Hoople, not saying you need a 6 car consist, just that roughly for every 6 cars going in (not including a boxcar of empty bags once in a while) there will be 6 leaving. Lets say on monday morning you have 4 cars of stone come in, monday pm you have 3 sand unload, and tuesday am there is 4 cars of cement waiting for the morning shift. In between you can pull out a boxcar or 2 of bagged cement (also called bag-crete or sak-crete, both of which are actual brands).
As LSW stated, some hoppers unload thru suction (think dust collector) while some have air line attachments to pressureize the hopper forcing the cement dust out thru the intake hose. Then there are a few bottom dump hoppers which require special facilitys to prevent rain and moisture from contaminating the cement.
remember, this is your railroad. It ain't your fault if the customer can't supply enough real estate for you to spot 6-8 cars for each function.
If you want I can try and dig up some links on feasible precast plant ideas....
Evening all,
I'll be gone for a few days, heading to South Carolina for a radiation detection class.
We had a small Christmas get together at work on Friday, one of the supervisors from CN was there or should I say "CN Worldwide" since that will be their new name.
When I get back I will take some time to photograph some of the cement plants around here. St Mary's cement is the heaviest in rail trade locally. Covered hoppers are loaded in the top and pumped out the bottom. The bulk cement is transferred from the ships by vacuum; the buildings house a pellum <sp> chamber. Basically the main building is a giant Hoover. We have on modern facility that loads the rail cars by computer. The operator tells the computer the stats of the rail car and the computer moves the fill nozzle along the car. The bulk cement plants up here do not handle anything except cement. The "stone yards" handle the gravel.
There is a huge rail served stone quarry about an hour from here just south of I-80/90.
Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Evening.
Still pretty cold out. The kittens are all bunched up in a bean bag to sleep.
Ken/Concrete Lacky: That sounds like an idea, although 6 car shipments won't happen... My tracks can't handle that much! I only have a 4x8' layout to work with.
See ya all later.
Mark
Jim, my wife was saying the same thing about the furniture. I went and brought it in a few minutes after I took that pic.
Gerry, there are several around here that still see limited use. There are two up in Anderson Yard whee I took that pic. There's another down in Hawthorn Yard in Indianapolis. You see them in use once in a while, but normally they're yard queens. I nabbed this pic a couple of weeks ago: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture015-2.jpg
Evening Gang: I didn't get much done this afternoon. I put off the commode until tomorrow. I heard from my friend with cancer. He sounded a little bit better. He's in the hospital so I'm going to go see him tomorrow. I got all the outside fausets covered and drained the hose to the dog pen. I did get down to the basement and did some more work on the Glark Garden HO plan. I had planned on useing #10 turnouts for the staging tracks but I don't think that I'll have enough room. I'll try for #8s and see how that works.
Well I'm going to cut out and take a look at this info on the Part D drug plans that we've got.
Doh Here I'm on top again. Have at it guys.
Good Night All
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
refill, please & thanks.
***Philip, cool photos...burrr!
OK, who are the fighter pilots here that buzzed (circled actually) our farm today low & fast? Could easily make out the four helmets, but too far away to see through the visors.LOL Was very cool actually. As usual, I am mighty glad they are on our side. Usually we get several low flying choppers or those common prop transport planes here, not fighters. Didn't spook any of the critters, although a couple stopped chewing for a few seconds.
Has rained here a good bit. Even used some overflow to make the ducks & geese a huge puddle to play in, which they are making the most of. Wind advisory tomorrow so hopefully the power will stay on.
Rob
Philip ....
You caught an antique in one photo. The Conrail caboose in the CSX night picture appears to be an old NYC small-bay-window caboose.
Thanks for posting the pictures.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Just a quick post before Sat. night church, a go cup please, Janie. Thanks!
Heartland Division CB&Q:JimCG .... Did you once say your local ice cream place has a frozen dessert called "concrete"? Sounds like they may have competetion from Washington state.
JimCG .... Did you once say your local ice cream place has a frozen dessert called "concrete"? Sounds like they may have competetion from Washington state.
