"Hercules" hoppers

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt

I don't know whwt the cars actually carried but it was related to the fertilizer industry.

The company was the Hercules Powder Company at Hercules, CA which made explosives (black powder and TNT)

In 1940 they built a NH3 fertilizer plant. Between 1959 and 1966 they built a chemical (fertilizer) plant complex and ceased expolsive production. The name of the company was changed to Hercules, Inc. in 1966. (I believe the cars are from the late '60s) The plant at Hercules was sold to Valley Nitrogen in 1976. When the workers went on strike in 1977 (the only strike in the plants history) Valley Nitrogen shut it down.

This link is to a brief history of the Town of Hercules.

http://www.herculescc.com/history.html

Valley Nitrogen Producers also used to have plants at Helm, CA. (southwest of Fresno) and Bena, CA (east of Bakersfield). Simplot must have bought them out. The plant at Bena is now closed. The one at Helm still operates, however, it looks like it doe not product as much product as it used to.

An interesting side note to this is a tankcar at Helm. They have three, if I remember correctly, NATX 38000 series 3 axle truck tankcars sitting there, presumably for storage. At least one still has Valley Nitrogen Producers on the side.

I was out by the plant on Friday. The cars are still there. However, it looks like they have been doing some rearranging at the plant and sides of the cars cannot be viewed unobstructed from the street anymore.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by DSchmitt

I don't know whwt the cars actually carried but it was related to the fertilizer industry.

The company was the Hercules Powder Company at Hercules, CA which made explosives (black powder and TNT)

In 1940 they built a NH3 fertilizer plant. Between 1959 and 1966 they built a chemical (fertilizer) plant complex and ceased expolsive production. The name of the company was changed to Hercules, Inc. in 1966. (I believe the cars are from the late '60s) The plant at Hercules was sold to Valley Nitrogen in 1976. When the workers went on strike in 1977 (the only strike in the plants history) Valley Nitrogen shut it down.

Thanks DSchmitt[ for that info.
Strange how one takes a shine to particular object but know nothing about it- I have two of these in N and were to complement my DRGW hopper fleet in either agriculture or 'plastics' as a diverse industry car- now I know how to posite them as counter flow traffic 'up the valley' to the local farmers co-op for unloading.

Many thanks, keep up the info !
dave w

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