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Aggregate Transportation

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, September 19, 2022 10:23 PM

MJ4562
Anyone else think those excavators are painfully slow to unload?  Looks like about 50-60 minutes to unload a single gondola.  Seems like a lot of labor and capital cost for the value of the load.  It makes sense if it's just a temporary expediant but I don't think it's viable as a long-term solution.

Most aggregrate shipments are of a temporary nature - building some facility that requires quantities of aggregate in its construction - it could be buildings, highways, bridges or dams.  Once the project is completed, they is no longer a need for aggregate at that location any longer.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, September 19, 2022 10:25 PM

MidlandMike
The glacial deposits in Michigan have scattered iron-rich stones which wind up in gravel aggragate sometimes used in concrete.

No question.  Does seem funny to see rust streaks on the pavement, though.  

Grew up in SE MI.  Always considered iron a UP thing...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by NittanyLion on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 12:15 PM

BaltACD

 

 
MidlandMike
Why don't they do the cleaning while they are still at the unloading dock?

 

That is a maritime question.  Suspect there are regulations in ports about discharging 'waste water' into the port waters.

 

That's how you get things like zebra mussels, so yes very controlled.

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 8:19 AM

tree68
Grew up in SE MI.  Always considered iron a UP thing...

Better call it a 'Yooper' thing.  There are people here who will be wondering what the Union Pacific has to do with it... Dunce

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 11:07 AM

Overmod
 
tree68
Grew up in SE MI.  Always considered iron a UP thing...

 

Better call it a 'Yooper' thing.  There are people here who will be wondering what the Union Pacific has to do with it... Dunce

True that...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by MJ4562 on Friday, September 23, 2022 8:06 AM

BaltACD
Most aggregrate shipments are of a temporary nature - building some facility that requires quantities of aggregate in its construction - it could be buildings, highways, bridges or dams.  Once the project is completed, they is no longer a need for aggregate at that location any longer.

Idea Doh! Thanks, that makes perfect sense.  I live in an area where quarries are commonplace so I had tunnel vision thinking about it from the source and not the end user.  I have seen quarries using front-end loaders to load trains so I guess I also had that on the brain as well.  

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Posted by rixflix on Friday, September 23, 2022 11:20 AM

Aggregate and cement kept Washington & Old Dominion alive until Dulles Airport was completed. Then poof, bye-bye railroad.

Rick

rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, September 23, 2022 12:02 PM

rixflix

Aggregate and cement kept Washington & Old Dominion alive until Dulles Airport was completed. Then poof, bye-bye railroad.

Rick

 
Similar fates befell any number of interurbans in the immediate post-WWI period.  All of the traffic disappeared when the highways were completed.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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