TILX Covered Hoppers

[Plainsshipper]

I am a specialty crop grain shipper on the BNSF line in Colorado.  The local spotted two TILX covered hoppers on our siding.  The cars appear to be brand new.  We do have COT cars ordered, but these don't match up with our orders.  So far, BNSF is of no help to us in determining where these cars came from and where they need to go.  Can anyone shed us some light on this situation?

[CShaveRR]

I can't help you out, but I'm certainly interested in your "brand-new" cars...could you supply me with numbers?

Perhaps BNSF is leasing them...

[BaltACD]

Plainsshipper

I am a specialty crop grain shipper on the BNSF line in Colorado.  The local spotted two TILX covered hoppers on our siding.  The cars appear to be brand new.  We do have COT cars ordered, but these don't match up with our orders.  So far, BNSF is of no help to us in determining where these cars came from and where they need to go.  Can anyone shed us some light on this situation?

Car initials and numbers do wonders is getting information about cars and their movements.

[cx500]

Just curious; what are "COT cars"?  When the meaning is obscure it is hard to know what is happening.  Covered hoppers usually have other information painted on the side, and it would be useful to know what their capacity is (in CU.FT.).

As a new member your posts will be delayed by moderation for while, so I will apologise if you have already responded with more information.

[jeffhergert]

I've seen some new TILX covered hoppers spotted for loading at one of the elevators in Fremont NE (UP served) a few weeks ago.  It wasn't a solid train of new ones, though.  Sorry, I didn't get numbers.

Jeff 

[Plainsshipper]

TILX 66951 and TILX 66966. If I am reading BNSF's notification correctly they came out of SABINAS CU which I think is Mexico? They are four hopper cars.

[Plainsshipper]

Sorry about the abbreviation. "COT" to me refers to Certificate of Transportation. These are sold by auction on the internet by BNSF. The "COT" gives the owner of the certificate the right to a car within a 10 day period. COTS become a commodity and are sometimes traded on a secondary market by transportation brokers.

[CShaveRR]

Thank you for the information.  I can tell you that they're part of a new series, TILX 66851-66970 (120 cars).  They were supposedly built this past October and November.  I don't think you should load them with grain, because the weight would max out before the volume does.  DDG (dry distillers' grain) might work in them.

[Plainsshipper]

Good Information too! Yes, they are large volume cars at 6541 cu ft. They say BLT - 01-19. Now here is the rest of my story. When we couldn't figure out who the cars were for I Googled TILX Covered Hoppers and this site came up where you had blogged earlier about TILX Covered Hoppers. I joined up thinking you may be able to help. Then we went back and started quizzing customers if they had sent in lease cars to us. A relative new customer of ours who had commodity purchased on contract confirmed it was their lease cars they sent in but had not informed us. We loaded the cars by weight and are in the process of billing them. But I like this site and the knowledge displayed here. Thanks!