Grain cars
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Grain box cars an covered 2-3bay hoppers. I use both, as I model 1920-1960, but the majority of my grain cars are box cars. I use open 34-foot hoppers to transfer grain from the local elevator to the main elevator since it is just a short distance, in theory.
Grain Boxcar
http://www.alberta2005rail.com/cp403584.jpg
Interior
http://www.alberta2005rail.com/inside403584.jpg
Covered Hopper
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/6619.JPG/250px-6619.JPG
Bob
Grain Boxcar
http://www.alberta2005rail.com/cp403584.jpg
Interior
http://www.alberta2005rail.com/inside403584.jpg
Covered Hopper
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/6619.JPG/250px-6619.JPG
Bob
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6 Posts
up until the 60's grain was transported in clean, 40' box cars that had inside wood or paper door inserts that keep the grain in the boxcar until it reached it's destination. Then they would remove the wood or cut the paper and the grain would spill out. They would have someone sweep out the car when they were done. This was not very efficient so covered hoppers were developed to carry grain more efficiently. By the late 60's they were quickly replacing the 40' box car.
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11 Posts
I have to concur. Seen many of these up close when I was a kid.
My dad was the local agent and the grain elevator was only 150 ft from the depot where I 'grew up'.
KJ
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1,483 Posts
I got to watch many cars being filled. The elevator was 1 1/2 blocks out of my back door. I saw MANY grain boxcars as well as covered hoppers being filled on the Pennsylvania RR spur behind the house. The hoppers were rare, mostly boxcars.
The elevator used lumber, not paper, when "patching" or bulkheading the door. The wood would fit into an iron bracket that was similar to the bracket on a barn door only much stouter and larger. There was always a pile of lumber along the tracks by the loading "chute". Actually it was a couple of long hoses connected to the side of the elevator.
I can remember, now, that a guy would actually get on the roof of the cars to fill them via a hatch in the roof. I'm wondering if they used old reefers? I've never seen cars like these. Another guy would get inside the car until it reached a certain level, climb out and finish filling the car. The car sat on a set of scales so that they wouldn't overload the thing. The scale plate is still there but the old wooden elevator burned down long ago.
I remember old Charlie George, the owner of the elevator, paying us boys a quarter to sweep out the cars before they were loaded. Then we would go into the office and buy pop and candy. Pop was 7 cents, with a penny deposit on the bottles, and the candy bars were a nickel as were potato chips. I guess he knew he'd get his money back in prompt order. We usually just sat down on the bench on the platform, just outside the office door, under the roof and enjoy the fruits of our labors, so bottle deposit was never charged.
Bob
The elevator used lumber, not paper, when "patching" or bulkheading the door. The wood would fit into an iron bracket that was similar to the bracket on a barn door only much stouter and larger. There was always a pile of lumber along the tracks by the loading "chute". Actually it was a couple of long hoses connected to the side of the elevator.
I can remember, now, that a guy would actually get on the roof of the cars to fill them via a hatch in the roof. I'm wondering if they used old reefers? I've never seen cars like these. Another guy would get inside the car until it reached a certain level, climb out and finish filling the car. The car sat on a set of scales so that they wouldn't overload the thing. The scale plate is still there but the old wooden elevator burned down long ago.
I remember old Charlie George, the owner of the elevator, paying us boys a quarter to sweep out the cars before they were loaded. Then we would go into the office and buy pop and candy. Pop was 7 cents, with a penny deposit on the bottles, and the candy bars were a nickel as were potato chips. I guess he knew he'd get his money back in prompt order. We usually just sat down on the bench on the platform, just outside the office door, under the roof and enjoy the fruits of our labors, so bottle deposit was never charged.
Bob
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1,245 Posts
LOL Bob. You just dated yourself.
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I know that the western maryland railway and I am sure other railroads had special facilities at their port in Baltimore that would actually tip the car and move it around so that they could empty the grain faster. I have a copy of a promotional film that shows them dumping a box car full of grain. The machine did not flip the car over like a coal hopper it just tilted it.
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Chiefmcfuz, dated myself? Just because I didn't have a Gameboy, X-Box or Nintendo.... I had a small 20-25 customer paper route when I was 9-years old. Seems like I've worked all of my life.
And when I wasn't working to make money to buy model cars and trains, I was playing basketball or baseball at the local church parking lot or at the the park, respectively.
Bob
And when I wasn't working to make money to buy model cars and trains, I was playing basketball or baseball at the local church parking lot or at the the park, respectively.
Bob
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1,245 Posts
No Bob. I mean with the soda pricing. I used to work for a beer and soda distributor so the pricing was familiar to say the least 
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No Bob. I mean with the soda pricing. I used to work for a beer and soda distributor so the pricing was familiar to say the least
Oh and my paper route only had 17 customers LOL.
I wasn't being malicious I just remember when just having a dollar was a good feeling.
I also remember when as a kid and you mowed the neighbors lawn or shoveled their driveway after they paid you, you did thank you not "that's it".
