My question is regarding small town grain elevators, once grain hoppers were in use and grain elevators transitioned over to top loading.
I model the PRR in mid 1960's, I am thinking that hopper cars were in frequent use but with harvest creating a higher demand for cars would box cars with grain doors have been pressed into service if needed?
There are plenty of photos where the elevator has two discharge hoses, one for boxcars and the other for hoppers during the transition period.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Lastspikemike Besides, boxcars were loaded "from the top" in that the doors were boarded up and the chute fed into the very top of the door opening. Later boxcars had dedicated mini doors in the main doors at that height,
Besides, boxcars were loaded "from the top" in that the doors were boarded up and the chute fed into the very top of the door opening. Later boxcars had dedicated mini doors in the main doors at that height,
The Northern Pacific actually built double door boxcars that were dual purpose just for that reason. (A plug door and a regular sliding one. i.e. this one [http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=np8323&o=np] as an example.) During non harvest times both doors would be used to handle lumber. During harvest, the plug door would remain shut and the slider would be used to allow for grain loading.
Hello All,
For smaller customers receiving grain, it could be shipped in 50-lb sacks via boxcars.
So, theoretically, you could have grain hoppers, grain cars, and boxcars loaded with sacks of grain in the same train.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
LastspikemikeBesides, boxcars were loaded "from the top" in that the doors were boarded up and the chute fed into the very top of the door opening. Later boxcars had dedicated mini doors in the main doors at that height,
Athearn offered models of those cars with the small door near the top of the car's plug doors but, according to MR's review, the small door was for obtaining test samples of the grain.
I can see that it could also be used for loading the car, too, as the plug doors would eliminate the need for wooden grain doors.I had several of those Athearn cars, but sold them when I backed-dated my layout, as they were too modern.
Wayne
I appreciate the replies. After posting this question I found myself trying to find more info regarding box cars used in grain service. I had no idea box cars were used in grain service well into the late 1970's with limited use into the 1980's.
Here I am modeling the mid / late 1960's and I now realize i have too many hoppers and too few box cars.
It would seem once hopper cars were in general use they would take over but railroads are resistant to change as they did not want to invest in dedicated cars that only saw seasonal use.
Very interesting.
Another problem was much of the trackage around the grain elevators could not support the weight of the 100 Ton covered hoppers so the 40' boxcars were used on that trackage. The C&NW had thousands of the boxcars into the 1980's for that reason.
Rick Jesionowski
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dti406Another problem was much of the trackage around the grain elevators could not support the weight of the 100 Ton covered hoppers so the 40' boxcars were used on that trackage. The C&NW had thousands of the boxcars into the 1980's for that reason.
You're certainly right about that, Rick, as many of the grain elevators, especially in western Canada, had the same issues with rails that were either too light or not on good supportive roadbed.
LastspikemikeAll of this supplied for us in 1/87 so we can duplicate the economic stupidity in miniature.