The downside of these adaptations was that the slope sheet on former coal hoppers was set at a lesser angle than that of purpose-built chip hoppers, causing difficulty in unloading. You can see the difference here on CSXT 434033 with a much steeper slope sheet. The reworked hoppers made good sense though, extending the life of an otherwise obsolete asset. [Pontiac SC, 08/07/2016]
Yep, they work pretty well. Industry must guard against the inattentive operator of an overhead unit who sets it in motion, then estimates its work time, wanders off and forgets about it. Serious car damage to the upper frame rails can then result. Here's one assisting the unloading of woodchip cars at a paper mill. [11/1985]
Railroads offer rate incentives for paper mills that have rotary chip dumping equipment. The cars are quicker to unload, so utilization is improved and they suffer no damage from car shakers. [Killian SC, 11/14/2015] Industries gain even better rates if they acquire the cars. Here, Federal Paperboard has invested in a rotary dumper and cars to suit. [Pontiac, SC 08/07/2016]
I blew off gardening today and headed to Wyo JCT in the afternoon. First train, 38G, had a pair of GE's on the head end. What's with the AOK reporting marks on the new NS gons?
A-OK is involved with railcar leasing. Despite having only about 135 route-miles, among railroads they are the sixth largest owner of railcars behind BNSF, UP, NS, CSX and CN.
It is getting a tad confusing with all those cars with reporting marks that don't match the logo, getting pulled by locomotives of two or more railroads... until you hear someone calling out" Get yer program! Ya can't tell'em apart without yer program! Point353 has the program! Thanks for posting that!
"BS". That's a good one. A lot of current railroad folks might agree.... What is/was that brick wall? Obviously a remnant of something large.
