Unloading boxcars with grain doors

[atodahl]

  Just got a couple of cars with grain doors.  When I was a kid I used to help nail on the grain doors and fill the cars with grain.  Got me to wondering how they were unloaded at there destination.

Arden

 

[Dave-the-Train]

Try this thread (page 2)

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/870199/ShowPost.aspx

[BRJN]

Unloading a grain boxcar took a bit of time and labor.  First, you have to tear or break the grain door.  Then wait for the grain to fall out the side.  Then have a couple of big strong guys with shovels and brooms start pushing everything that did not fall out by gravity towards the open door.  When the car is empty and clean you can take out what is left of the grain door and unlatch the other side door.

By comparison, unloading a covered hopper is fun and easy - open the hatch(es) at the bottom and let everything inside fall out, then latch it back up.  Even a featherweight guy could do it.

Either way, be sure your cars are unloading in some sort of sheltered location - you do not want extra dust or rain/snow or mud in somebody's food.

[Dave-the-Train]

By comparison, unloading a covered hopper is fun and easy - open the hatch(es) at the bottom and let everything inside fall out, then latch it back up.  Even a featherweight guy could do it.

Um... hate to be picky but... [actually I'm loving this ]

Doesn't the sign on the side of the car insist that you climb up and open the top hatches before opening the hopper gates... so that you don't implode the car as the load rushes out?

Only a featherweight guy that doesn't mind climbing can do it

Also, by the time you've shovelled out a car or two you don't have any excess ounces... [There isn't a smiley for exhaustion... ]

[joseph2]

The grain elevator where I work used to unload six boxcars an hour.The car unloading machine had a pneumatic ram to push the grain doors away as the car was tilted and rocked. I think 1974 was the last year we used it.Usually we ignore the warning to open a top hatch before unloading because we are always short of help. I Have seen tank trucks implode though,quite a sight.   Joe

[dansapo]

I know the old barley mill in my old town had a tipper.It would tip the cars on its side.I did find one picture of one but this is a much newer version.

http://www.straightinternational.com/Railcar.htm 

[Andrew Falconer]

Stock photo sites like www.corbis.com have photos of grain cars being unloaded.

The Minnesota Historical Society might also have photos on their website.

Andrew

[Newyorkcentralfan]

[BRJN]

Dave-the-train,

My employer uses covered hoppers to bring in plastic pellets.  We can unload them without having to climb up top; aren't grain hoppers pretty much the same?  (Says the guy who would rather watch than join in and work.)

I can well believe that shoveling out a carfull of grain causes exhaustion; a foot of snow on the driveway causes the same effect, with less weight and volume involved.