Steel Hopper Car No. 33164
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Steel Hopper Car No. 33164 is a Class GL open hopper car used to carry coal and other bulk commodities. The Class GL, introduced that year, was the first all-steel hopper car in the railroad's fleet, following the wooden Class GG cars of 1895. The car has an inside length of 31 feet 6 1/4 inches and a rated capacity of 100,000 pounds. It is a fine example of the first generation of steel gondolas that replaced earlier wooden cars. Its significance lies in its rarity as a surviving specimen of its type and in what it shows about the development of freight rolling stock on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The nomination treats it as part of a group of cars that together document the railroad's equipment history.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as a fine example of a first generation steel gondola, succeeding the wooden Class GG hopper cars. The Class GL is identified as the first all-steel hopper class, built in 1898. The nomination argues that these surviving cars are important as rare survivals of their types and as examples of the development of railroad motive power and freight cars.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002277, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Strasburg, Strasburg |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002277 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.98242, -76.16077 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002277.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.