Trains.com

No sides in the boxcar

2578 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Saturday, December 20, 2003 8:33 PM
Most of them are smooth side, but we get some ribbed ones too, but not often.
That train stages out of our Pasadena yard, so I dont see it often, but next chance I get, I will try for a photo or two.
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Saturday, December 20, 2003 7:11 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Most of the chip cars we get down here are Sp woodchip cars.
The look like HiCube boxcars with the top cut off.


Are those the ones with smooth sides or outside ribs on the sides? In Oregon I see both; plus quite a few UP chip gons.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Friday, December 19, 2003 5:13 PM
Apache Railroad does the rotary dumper trick at Bernalillo, NM....Montana de Fibre at Las Vegas, NM was using rotary and a suction version at the wafer board plant there. After they blew the roof off the transfer building (dust explosion), I have no idea what they use now....

mc
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Friday, December 19, 2003 5:06 PM
Most of the chip cars we get down here are Sp woodchip cars.
The look like HiCube boxcars with the top cut off.
The end door has a pair of heavy door dogs on one end, the door rides on heavy pin hinges at the top.

I asked, and these same cars are run through a rotary dumper at other plants,
Pasadena paper is owned by Simpson Paper, and one of the other plants uses the rotary dumper.

Next change I get, I will take a photo of one of the cars/
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Friday, December 19, 2003 4:52 PM
Sounds like the chip truck unloaders out here. Back the truck in and unhook the tractor from trailer; then dump.

I'll try to get a closer look; but I don't think most of the chip cars I see out west have end doors. Anything particular that I could look for from trackside? A particular style of chip gon; perhaps?
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Thursday, December 18, 2003 4:06 PM
Pasadena Paper uses the tilt dumper, looks like the dump bed of a huge dump truck, works the same way.
They have a switch engine which shoves the chip cars into it, it has a coupler at the end which lifts, they couple up, back away, labors knock off the end door dogs, and this thing just tils up, and the chips slide right out, and into a pit.

Takes only a few minutes to empty the cars.

Messy as all get out, but it works.

The only drawback is when the labors cant or dont close the end door, and we go to pull the plant.

Cant move the car until the doors are closed, and sometimes the dogs or door locks get beat up pretty bad.

And the stink!!
Wet, hot woodchips, slowly rotting in the dump pit...
You can smell the place from miles away.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Thursday, December 18, 2003 3:48 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR
(the usual way to unload a woodchip gon is through an end door, by tilting the car in a special dumper).


The only woodchip unloader for railcars I've seen is a rotary unloader. And some of the cars show dents on the top of the side walls.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Bottom Left Corner, USA
  • 3,420 posts
Posted by dharmon on Thursday, December 18, 2003 2:40 PM
And then there was the time that my Aunt went across the street to talk with the neighbor. My cousins were in the house by themselves....this of course was back when you could do that without being tossed in jail........anyway, one cousin starts chasing around the youngest, he was probably about 4 or 5.......he picks up the phone and dials o and says "help she's beating me up" and then hangs up the phone.....my less than amused Aunt watched from across the street as the police, who had traced the call, arrived at the house to find out what was going on. Needless to say the policeman and my cousins had a little sitdown........although he did admit at least he knew what to do if he was in trouble......[:)]
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Thursday, December 18, 2003 2:37 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by coalminer3

How about no tops on the boxcar?

L&N used these to carry coke; recall seeing them in Nashville.

RE carbon black cars: used to see them on the C&O fairly often; cars belonged to Cabot Company - nassssty stuff!

work safe
Hmmm.Carbon black on the C&O.Chessie hauls the chemicals.The ultimate cat story![:D]
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Bottom Left Corner, USA
  • 3,420 posts
Posted by dharmon on Thursday, December 18, 2003 2:28 PM
Last year when I was once again uprooting my family from someplace they become accustomed to...it's a ritual we do ever one to three years......We were driving across country my wife, daughter and dog in one vehicle and my son, the other dog.....and myself, in the other. I believe we were in Arizona when my mother called me on my cell phone asked if we were okay. I asked why and she said that my wife had called her from her cell phone and didn't say anything, all she heard was noise in the background. The line was still open so she had to use her cell phone to call me. I said she was fine and I thought right behind me. So I called my wife on the little FRS radio and asked what was up. The dog had laid down on the cell phone causing it to speed dial my mother's house and she had been listening to his belly for about 26 minutes.
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, December 18, 2003 12:34 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

My grandcats love telephones! Especially the speed-dial buttons (daughter found that out the hard way).
911 or a big long distance bill?


