Talltim Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 This shot shows a grain hopper supposedly being used for carrying perlite. Its certainly in a train that as far as I know only serves one industry which does use perlite. How common is using grain hoppers in mineral use? I suppose they just need a wash out before re-use with foodstuff? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Ray Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Well, if the hopper has a food-grade interior lining then you most certainly do NOT use it in mineral service, unless you want to strip out and refinish the interior afterwards. OTOH, if you are just downgrading a food-grade hopper to general service (where contamination is not as much a worry), then what the heck - its a hopper after all (again, you just can't start reusing it for food/grain service until the interior is stripped and lining replaced and cleaned). The food industry (and I understand the plastics industry too) takes contamination prevention very seriously Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Don't know if there's any Canadian fans that could expand, but i've a funny feeling those Canadian pool covered hoppers were bought by the host railroads and are no longer dedicated to Canadian grain service? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Don't know if there's any Canadian fans that could expand, but i've a funny feeling those Canadian pool covered hoppers were bought by the host railroads and are no longer dedicated to Canadian grain service? Yes, the Canadian Wheat Board hoppers have been sold off to the roads operating them. Here's one on CP - http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cp/cp600157rra.jpg and one on CN - http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cn/cn109770gga.jpg The 'CPWX' and 'CNWX' reporting marks have just had the 'WX' painted out, as you can see. Β There are still hoppers owned by the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments and used on CP and CN. The Saskatchewan ones have a couple of very different paint schemes - http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=sknx397293&o=sask and http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1255688 , and here's an Alberta one http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=alpx628100&o=alberta Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Thanks - so for the OP the chances are the answer is 'it's not a grain hopper any more'? Β That new bright green Saskatchewan scheme is loud. B) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Thanks - so for the OP the chances are the answer is 'it's not a grain hopper any more'? It looks as if the front hopper still has its CPWX marks on it, and the one behind it is a CP covered hopper usually used in grain service. Edit - I should have said that, even though they have been sold by the Canadian Wheat Board, almost all of these hoppers are still being used to carry grain, same as before. On balance, I'd say that they are not carrying perlite or, if they are, someone is going to have to pay to refurbish them. Β That new bright green Saskatchewan scheme is loud. B) Isn't it? And I like the exclamation mark! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Ray Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 On the plus side, those Canadian Government fleet of grain hoppers were (and still are) very important to the economic health of the Prairie provinces and the CP/CN railroads serving the farming regions. On the negative side, they did hasten the demise of the 40ft Grain-Service Boxcar fleet. Β On balance, I'd say that they are not carrying perlite or, if they are, someone is going to have to pay to refurbish them I dunno about them not carrying perlite, if the legend on the photo is correct (I cannot verify), then I think it unlikely these guys would be using wheat and other grains (here's the bing view - I am guessing the building to the bottom of the image (South) is part of the Whittmore facility, but again I am not certain. It is possible that the hoppers are being downgraded from food service to mineral service, just like in the past grain boxcars would be downgraded to 'hide' services (hides or skins from tanneries would emit 'residue' that would stink-up, rot and render any freight car carrying it unusable for other services - the next step after retirement from hide service was the scrap-yard). Β Isn't it? And I like the exclamation mark! Sorry, but to my American mindset, that scheme is just shouting "SASKATCHEWAN, DAMMIT!!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Thanks everyone, som einteresting info there. Β The location is definately correct, the destination of the train most likely correct. The line does continue through the Whittemore plant, but only to a Staples (of office supplies fame) and Crown Cork and Seal, neither of which I would have thought recieved bulk grain. From a modelling point of view it doesn't really matter, it just adds a bit of variety from the more common rib sided hoppers, handily there is a noce model from Intermountain. With regards to the second car, it looks to me to to be a SOO/CP National Steel Car (NSC) 4850 3 bay cylindrical hopper. Does anyone know of an H0 model? Intermountain possibly do one in N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 No model in HO (or N as far as I know?) Β A bit of a shame as they seem to be a bit of a definative CP car. Β Looking at Gareths pics they seem to have very similar 5300s as well which might be why the look is so common I guess... http://www.garethbayer.co.uk/wotw/thumbnails.php?album=189 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 The same type of cars used for grain are used for fertilizer, soda ash, potash, cotton seed meal, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Β On the negative side, they did hasten the demise of the 40ft Grain-Service Boxcar fleet. Β Apart from the visual appeal of a train of old 40ft cars, why would their demise be viewed as a 'negative'..? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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