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3 & 4 bay cylindrical covered hoppers

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  • Member since
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  • From: Denver, CO
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3 & 4 bay cylindrical covered hoppers
Posted by Motley on Saturday, September 13, 2014 5:19 PM

I know the 3 & 4 bay cylindrical covered hoppers are used for corn, grain, etc.

But are they also used for fertalizer and frac sand?

I want some of these for my new industry Rail to Road Aggregate Transfer faciltiy.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

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Posted by mlehman on Saturday, September 13, 2014 6:41 PM

Yes, 4-bay ones are used for potash, as a lot of the Potash Corporation of Saskatchwen cars are. Google that name + railroad car in Images and you can see theirs.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, September 13, 2014 8:44 PM

Does this help??

http://wisconsinwatch.org/2014/07/as-rail-moves-frac-sand-across-wisconsin-landscape-new-conflicts-emerge/

EDIT. Actually it probably doesn't, those are 2 bay hoppers, I should read the question!!!Bang Head Embarrassed

This may be more appropriate.....

http://www.hulcher.com/industries/frac-sand/

EDIT #2. With such a poor initial showing I think I need to try to partially redeem myself. Here are some better photos of the Indusmin cylindrical hoppers.....

http://thundertrain.org/040413USnchx38817indusmin-52R.jpg

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=150904

http://freight.railfan.ca/northamerican/nahx45687.jpg

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
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Posted by Motley on Sunday, September 14, 2014 7:37 AM

Aha! Very nice. I saw that photo of the frac sand being loaded into the round hatches. The hoppers I'm interested in has the same round hatches.

I seen some CN hoppers that had Potash lettering on them. I didn't even know Potash was fertalizer.

So now I can get a bunch of new hoppers for this industry.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

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Posted by wp8thsub on Sunday, September 14, 2014 11:00 AM

Motley
But are they also used for ... frac sand?

Probably not.  Sand is heavy and dense.  A 3- or 4-bay cylindrical hopper would be loaded to its rated capacity without using a large portion of its cubic volume.  Frac sand is usually shipped in smaller 2-bay cars like those used for cement.

Rob Spangler

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Posted by mlehman on Sunday, September 14, 2014 12:53 PM

Note that the link was to Hulcher, who specializes in cleanups, transfer of overloading cargo, etc. In an emergency, I'm guessing they would use whatever's on hand in terms of available rolling stock. That would account for a car that normally wouldn't be in this service being used. One way to deal with the issue would be to load it over the trucks at each end, then let things settle towards the middle as the car moved. This, along with observing the car's weight limit, would make the big LOs usuable, if not really practical for hauling frac sand.

That's not really gonna help with Michael's need though. It is pretty much the case that frac sand does travel in 2-bay hoppers, although I've heard that due to the press of this new business even open gons have been pressed into this service, presumably covered or tarped?

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Sunday, September 14, 2014 5:22 PM

wp8thsub
 A 3- or 4-bay cylindrical hopper would be loaded to its rated capacity without using a large portion of its cubic volume.

Ah Rob, I had wondered if I had found the “exception to the rule” though there is precedence for cars being used for purposes other than their original design.
 However as Michael has indicated that he will purchase new hoppers, and though I have no idea what’s currently available in HO, I would suggest that I would buy 2 bay hoppers for frac sand carriage, though to being a Bear I would have at least one 4 bay cylindrical hopper.Smile, Wink & Grin
 
"...........that due to the press of this new business even open gons have been pressed into this service,.... "
 
 
Cheers, the Bear.
 

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,455 posts
Posted by wp8thsub on Sunday, September 14, 2014 6:12 PM

...being a Bear I would have at least one 4 bay cylindrical hopper.

Hey, um, I uh said probably as opposed to definitely not... Maybe I'm covered.Whistling

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
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Posted by Motley on Sunday, September 14, 2014 10:53 PM

OK I will get some 2 bay hoppers also. I will have a bunch of different ones. 2 bay, 3 bay, and 4 bay hoppers.

 

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    April 2010
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Posted by denveroutlaws06 on Saturday, September 27, 2014 1:47 AM

here are the Trinity 2 bay hoppers if you are looking for those.

http://www.americanlimitedmodels.com/category_s/1515.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=1515&show=60&page=1

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
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Posted by Motley on Saturday, September 27, 2014 9:24 AM

denveroutlaws06

here are the Trinity 2 bay hoppers if you are looking for those.

http://www.americanlimitedmodels.com/category_s/1515.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=1515&show=60&page=1

 

Geeeezus! $50 each for those small 2 bay hoppers. No thanks. I already found some on ebay for $20 each.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

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