I knew that some industries used non-locomotives as power to move cars for spotting. Today, I saw a front end loader moving a cut of 70 ton covered hoppers on a spur at a cement unloading facility. The loader was parallel to the cars; not sure if it was chained to the cars, or if it nudged one of the cars to get them rolling. The spur is relatively flat, so I do not think gravity was involved, and the loader was mid cut of at least three cars, maybe four. I had a very restricted view of the move. There was an employee / brakeman riding a car, applying hand brakes. This was in Dodge City, KS.
Tin Can II cement unloading
Russell
some smaller grain elevators do that too. Usually operations that move a small enough number of loasds that a locomotive isnt finacially feasable, but getting the local serving RR is a bit pricey. From what I have seen over the years, that seams to be the guiding reasons for using a loader. Some places have even removed the bucket and put on a plate with a coupler. Of course , comes in handy in winter too.
SHane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
NVSRRSome places have even removed the bucket and put on a plate with a coupler.
Didn't Cody Grivno do this in an MR article, perhaps one of his step by step projects? It goes back a few years that I know.
Dave Nelson
NVSRR Some places have even removed the bucket and put on a plate with a coupler.
Some places have even removed the bucket and put on a plate with a coupler.
They even sell kits for that, with brakes!
https://www.sasforks.com/product/railcar-coupler-attachment-estop/
I once saw a very determined forklift, sans fork, pushing a covered hopper.
NittanyLionI once saw a very determined forklift, sans fork, pushing a covered hopper.
While this one is european, I've seen them available with a knuckle coupler on them as well.
Mike
Is that Klaus?????
(if you know...you know)
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I just drove through manhoman MN. Saw a front end loader with its bucket shoving 4 covered hoppers at the local elevator. Had the tip of the bucket on the knuckle coupler itself. No special attachmeant, just metal to metal.
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
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Zugman: your comment made my day.
JDawgI just drove through manhoman MN. Saw a front end loader with its bucket shoving 4 covered hoppers at the local elevator. Had the tip of the bucket on the knuckle coupler itself. No special attachmeant, just metal to metal.
Ever wonder why so many hopper have the end ladders bent in? Yeah... this may have something to do with it.
mh1 Zugman: your comment made my day.
And you made my day. Was worried nobody else knew.
Water Level Route NittanyLion I once saw a very determined forklift, sans fork, pushing a covered hopper. There's a kit for that. While this one is european, I've seen them available with a knuckle coupler on them as well.
NittanyLion I once saw a very determined forklift, sans fork, pushing a covered hopper.
There's a kit for that.
That's a new one for me.
The one I saw had been stripped down to the point that it looked more like a riding lawn mower than a forklift. It then had a bar, akin to a car's bumper, welded to the front.