Question on Kaolin Transport and Storage

[rfbranch]

Hi all-

 

I'm building a mid 70's industrial layout and one of my industries is a cardboard manufacturing plant.  My inbounds will consist of raw kraft paper in box cars (for production of finished packaging) and also chemicals and dry kaolin.  I've read Industries Along the Tracks #2 for details but there were a few things I wasn't sure of:

 1.  I saw many examples of funnel flowcars that were used to bring in various checmical agents to produce paper, but I wasn't sure which were appropriate to the production of heavier cardstock like cardboard.  Also, since most of these cars are stenciled for specific chemicals, are there cars out there for sale that would fit this need?  I've had a bit of trouble trying to find somethign appropriate and often times the description of the cars does not include details on the stenciling.

2.  Using the same reference materials, most kaloin was shipped dry rather than as a slurry, so I was planning on using 2-bay covered hoppers to ship this material similar to what is sued to transport cement.  Is that in fact accurate?  Also, how is dry kaolin stored?  Google didn't divulge much...

 

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

~rb

[ndbprr]

I don't think Kaolin is used much in making corrugated cardboard.  It is what is used to give paper a glossy finish.  The only exception would be consumer boxes that have graphics and color on them and the mill would probably buy that paper by the roll from another paper mill or location.

[NorthBound]

Hello rfbranch,

I created an account here just so I could reply to your question.  I hope my answer helps.

The Omya company has plants worldwide and a nice plant here in Vermont.  They mine and refine many white minerals for paper production and other uses.  I see their tankers and hoppers in the North Bennington yard frequently.  I'll bet you can find some pics and answers in their web pages.

 http://www.omya-na.com/B2BShrtPr.nsf/splash?OpenForm

Also, I have some pics of their tank cars on my Picasa site.  Heres a link. 

 http://picasaweb.google.com/ihccab/NorthBenningtonVermontRailStation#

Good luck and enjoy the research.

Andy 

[rfbranch]

Thanks for the answers guys!  I should have used a more proper term.  My idea was to create a packaging plant (it would prodcue cardboard packaging, but other glossier types as well) that would then ship to actaul manufaturers themselves.  This is defintiely a business-to-business operation rather than an end consumer (hence, justifying the use of rail to move mateirals in the 1970's as opposed to a large amount of truck traffic).

 

Thanks for the link to the pictures, and for signing up to reply!  A great help.  I didn't have muc luck on the Omya website, but your pictures are informative.  I'm curious, have you seen anything shipped from that plant in a non-slurry form?  I was going to see if there wasn't any appropriate rolling stock I could pick up at the show in New Haven this weekend.

 

Thanks again guys!

[NorthBound]

Yes Omya does ship dry calcium carbonate, limestone, in what looks to be three bay hoppers.  I do have pics of them in the link I gave you.  They're in there with the tankers.  I've found Omya hoppers on Ebay.  Good luck.

[ndbprr]

Corrugated is a time sensitive commodity as storage takes huge amounts of space.  Hence you could justify daily shipments and receipt

[rfbranch]

Thanks for pointing that out, I missed those in your gallery!  I'll have to take a look at those and see if they fit my era, I'm "stuck in the '70's" as they say!

 

Many thanks.

 

~rb