Garry, I guess on sheer size of it, Washington state would 'top' that...
PC, I guess you should've taken in the lawn furniture a bit earlier, huh? Gee, if they're upping your forecast, maybe ours will be enough for a snowman out front! Hooray!! (Of course, when you're not a kid, you don't get off w**k like kids do for school... ) Glad to hear your wife is resting okey-dokey. I'm sure that eases your mind a little bit. Good to see you're having fun with that camera, too. Really like the train one; the second street shot could be a little shorter time and (IMHO) be better contrast. But it's still good.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Well, the snow's been falling, but it's taking a break right now to start up with some freezing rain / sleet mix. Took these shots just a few minutes ago as it was changing over.
Not too many trains running today due to the weather. It's not real bad, but I think they're afraid of plowing down a car stuck on the tracks maybe.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture125.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture127.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture126.jpg
Hoople wrote: Morning all.I'll have the hashbrowns and some toast, with milk of course, Chloe.Lee: My model layout is in colorado, anywhere from 70-150 miles west of Denver. Anything from 1930-1960 is modeled. Garry, Rob: Yeah, I hope they'll get a chance to run her back up here again. I have the perfect view up at a balcony at the Pacific Fast Mail building. Yes the brass company. They let us park there, and we can stand behind barriers 4' from the tracks... Good fun.Crud, who was the last person... I'll edit this once I find out. Ed, it was Ed, so Ed: That does seem to make sense. I guess I just got things a bit backwards. Only thing was I was hoping to ship it out in bags loaded in boxcars from the ready mix plant. It'd give more cargo, and gives a purpose for the 3rd track... Now I guess I need to know how covered hoppers are unloaded... Are they dumped? Man, I'm going to have plenty of dumping bins...I'll go back to listenin' to kiss for now.Mark
Morning all.
I'll have the hashbrowns and some toast, with milk of course, Chloe.
Lee: My model layout is in colorado, anywhere from 70-150 miles west of Denver. Anything from 1930-1960 is modeled.
Garry, Rob: Yeah, I hope they'll get a chance to run her back up here again. I have the perfect view up at a balcony at the Pacific Fast Mail building. Yes the brass company. They let us park there, and we can stand behind barriers 4' from the tracks... Good fun.
Crud, who was the last person... I'll edit this once I find out. Ed, it was Ed, so Ed: That does seem to make sense. I guess I just got things a bit backwards. Only thing was I was hoping to ship it out in bags loaded in boxcars from the ready mix plant. It'd give more cargo, and gives a purpose for the 3rd track...
Now I guess I need to know how covered hoppers are unloaded... Are they dumped? Man, I'm going to have plenty of dumping bins...
I'll go back to listenin' to kiss for now.
You still have the option of shipping pre-mixed bagged concrete (has all the ingrediants except water) that can be marketed under the ready-mix plant's name. However, to remain somewhat realistic you will a 3-2-1 ratio of materials. 3 parts (loads) stone, 2 parts (loads) sand, and 1 part (load) of cement incoming for approx every 6 loads outgoing. The other option if layout area allows is to build a small precast concrete products production plant that the ready mix plant would supply the concrete for, and the precast plant would have outgoing precast products.
All the covered hopers that I know of have either bottom dump gates or use a blower system to literally blow the cement from the car to the storage area.
Rob... Using mrr terms, the horses are selectively compressed. Miniature is what hey really are. They are not qualified for Budweiser wagon duty.
Looks like the toast thread slipped to page two.
Afternoon Gang: We just got back in from feeding. I put out 4 bales for the cattle and one for the heifers in the corral. When I opened the gate to the hay lot the cows saw it and came running. I left them in untill I got the hay out and then we got them out. I picked up a flot assembly for the commode. I called my son to see if he could come by and give me a hand. I haven't heard from him yet so I'll give him a bit more and then do it myself.
I'll check back in later.
and keep it coming, please & thanks!