Oh and my paper route only had 17 customers LOL.
I wasn't being malicious I just remember when just having a dollar was a good feeling.
I also remember when as a kid and you mowed the neighbors lawn or shoveled their driveway after they paid you, you did thank you not "that's it".
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1,483 Posts
Chiefmcfuz, to elaborate a bit more... Mountain Dew was new, many gas stations still sold 6oz Cokes, RC Cola was a household name, came in 10oz bottles, and one of the bigger sellers, and we still had some candies that were 2 for a penny.
BTW, when I quit passing papers, my senior year in high school, I deliver over 400 Sunday papers, you know the big heavy ons? And I carried three different dailys. Sometimes it was hard keep track of who got what paper. Some got just one, some two and some took all three.
I also mowed about a dozen yards in the summer and carried a snow shovel on the paper route and shoveled the walks of my older customers. I never asked for payment. Shoveling only increased my delivery time by 1/2 hour. Great thing was that these folks treated me VERY well at Christmas time. One went as far as to give me $50 for Christmas. Not at all bad for the 1960's.
Bob
BTW, when I quit passing papers, my senior year in high school, I deliver over 400 Sunday papers, you know the big heavy ons? And I carried three different dailys. Sometimes it was hard keep track of who got what paper. Some got just one, some two and some took all three.
I also mowed about a dozen yards in the summer and carried a snow shovel on the paper route and shoveled the walks of my older customers. I never asked for payment. Shoveling only increased my delivery time by 1/2 hour. Great thing was that these folks treated me VERY well at Christmas time. One went as far as to give me $50 for Christmas. Not at all bad for the 1960's.
Bob
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1,245 Posts
I understand completely. I never asked for payment, and a lot of times refused but was made to take it anyway. I gave up my paper route in sophomore year of high school to work in the distributor and that was around 1986. But still we were taught respect by our parents. I just wish I had the experience you had with trains. My only experience was watching the metro north trains go by and occasionally a freight train. To be able to work on them must have been great!
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One of the things I remember while in grade school, was a field trip to the depot in Gas City, Indiana. Jonesboro and Gas City are two little towns separated by a river. We share a common school system and many other things.
Anyway, we got to tour a caboose and a diesel switcher along with the depot. I have the old desk and chair and a couple of benches from the depot that has been long torn down. The old desk is one of those old "pigeon-hole" types. Big and heavy is an understatement. I also have a freight cart from another depot that was here in the area.
Each time I sit at that desk, I remember that field trip. The better half uses it mostly now. Figures out the bills and such. I found it at an estate sale of a gentleman that was a conductor on the old NYC route. He would start his shift, most generally, from that depot. Unfortunately, I didn't get a deal on it and had to pay a premium price.
I have been giving some thought lately to donating it to the local museum, as well as a few other things I have collected from the local area that pertained to the railroads and the factories around here. But, the better half wants to keep the desk.....
Bob
Anyway, we got to tour a caboose and a diesel switcher along with the depot. I have the old desk and chair and a couple of benches from the depot that has been long torn down. The old desk is one of those old "pigeon-hole" types. Big and heavy is an understatement. I also have a freight cart from another depot that was here in the area.
Each time I sit at that desk, I remember that field trip. The better half uses it mostly now. Figures out the bills and such. I found it at an estate sale of a gentleman that was a conductor on the old NYC route. He would start his shift, most generally, from that depot. Unfortunately, I didn't get a deal on it and had to pay a premium price.
I have been giving some thought lately to donating it to the local museum, as well as a few other things I have collected from the local area that pertained to the railroads and the factories around here. But, the better half wants to keep the desk.....
Bob
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Do you mean one that allows you to fill and empty the car? There are none in N-scale that I am aware of. I believe Bowser made a coal car with operating hopper but nothing at all in N comes to mind.
Bob
Bob
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1,176 Posts
Fleischmann made some stuff in N that actually operated and turned the car upside down to dump the load. However they are European, and more oriented towards coal/ore, although the ore system could probably be made to work with most n scale rolling stock somehow.
Thanks guys! Maybe I'll have to design a vacuum system to unload. I'm working towards a hands free operation in hauling some kind of cargo, where two operates can share the same 4 by 8 foot layout, one guy on each side. Relays and switches will control who runs which "block" as I'm not sure if i want to go with the DCC system (cost issue I suppose). Still planning this over in my mind, have no yet started as I'm finishing an HO Thomas the train by Trackmaster layout for my kids.
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DCC is not as expensive as you might think. By the time you add switches for power districts, additional wiring for same, the time spent on cutting track and isolating the districts..... I'd go DCC from the start.
Bob
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26,359 Posts
I agree.
As long as your starting new, DCC would be the way to go if you got the extra dollars to invest.
As it's a lot easier to set up now then to go back and add later.
It's only money. You deserve it. You earned it. Right?
Just keep telling yourself this.
It makes me feel better.
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