What to Haul it in?

[Philip H]

So, lookign forward to the SLOWLY expanding BRS, what do 1990-today railroads haul coke in?  I like TrainCats's grate-bottomed gondolas, but I suspect they have moved on to something else.

And while I'm at it:

Soda ash
Phthalic anhydride
MEK
Plastic pellets

Thanks!

[Mark5]

I suspect Robbman might have something to say on the coke. I think NS "re-bodied" some 100 ton hoppers for coke service in the late 90s, but lets see what Robb says.

[mcjaco]

Plastic Pellets are usually hauled in covered hoppers.

[lock4244]

Coke moves in hopper cars. Some roads have assigned cars for this service, others not so much.

Plastic pellets and Soda Ash in covered hoppers.

[inkaneer]

So, lookign forward to the SLOWLY expanding BRS, what do 1990-today railroads haul coke in?  I like TrainCats's grate-bottomed gondolas, but I suspect they have moved on to something else.

And while I'm at it:

Soda ash
Phthalic anhydride
MEK
Plastic pellets

Thanks!

Coke is hauled in open hoppers.  NS []HIGH TOP] and CSX [COKE EXPRESS] have special hoppers with extended sides dedicated to hauling coke.  Since coke is only about 80% the weight of coal the side extensions increase the amount of coke [volume] each car can haul.  Koppers shipped Phthalic anhydride in covered hoppers.  Being an anhydride it was susceptable to weather.

[Chris333]

Here is a coke train:

[John]

Here is a coke train:

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Great video .. what I like is that coke is also being hauled in regular 3bays .. that will work for my modeling ..

[ljudice]

SP used to run a coke train from Oakland to Geneva UT (Geneva Steel) EASTBOUND over Donner pass. It would have a huge variety of cars on it - 3 bay hoppers (WC ex-BN cars and many others) , 4 bay (DRGW Great Steel Fleet), Thrall high side gons (MDC, Athearn), etc...

[Bob Bufkin]

Always like the looks of those CSX extended side Coke Express cars.  Where is coke now made and what do modern code making facilities look like?

[Chris333]

They have coke ovens right on the other side of the mill near me:

You can see the nozzle about to squelch the coke. And BAM:

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qw0y3w87ys38&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=19984542&encType=1

The ovens are behind the squelching tower.

[Philip H]

Thanks guys.  I sort of knew about the covered hoppers for the plastic pellets, but the rest were a bit touchy.  I'm pretty sure the MEK goes by tank car though.

So now I need to get a good source of old, beater three bay hoppers to move coke in . . . I wonder if th WM ever did that . . . or the LVR . . . . .

[Robbman]

So now I need to get a good source of old, beater three bay hoppers to move coke in . . . I wonder if th WM ever did that . . . or the LVR . . . . .

The W&LE still does it...

NS and CSX did rebody some cars with extended sides specifically for coke service (well... that was the intent anyway) but I'm partial to CSXs latest creations... where they've cut down older Greenville 7000s.

[wm3798]

From NE railfans site:
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/csx295005.jpg

There were coke ovens around Connellsville, but I think these were served mostly by the P&LE.  There were eastbound coke moves, I'm assuming to Sparrows Point, I'm not sure if that facility had coke ovens in house.  From what I've read, these were moved in P&LE cars.  WM didn't have cars dedicated to coke service, but I'm sure hoppers were pressed into service on an as needed basis.

Lee

[FrankCampagna]

There are coke ovens in Ashland, KY.

Frank

[pfs]

So now I need to get a good source of old, beater three bay hoppers to move coke in . . . I wonder if th WM ever did that . . . or the LVR . . . . .

The W&LE still does it...

....

And they do it beautifully.....



Rougemere Yard Spring 2008