***Garry, do they have Miniature horses or actual Dwarfs? Difference is miniatures can be tiny but are quite healthy (if their owners take care of them). Most dwarf horses are put down soon after birth or within the first couple months of life because of serious defects both structural and internal. When Tinytoons was born she was in pitiful shape, but we wanted to give her a chance. Now it is over 3 years later and she continues to do OK. For a time she was "shoe free", then I needed to return to support shoes for her rear hooves. I'll have to measure her next time I go down to the barn and let you know just how small she is. I could probably curl her with one arm.
Hope everyone is doing well. It's raining here. Rob
Oh, I almost forgot!
I went out last night to play with the shutter speeds on the camera. Thought I'd share a couple.
Cars........
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Picture119.jpg
And trains!
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture109.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Picture114.jpg
So what do you guys think? I thought they came out decent.
8"-12"........thats what the weather man is saying now. Yesterday it was 1"-3" by sundown and 6"-10" total, but we already have an inch now, and we had nothing yesterday.
MORNING ALL!
Looking out the window this morning I see this!
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Picture124.jpg
Looks like a fun day!
Still taking care of the wife. She's resting more comfortably now. Thanks all for the thoughts and prayers.
Gonna see if I can get some schoolwork done.
Prayers for all you sickies out there! OK, and everyone else too!
So whats up with you all?
Good morning ....
Heavy rains and mid-30's temps. Yuk. Mud. Yuk. Work on layout today. Cheers.
Rob ... Our neighbors have some dwarf horses along with their regular ones. I'm not sure why they do.
Paul ... I'll be back to PM after this post.
Philip ... Continued thoughts and prayers for Mrs. PC.
Mark ... I like the concrete plant idea along with the idea of moving related carloads of cargo.
Ed ... 17 days 'til 2008! What happend to 2007 already? Get some model railroading done in paradise!
Happy Model Railroading.
Good Saturday Morning, Janie - I saw JR's taillights heading out as I arrived, so I must've just missed him, huh? Oooh, do I smell bacon?
Ok, how about some eggs, bacon, some hash browns, couple of slices of toast, glass of Ed's OJ, cup of the TH, and a glass of milk to wash it all down, please?
Thanks, Mitch!
Paul, your retirement sounds as busy as some folks' w**kday. Are you sure you're retired? Maybe now for a while nothing will break or need fixin', anyway.
Ed, I'd say about the same as JR - if you can't get to the big MRR'ing stuff, start with a car kit, or something small, and work a little each day on it (until it's a habit again).
Mark, sorry you'll miss the 4449, but as Rob said, you may be able to catch it the next time through your area. Good luck with getting the cement industry going - more freight means more income for the RR.
We appear (for today) to have dodged the bad stuff in our winter sweepstakes - just a cold rainy morning. We've apparently reached the high for the day (34 F), with a wind chill of 26 F. Tonight may be the interesting part as it drops below freezing, as the weatherguessers were saying that tomorrow morning we might get better chance of snow on the backside of this front. Heads up to those to the east (and northerly) from Missouri. The radar images look like St. Louis (or even 75 miles north of us) is getting the snow and ice. Bundle up, folks. [Brrrrr!]
'bout laundry time for me, so I'll be finishing up my breakfast and heading out. Continuing prayers for your wife, PC, and others ailing. (Still got my congestion - I think this is going to be an extended campaign to rid myself of this. That, or I'll need to go see the Dr. again next week (oh joy, more $$!). Still need to get Christmas cards (daughter and S-I-L have asked for cash to apply toward getting baby photos when the new one arrives, and my brother usually gets an Amazon gift certificate) ready and out. Maybe might get them in the mail before Christmas!
Blessings and may the bad stuff miss you,
Mark,
I've been exposed to rail/ship serviced sand & cement facilities for several years; if any of my intimate knowledge on the subject can be useful to you please don't hesitate to ask. Most of the facilities I've had to inspect brought the bulk cement in by ship then the facility loads railcars and trucks with the product. The older facilities consist of about 8 silos and the newer (more modern) facilities typically have 2 drive through (flood load) silos. Are you looking at a steam or diesel era and what geographical region are you modeling?
