by CSX Transportation in April 2021
Re-donated to the Danbury Railway Museum in April 2021
Quick Facts:
Model: 996H Flexi-Flo hopper (converted to a scale test car)
Built: May 1966
Builder: ACF Industries
Past Owners: New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail, CSX Transportation
Current Owner: Danbury Railway Museum
Current Location: Danbury Railway Museum, Danbury, CT
Conrail scale test car #80019 started life in May of 1966 as 3,500 cubic foot New York Central 996H class Flexi-Flo hopper car #885738. These hopper cars were some of the first pressure differential cars produced, forming the innovative basis for nearly all modern hopper car technology. Due to apparent wrecks that damaged the pressurized chambers of the cars, Penn Central converted a number of nearly-new Flexi-Flos to scale test cars, including the NYC #885738. The new PC #80019 emerged in 1969 painted in bright yellow for PC MoW service. After serving on Conrail in MoW gray, the #80019 was conveyed to CSX in 1999.
The #80019 was en route to be scrapped in January 2021 when it was brought to The CRHS’s attention. Working quickly, The CRHS accepted the donation of the car from CSX. The CRHS then arranged and covered the costs for the complicated transportation of the car to the Danbury Railway Museum in Danbury, CT via CSX and the Housatonic Railroad. The car arrived at the museum in March of 2021, and The CRHS subsequently donated the rare car to the Danbury Railway Museum, where it remains on permanent display in its Conrail scale test car appearance.
For more information on Flexi-Flo hopper cars and their significance to the railroad industry, pick up a copy of The CRHS’s Spring 2021 Conrail Quarterly magazine!
This project, and other new initiatives like it, are funded solely by the generosity of our members and supporters. Please consider a donation to The CRHS so that we may continue to preserve Conrail history!
The #80019, still in patched Conrail paint, rests in Selkirk Yard on January 26, 2021, stopped here on its way to the scrapper. (Rob Rohauer photo)
The #80019 arrived safely at the Danbury Railway Museum on March 30, 2021, just two months after it was made available to The CRHS. (Jose Alves photo)
Check out historic photos of the #80019 on the