lettering for C&I’s 70-ton 2-bay hopper cars

The Cambria & Indiana Railroad Company was originally formed in 1904 as the Blacklick & Yellow Creek Railway Company by the Vinton Lumber Co to haul its lumber. In 1910, large coal deposits were found and the road was sold to John Weaver and Dawson Coleman who extended it’s 10 miles of trackage to 57 miles so as to include 23 other coal mines located in the Cambria and Indiana counties of Pennsylvania. The C&I gained notoriety as the ‘richest railroad in the country” by generating the most revenue per mile of track between 1930 and the late 1940’s. Between 1914 and 1931, the line even had scheduled passenger service. In January of 1940, the road had 3,306 hoppers in service, 4 cabooses and 3 flatcars. By 1950 coal mining in the area declined dramatically, and by 1962 there were only 4 mines left, not enough to generate operating revenue. The road was sold to Bethlehem Steel when it opened Mine 33, thus sustaining the C&I for another 30 years. In 1994, the mine closed down and the railroad was disbanded selling its rails for scrap and donating the right-of-way to the County. Road numbers used were in Series 200-999 and 2400-5499.

Paint & Lettering: Cars painted all black - lettering white stencil paste.

Decal set designed and created at Protocraft Decals
Printed by Microscale Industries