Good Morning All,
A belated Happy Birthday to Corey and his BL-2 looks way cool.
PC- our prayers for your wife and yourself - hope the rework goes according to plan. With all the troubles with infections lately outpatient is almost safer than a hospital stay. I know it hurts to stand there and watch someone suffer when you can do nothing about it, but you need to be strong so they can too.
Wells out, electricity out, toilet on full time - lets hope that was the hird of things come in threes, No?
Ed, it's easy, just dig out one car and do some work or start one thing. It is true a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Hoople - bummer that you can't go to see the steamer when it visits up your way. At lest it isn't a farewell tour and you'll have another chance.
Lots to do again today - I'm in the shop right now and need to pop over to the museum to get a fuel pump changed out on our plow truck as it failed just as we needed it two nights ago (and we have another Nor'easter coming in tonight). Time to get back to it. CUL, J.R.
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Hey folks-just jumping into say hey quickly!
I've noticed our resident "antagonist" has decided to drop by the forum again. Oh well, I can think of better things to do. Namely, got some work done on my '86 CSXT ex L&N boxcar done tonite-kept me up late to get the CSXT patch mostly applied. Needs some touch up, but NP. I'm happy with it so far-once touch up is completed, then decals can go on.
Very late-better hit it-Gnite all!
***Paul, first the well, then the power...Who did you tick-off up there? Hope they can both stay on for you now.
Happy Birthday Colby!
That's about all I got for now, Greg
Evening Again: About 8pm the power went off. It was off for about 2 hours. We waited for a all most an hour and a half and then got dressed and went driving around. We found the repair crew out by the interest state on a side road. I checked with the leadman and he said that a car had hit one of the jpoles and broken a cross arm, that caused the power to go out. They had just gotton it fixed and when we got back the lights were on. Of course that wasn't the end. The ball float in the commode was stuck so I had to mess with that. I worked out some calcium build up and it is working again. I guess I'll have to replace it. There's always something.
PC give my best to the Mrs. She has certainly had a rough go of it.
Ok this time I really mean it.
Hoople wrote: I recently thought of an idea. I have on my layout (Not yet, need to find a kit for it) a cement plant. A small one, that is. It needs concrete which comes in covered hoppers (I think, or in bags in boxcars), sand in hoppers, covered hoppers, or gondolas, and gravel in hoppers, covered hoppers, or gondolas. I have a gravel plant on the other scene of my layout, the industry up on the 6% grade, where I get the gravel. The concrete and sand will come from my interchange track. ...... I was thinking I could put the concrete unloading there, and have two pits for sand and gravel dumps on another track, and the farthest track (not the new) would be for loading cement for longer distance customers.
I recently thought of an idea. I have on my layout (Not yet, need to find a kit for it) a cement plant. A small one, that is. It needs concrete which comes in covered hoppers (I think, or in bags in boxcars), sand in hoppers, covered hoppers, or gondolas, and gravel in hoppers, covered hoppers, or gondolas. I have a gravel plant on the other scene of my layout, the industry up on the 6% grade, where I get the gravel. The concrete and sand will come from my interchange track. ...... I was thinking I could put the concrete unloading there, and have two pits for sand and gravel dumps on another track, and the farthest track (not the new) would be for loading cement for longer distance customers.
First, concrete is the final product, made up of a mixture of cement (fine powder), crushed stone (or gravel) and sand. So it's the cement that comes in the covered hoppers, not concrete. The aggregates (stone/gravel and sand) would get delivered by open hopper or gondola.
Second, no one would ship out a mix of dry concrete (cement, crushed stone, and sand) by rail. There are too many variables in the final mix. Those items get blended at a ready-mix concrete plant, and the product (including water) gets delivered locally by truck.
You could have the components delivered to a ready-mix plant, but there wouldn't be any significant rail shipments from the plant.
Hope that helps explain things a bit.
Best regards
Ed