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Weathering ore cars?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, Tennessee
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Weathering ore cars?
Posted by SD60M on Thursday, September 6, 2007 9:15 PM
What would be the right color to weather toconite ore cars. These cars are the last ones i have to weather and i want them to be just right.
Long Live The Burlington Northern!
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  • From: Prattville AL
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Posted by UP2CSX on Thursday, September 6, 2007 11:37 PM

I assume you mean taconite cars. Loading taconite was a very dusty operation so taconite cars very quickly developed a coating of rusty/pinkish dust. This BN taconite car is very typical of one that has been in service for a few years.

Ore hopper 

Regards, Jim
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Posted by jep1267 on Friday, September 7, 2007 7:57 AM

Oooh, I like this thread how about some Coal cars too. I have a few 2 bay hoppers And I'm not sure how to weather the inside and some ref photos or pics of models would be great.

J.P.

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, Tennessee
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Posted by SD60M on Friday, September 7, 2007 12:07 PM
 UP2CSX wrote:

I assume you mean taconite cars. Loading taconite was a very dusty operation so taconite cars very quickly developed a coating of rusty/pinkish dust. This BN taconite car is very typical of one that has been in service for a few years.

Ore hopper 

Thanks so much thats exactly what i needed to know!
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Posted by tatans on Friday, September 7, 2007 5:27 PM
Tactonite?? you mean those cars are only meant for tactonite?? I assumed an ore car was to be used for any kind of ore, how about kryptonite??  I'm sure you can use these cars for anything, even gravel.
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Posted by coborn35 on Friday, September 7, 2007 10:38 PM
Most are used only for taconite.

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

The Missabe Road: Safety First

 

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Posted by UP2CSX on Friday, September 7, 2007 11:02 PM

 tatans wrote:
Tactonite?? you mean those cars are only meant for tactonite?? I assumed an ore car was to be used for any kind of ore, how about kryptonite??  I'm sure you can use these cars for anything, even gravel.

Taconite cars are actually very specialized versions of ore cars. The first difference is that taconite balls are loaded hot at about 3,000 degress so taconite cars have to be built to withstand the heat. Secondly, taconite balls are about three times as heavy per cubic foot as powder iron ore so taconite cars carry more weight but have less cubic foot capacity than other ore cars. Thirdly, the method of unloading the taconite balls differers considerably from iron ore cars. That's why the rod and gate assemblies seen in the BN car look different than those of powder iron ore cars. 

Next time, before you say you're sure about something, look it up.

Regards, Jim
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Posted by csmith9474 on Saturday, September 8, 2007 12:12 AM

From what I understand there is also differences in the dimensions between the Yooper cars and the Minnesota cars. Doesn't that have to do with the ore docks?

My father in law works at the Tilden mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and when he comes home his car is always a nice shade of a dark reddish color.

Smitty
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Posted by tatans on Saturday, September 8, 2007 8:01 AM
 UP2CSX wrote:

 tatans wrote:
Tactonite?? you mean those cars are only meant for tactonite?? I assumed an ore car was to be used for any kind of ore, how about kryptonite??  I'm sure you can use these cars for anything, even gravel.

ooooops! I failed to see the word taconite in the original posting,(I'm sure about that) but I'll bet, if you really wanted to haul gravel these cars they would work just fine, eh?

Taconite cars are actually very specialized versions of ore cars. The first difference is that taconite balls are loaded hot at about 3,000 degress so taconite cars have to be built to withstand the heat. Secondly, taconite balls are about three times as heavy per cubic foot as powder iron ore so taconite cars carry more weight but have less cubic foot capacity than other ore cars. Thirdly, the method of unloading the taconite balls differers considerably from iron ore cars. That's why the rod and gate assemblies seen in the BN car look different than those of powder iron ore cars. 

Next time, before you say you're sure about something, look it up.

