Hi

I want to get some period correct rolling stock to accompany my Big Boy and was looking at the 45800 UP Hopper wagon set and the 45702 UP caboose.
Are these OK, (in the sense of zinkpest as seen on some other US models produced by M* at the time) or should one shy away from them?
Any of the US manufactures have something similar that would be a good match worth looking at?

I have a whole rack of boxcars but guess hopper cars would be a better match as description of the lok talks about pulling heavy coal trains.... Open for suggestions!

Regards
Jean-Pierre

Jimmy is right - Big Boys pulled all types of mixed freight. The reefers are something they were specifically designed to pull, hauling fresh fruit from California.

Here is my list of Marklin freight cars bought for my Big Boys over the years, any of which are appropriate. The sets 45657, 45658 and 45659 each have one reefer among other cars. I have never had any issues with any of these and can recommend them if you can find them.

45580
45644
45645
45646
45648
45654
45656-01
45656-03
45657
45658
45659
45660
45661
45662
45664-02
45664-03
45702
45709
45800
48640

Bill, I have never had any derailments caused by the lighter cars, although I do like to put some of the heavy cars up front. The only cars that cause any problems are the tin-plate tank cars from the 48640 set, whose couplers don't mate well with the other cars.

I usually split those up into 2 and sometimes 3 trains, but I have run them all behind one of my Big Boys, with it pulling 60+ cars. It is quite a sight and the Big Boy runs like there is nothing at all behind it. They are such beautiful machines!

Happy hunting Jean-Pierre! In the US consists often contain cars from many railroads and although I favor UP cars that is not at all required. They don't even have to be from western railroads, since many cars were forwarded across the country over other lines. The only requirement for me is that they all be from the correct era. I have a number of reference books on UP and the Big Boy and I don't think I have ever seen a unit train of mostly coal hoppers behind a UP steamer.