Trains.com

covered hoppers......a timeline

1699 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
covered hoppers......a timeline
Posted by J. Edgar on Thursday, January 11, 2007 9:23 PM

 

 at what period did covered hoppers for bulk drygoods come into regular use

 GACX I think introduced the "Air-slide" I think in the 50's....maybe?

 

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, January 12, 2007 9:24 AM
I believe the Airslide covered hoppers were introduced in 1954. Covered hoppers go back at least to the thirties, but they were not that common. It wasn't until the fifties that covered hoppers were used for very fine commodities like flour - I don't think earlier hoppers were that well sealed to handle fine materials like that (especially ones that needed to be kept clean - I think airslides had a special internal lining that older LO's didn't have ).
Stix
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: In the heart of Winnipeg
  • 224 posts
Posted by Trainmaster.Curt on Friday, January 12, 2007 12:26 PM

Here in Canada, the Cylindrical hoppers came into use around 1971-73, and were later nicknamed (Trudeau Hoppers) cause it was Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau who advocated the use of cylindrical hoppers to replace the aging fleet of 40' grain boxes which were still very common at the time. And now there are no 40' in service(Last ones were used on the CNR Churchill or route to Thunder Bay)in 1996-97, save a few that were kept as OCS use and for Vintage Railway Societies, though a local CPR or CEMR yard here, which is a storage yard, you can still see them sitting there.

Here is an article on the CN Lines website about a unique "Articulated Covered Hopper"

http://cnlines.ca/CNcyclopedia/hop/hop4.php

TMC (CNR Mixed train GMD1 1063 with combine coach) (Remember always at Railway X-ing's, (Stop, Look and Listen!)
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Friday, January 12, 2007 9:38 PM

ok thx....

so one would assume that bulk drygoods i.e. cement,kanolin, sand,etc would be shipped in barrels/drums? in the good ol' 40 footer thru the ww2 era......?

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Elgin, IL
  • 3,677 posts
Posted by orsonroy on Saturday, January 13, 2007 7:41 AM
 J. Edgar wrote:

ok thx....

so one would assume that bulk drygoods i.e. cement,kanolin, sand,etc would be shipped in barrels/drums? in the good ol' 40 footer thru the ww2 era......?

Actually, most dry bulk products would be shipped bagged, or more likely, loose inside the boxcar. The primary reason for the eventual adoption of covered hoppers was the huge leap in manual labor costs following WWII. Before the war, manual labor cost significantly less than mechanization, which made things like covered hoppers and their associated loading/unloading facilities uneconomical.

Ray Breyer

Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Saturday, January 13, 2007 2:36 PM

 

 ok........i knew grains were shipped that way.....hugely labor intensive.....just never figured other commodities would be the same given that shipping weight is important fopr tarifs and charges

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Saturday, January 13, 2007 2:36 PM

 

 

 and again thx for the answers

 

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter