So while performing my heroic act of sorting cars into the correct tracks, I notice a string of 4-pocket covered hoppers (I know, very observant, huh? But wait - it gets better!). These cars came equipped with a couple of different reporting marks (TILX, CEFX, SAMX), and all had orange dot stickers (about 4" diameter) on all 4 sides near their reporting marks/numbers.
The cars were all loaded at the same mill in Minneapolis, but with slightly different products (different types of corn meal/feed, etc, according to the tags on them).
I can't recall seeing these dots before, but that may be because they only showed up on the oddball single car. It was hard to miss a string of 5 cars, each with the big orange dots on them today.
I'm figuring these cars are for a certain pool or product? Any ideas?
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
I noticed those too and was told by someone that they are used as reference points to position the cars for loading or off loading. I can't recall who told me that or whether the source is reliable.
We see them here, but not often, they seem to be on older hoppers, and towards one end.
And, now that I think about it, the hoppers are food service cars, flour, grain and such.
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