Actually, neither (I'm remembering more about the incident now...): they called us! My wife got silence on the phone, but caller ID knew whose phone it was, and daughter later confirmed.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Thursday, December 18, 2003 11:12 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

My grandcats love telephones! Especially the speed-dial buttons (daughter found that out the hard way).
911 or a big long distance bill?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, December 18, 2003 9:58 AM
My grandcats love telephones! Especially the speed-dial buttons (daughter found that out the hard way).

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,537 posts
Posted by jchnhtfd on Thursday, December 18, 2003 9:57 AM
Of course cats can talk. You should hear my A&B (two huge black cats, brother and sister)!
Jamie
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Thursday, December 18, 2003 6:28 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Puckdropper

C'mon... Cats can talk. Diamond says "No" quite well. She hates saying "yeah" even when it's what she wants. (You want down? No. *wriggles more* You want down? No. *wriggles more* you want down? Say yeah. No... finally she says "yeah")
Who is spreading all this nonsense! We must stop this rumor! Humans must never find out what we do while they aren't around! (cell phones, letters, tv, shopping channel) Hmm - wife must have ordered that new kitty bed......

Mookie

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Thursday, December 18, 2003 6:25 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeygaw

oh, and Mikey like kitties... they keep the mice away!
ICK! When you can have Iams?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Thursday, December 18, 2003 6:24 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

More: actually, the "chemicals" these cars carry are carbon black, for use in the tire-making process. Special covered hoppers are the most efficient way of transporting this stuff and keeping it pure, but there are a few places that like to get their stuff this way.

(Mook, when my daughter called me yesterday, my grandcats were doing plenty of "talking" in the background!)
Probably gossiping!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 11:59 PM
The C&O, in the late 1960s, took the roofs and doors off some box cars (replaced the doors with wooden slats), and used them for coke (a few) and pulpwood (quite a few) service.

Now, as for those UP cars with doors and no roofs that you're seeing, they aren't old box cars. They also were built the way you see 'em, as gondolas for woodchip service. The doors are for unloading at places that don't have dumpers (the usual way to unload a woodchip gon is through an end door, by tilting the car in a special dumper). These cars were built around 1970, maybe a little earlier.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 7:48 PM
That's a neat looking car!I've never seen one like that.PS .I love kitties too![8D]
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 6:44 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by coalminer3

How about no tops on the boxcar?




UP has at least a couple of those in woodchip service.
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 5:34 PM
Never seen them in any other configuration empty other than how the first photo shows.
They do have supports, cross ways, to support the roof.

Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 655 posts
Posted by Mikeygaw on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 4:24 PM
got em... what I saw is a lot like that, except when empty, there are X's built into the empty space... an attachment for running empty long distance to keep people/objects out maybe?
Conrail Forever!
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 725 posts
Posted by Puckdropper on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 4:20 PM
C'mon... Cats can talk. Diamond says "No" quite well. She hates saying "yeah" even when it's what she wants. (You want down? No. *wriggles more* You want down? No. *wriggles more* you want down? Say yeah. No... finally she says "yeah")
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 655 posts
Posted by Mikeygaw on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 3:45 PM
oh, and Mikey like kitties... they keep the mice away!
Conrail Forever!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philadelphia, PA, USA
  • 655 posts
Posted by Mikeygaw on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 3:39 PM
im pretty sure there it... ed, send the shot of the empty to mikeygaw@hotmail.com
that other address seems to like being a pain where the sun don't shine
Conrail Forever!
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: WV
  • 1,251 posts
Posted by coalminer3 on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 3:30 PM
How about no tops on the boxcar?

L&N used these to carry coke; recall seeing them in Nashville.

RE carbon black cars: used to see them on the C&O fairly often; cars belonged to Cabot Company - nassssty stuff!

work safe
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 3:26 PM
Makes sense, the tops of the containers are shrink wraped.
But, every once in a while, we get a train of carbon black,
in three bay covered hoppers, painted black.
Black of course, to the mask the stuff that gets on the sides and top when loaded.
This crap sticks to everything, and makes the stuff in you old laser printer toner cartridge look course.
We drag them out to Manchester Yard, and UP picks them up and spots Goodyear with them.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 2:23 PM
More: actually, the "chemicals" these cars carry are carbon black, for use in the tire-making process. Special covered hoppers are the most efficient way of transporting this stuff and keeping it pure, but there are a few places that like to get their stuff this way.

(Mook, when my daughter called me yesterday, my grandcats were doing plenty of "talking" in the background!)

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 10:43 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeygaw

that was me...


That figures. [:D] That Mikey, he is always causing trouble. [:D] And he is soooo mean to his cats. [}:)]

Mookie, you really should have a talk with him. [:p]

(Mikey knows I am just kidding.) [:D] [}:)] [:p] [;)] [:)]










Wassamatter U? Cat's can't talk.... [}:)]

Mook

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy