Unloading modern Hopper Cars

[MidlandMike]

When I saw the black hoppers I was thinking coal, but then I saw the light colored sand sized material.  If this was granular limestone, then the top of the car must have been covered, as you would be waiting all year for wet limestone to exit a hopper.

[chutton01]

From the comments posted by the person who uploaded the video in 2010 ("ERIE1264"):

"We were unloading limestone sand on this section of the train.. The train was loaded with three sizes of limestone and it just happen to be sand when I was able to video the scene. This sand makes a very durable product in asphalt and concrete as it does not break down. Rub some different types of sand between your fingers and you will understand why its in demand."

Also:
"There are three pockets or doors in the bottom of the car. Each door has a letter to open the pocket of choice. Not because of material but some times you only want to balance the unloading conveyor or Simply for ease of unloading.You never want to dump 115 tons on an unwarmed system as this creates problems on the belts in the system."

Since the comments are from the uploader of the video (Somehow I doubt anyone would bother to spoof his comments), that does provide a bit more info.  He posted a few more comments for that video on how long it took to unload and so on.

[gregc]

Electroliner 1935

My suspicion is that the modified electric drill is used to operate electric air valves to either open if closed or close if open the three hopper doors.

I don't think it needs to be that sophisticated.  One polarity to control an air valve or valves to open the hoppers and reverse polarity to close them.

[Electroliner 1935]

My deduction is that this is a Fracking Sand Transload facility built at minimum cost by first building a below grade hopper and a conveyer My deduction is that this is a Fracking Sand Transload facility built at minimum cost by first building a below grade hopper topping it with a railroad track and grill, plus a conveyer facility to fill trucks for final delivery to fracking oil wells.

My suspicion is that the modified electric drill is used to operate electric air valves to either open if closed or close if open the three hopper doors. It’s not a high speed operation but it doesn’t have to be. Low manpower, (one) plus the train crew. 

 

Fracking sand is dry very fine sand and as shown, flows easily. Unlike coal which hangs up sometimes. 

[tdmidget]

Not a lot of sense. The hopper doors lay on the rail which means that they are not completely open and if you move without closing them then you have a serious FU. The cars appear to be a special design for  whatever they are hauling (Why don't we know that?) and are not so modern judging from their load limit.

[Mookie]

OK - that makes sense.  

[gregc]

Mookie

Isn't it done now by just hitting one button - a really big button?

i'm sure someone will explain this

but my guess is a button would allow anyone at anytime to open the doors, such as when the train was sitting still on a track, or even just moving slowly.

Looks like the worker had a battery with a handle and two wires.   One wire was held on the contact or plate below and the other touched each of the three contacts on top, one for each door.   This way you needed the proper tool to open the doors.

[Mookie]

Isn't it done now by just hitting one button - a really big button?  And this looks a little messy - is it messy the way it is done now?  

[CMStPnP]

Pretty cool, just touch the electrodes to the ground and then door A, B and C and the air pressure does the rest................

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02mwgh2WvPk