  • Member since
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Posted by UP2CSX on Saturday, September 8, 2007 1:00 PM

 tatans wrote:
ooooops! I failed to see the word taconite in the original posting,(I'm sure about that) but I'll bet, if you really wanted to haul gravel these cars they would work just fine, eh?

Yes, and I'll bet that gravel could also be hauled in three bay covered hoppers too, but railroads generally use cars for what they were designed for, especially things like taconite cars, which were run in unit trains and almost never left a specific line. That's why gravel usually gets hauled in beat up old open hoppers - it's a low value commodity so it gets hauled in whatever is almost worn out for any other use.  

Regards, Jim
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Posted by mj5890 on Saturday, September 8, 2007 2:35 PM
 UP2CSX wrote:

Taconite cars are actually very specialized versions of ore cars. The first difference is that taconite balls are loaded hot at about 3,000 degress so taconite cars have to be built to withstand the heat. Secondly, taconite balls are about three times as heavy per cubic foot as powder iron ore so taconite cars carry more weight but have less cubic foot capacity than other ore cars. Thirdly, the method of unloading the taconite balls differers considerably from iron ore cars. That's why the rod and gate assemblies seen in the BN car look different than those of powder iron ore cars. 

What about when BNSF usese its 3 bay hoppers to haul taconite.  Are those specialy built?(or specialy rebuilt).

I found a video on youtube of this

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7026659576436502659&q=BNSF+ore&total=38&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Also dose anybody have any info on how much taconite the can put in these cars before exceding the weight limit, is it like 1/4 full or maybe even 1/2 full of taconite?

Thanks

Joe

 

1 BNSF 2 Amtrak 3 UP 4 everybody else I try really hard not to have to try hard at anything hard at all because that would be hard I never recommend my recommendations
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Posted by coborn35 on Saturday, September 8, 2007 4:04 PM
 mj5890 wrote:
 UP2CSX wrote:

Taconite cars are actually very specialized versions of ore cars. The first difference is that taconite balls are loaded hot at about 3,000 degress so taconite cars have to be built to withstand the heat. Secondly, taconite balls are about three times as heavy per cubic foot as powder iron ore so taconite cars carry more weight but have less cubic foot capacity than other ore cars. Thirdly, the method of unloading the taconite balls differers considerably from iron ore cars. That's why the rod and gate assemblies seen in the BN car look different than those of powder iron ore cars. 

What about when BNSF usese its 3 bay hoppers to haul taconite.  Are those specialy built?(or specialy rebuilt).

I found a video on youtube of this

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7026659576436502659&q=BNSF+ore&total=38&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Also dose anybody have any info on how much taconite the can put in these cars before exceding the weight limit, is it like 1/4 full or maybe even 1/2 full of taconite?

Thanks

Joe

 

Missabe fills them full.

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

The Missabe Road: Safety First

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Duluth,Minnesota,USA
  • 4,015 posts
Posted by coborn35 on Saturday, September 8, 2007 4:04 PM
 mj5890 wrote:
 UP2CSX wrote:

Taconite cars are actually very specialized versions of ore cars. The first difference is that taconite balls are loaded hot at about 3,000 degress so taconite cars have to be built to withstand the heat. Secondly, taconite balls are about three times as heavy per cubic foot as powder iron ore so taconite cars carry more weight but have less cubic foot capacity than other ore cars. Thirdly, the method of unloading the taconite balls differers considerably from iron ore cars. That's why the rod and gate assemblies seen in the BN car look different than those of powder iron ore cars. 

What about when BNSF usese its 3 bay hoppers to haul taconite.  Are those specialy built?(or specialy rebuilt).

I found a video on youtube of this

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7026659576436502659&q=BNSF+ore&total=38&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Also dose anybody have any info on how much taconite the can put in these cars before exceding the weight limit, is it like 1/4 full or maybe even 1/2 full of taconite?

Thanks

Joe

 

Missabe fills them full.

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

The Missabe Road: Safety First

 

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