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Hopper solar panels

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 2:19 AM

Thanks guys, I would have never guessed solar panels.  Here is the direct link

http://hrsi.com/services/solar-ballast-car-automation/

I am happy I model an earlier time.  Rochelle webcam must have been hit by birds with irritable bowel syndrome, but I'm too cheap to pay $9 a month.  I'll have to check out their free cameras.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, April 25, 2016 11:00 PM

I watch the Rochelle cam on Railstream once and a while.  Seems much clearer on there, although the cam is on the UP tracks, just east of the park.  They are solar panels.

Mike.

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, April 25, 2016 10:43 PM

Hello all,

Yes indeed they are solar panels.

They power the opening and closing of the hopper doors.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • 83 posts
Posted by theodorefisk on Monday, April 25, 2016 9:41 PM

go to hrsi.com which is the website for herzog rail services. anyway, the second from the right photo shows a better picture of them. Kinda look like solar panels. 

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 6 posts
Posted by Falcon Ridge on Monday, April 25, 2016 9:12 PM

That train is a self unloading Ballast train, not sure if the shiney parts on top are part of th GPS system or solar chargers for the control motors or both.

Slim

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Hopper solar panels
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, April 25, 2016 5:51 PM

Edit I did know what these were when I posted.  I gave the thread a proper title

Saw these shiney things on the Rochelle webcam.  They look like they are at the ends of the cars.  Some were rotated 90 degrees opposite the next one, some were the same with the peak running parallel to the train, others were perpendicular to the train. 

 

What are they?

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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