The Dal-Tile plant just east of Gettysburg, Pa receives its clay by rail in covered hoppers. It is dry powdered clay that is used to make floor tiles, which is a kind of brick I would think since it is fired just like common ro refractory brick.
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--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
The Southern Railroad and Central of Georgia Railroad had dedicated 40’ boxcars with two plug doors for brick service.
Car sides and decals are available from Mask Island Decals to replicate these cars.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
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Bricks traveled on cars other than boxcars. A number of roads had flatcars with low end bulkheads and removable side panels that mounted in the side stake pockets. These panels resembled those of a stake truck. Any body remember them? Road names I remember are L&N, Mopac, and New Haven. Probably, most roads serving large population centers participated in the movement of bricks by providing equipment adapted to that purpose.
Another related industry I haven't seen mentioned is china. There are industrial uses of china but, the one that impressed me was a low, one story facility along the SP, just west of Hondo, Texas. This place received its clay in two bay, 100 ton capacity, CSX cars, best modeled in HO, with Walthers' offering. The industry was owned by Universal-Rundle and their main product was toilets, which were shipped out by truck. It has been closed for more than a decade, and although the building still stands, I believe the track connection was broken when the passing siding was extended.