Has anyone ever seen or heard of a Rail Served Crop Dusting Service? I am modeling the area my Mom and Dad grew up in and there was a local Crop Dusting guy that was a bit of a character. Took off from his field, clipped a power line and crashed. Walked back got another plane and took off and did the job leaving the wreck in situ. He finally lost his pilots liscence when he landed on the highway to fix and engine problem and then took off again. I was wanting to add the service to the railway. Was just wondering how off beat it would be.
So how does that work? The crop dusting plane takes off and lands on a train like an aircraft carrier?
I used to live in Davis California and I'd hear crop dusters all the time in the fields around, but figure trains had nothing to do with them.
But as they say, you are the CEO of your RR and you can do what you like. No need to get our "buy-in".
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The plane would operate normally I was just thinking the railraod would bring in chemicals and aviation fuel.
The railroad might bring in the chemicals needed, although I doubt that a one-man operation would be buying the stuff by the carload.
I've done a few illustrated stories on another train forum, and have a character who does crop dusting and aerial photography, and I often use him when I want to show layout scenes which I've shot at other than eye-level.
The character is named for and sorta based on a real person (who, as far as I'm aware, never flew a plane), but he was a "real character", and ideal for the version of him on my layout. Here's him doing a little railfanning, even though there's no train in sight (a fast shutter speed apparently stopped the prop's motion )...
...and here's a LINK to a thread for which he provided the photos.
Wayne
Thats really cool. Thanks Doctor Wayne.
There is a rail based crop spraying service that operated out of Immokallee, Florida. I do not have any pictures.
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They have helicopters and specialized railroad equiment that a helicopter can land on top of. The railroad cars have fuel, supplies, and chemicals needed, then the helicopters turn and go on another sortee.
The same company also has large trucks outfitted in a similar fashion, but the railway cars can handle the job much better.
this company was not based in Immokallee, they are from another state. They just bring the equipment down for spraying season. I assume they operate in lots of areas. I also assume they fly the helicopters to the next job site.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thats some good info I will see if I can find any information. Thanks
That's going to be Nutrien AG now, and it's interesting to consider the logistics involved in precision application of their various products at 'railborne scale' to what may be very large agricultural properties in a given area. To the extent they have 'proprietary technology' to administer this, it well might pay them to have a mobile 'base' as well as bulk supply. Someone might contact their PR department to do an article on this.
Interesting idea! Bravo on trying something different. Perhaps your efforts have more success than that pilot.
You could have a smail airfield with tower, storage tanks for fuel and the chemicals. Just a thought. Anyone else?
kasskabooseYou could have a smail airfield with tower, storage tanks for fuel and the chemicals. Just a thought. Anyone else?
That was what I had envisioned exactly.