Solar powered ballast cars???

[central.vermont]

Calling all CSX fans...........what gives with the
solar panels on these cars? Never seen this before!!

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2007111218412817432.jpg&order=bydate&page=2

[Robbman]

Message deleted

[ljudice]

You sure Robbman???  Those look like CSXT system ballast cars, which have remote
radio control...   The GPS, dump on the run cars are the dedicated Herzog Plus trainsets
which are the brown thrall hoppers. Those trains run on the CSX as well as other
railroads...

Lou

[ljudice]

Press release:

Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. (GREX) recently obtained a multi-million dollar order from CSX Transportation to supply 200 additional GateSync-capable Solaris kits.

The company will deliver and install the automated ballast unloading system kits by early fall. GREX has converted a total of 350 CSXT ballast cars with the kits to date.

(gate synch is just remote radio control of the doors, no GPS)

[TrainCat2]

Does anyone know what type of hoppers are being converted ??

[ljudice]

I am pretty sure it's mostly the rebuilt PS-2 2 bay hoppers...

I wish Atlas would do this car - they obviously have much of what they need
to do it...  Unfortunately, to kit bash these, you need to cut a hole in the top
which is a pain to do - I know - I have done 5 and have 5 more to go.

Lou