Canadian Railroads > Is this loop at a CP Grain shipper unique?

https://www.cpr.ca/en/media/cp-showcases-new-high-capacity-hopper-cars <phorum break> Andy

Not unique in the U.S. Many newer unit facilities are built in a loop to expedite loading and train handling.

twropr Wrote:
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> https://www.cpr.ca/en/media/cp-showcases-new-high-
> capacity-hopper-cars
> Andy

Bad link, gets you a Page Not Found message.

The link is corrupted by the extra info at the end of it, try this:

https://www.cpr.ca/en/media/cp-showcases-new-high-capacity-hopper-cars

They say more capacity.  Are the cars longer, taller, or what?

These kinds of unit train facilities are now the norm down here in the states; they've replaced most of the small grain elevators.  The railroads, like BNSF, have gone mainly to unit trains for handling the varieties of grain, so more and more of the facilities to load them are these large, bulk facilities that load entire trains.  Many port facilities are going this way too.  It's more costly to break a train up to load or unload the train than to just keep it in tact.

Also, from what I've heard, these new cars that CP is buying are higher capacity, but actually shorter in length.  The result is bigger trains, but not quite as long, with the same number of cars.  Of course, CP's plan is to run bigger trains.  BNSF has some of these cars in their fleet as well.  The look a little more boxy, or "bloated", have more straighter up and down sides, than the standard cars.

tomstp Wrote:
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> They say more capacity.  Are the cars longer,
> taller, or what?

Three feet shorter, but the carbody is not as cylindrical at the top, so 15% greater cubic volume. Right now, the new cars show randomly up in trains, marshalled among the older cars, and it's easy to see the difference in shape. They can carry 102 metric tons compared with 93 for the older cars.

The current standard train length is 112 of the old hoppers, about 7,000 feet. When CP has enough of the new ones, it will run trains of 147 new cars, 8,500 ft. long, representing a 44% increase in capacity.

CP says it serves six inland elevators that have loop tracks (it didn't specify if those are in its Canadian or U.S. operations).  A new grain terminal in North Vancouver now under construction for G3 will have a coiled loop capable of holding three 134-car trains. Trains will unload on the move at 3 mph.

More details and a photo of the car at bottom.

https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/freight-cars/cp-replacing-grain-hopper-fleet/

Posted from Android

Some of the operating loop tracks on CP are at the following locations; Paterson Grain Bowden Alberta, Daysland Alberta and Gleichen Alberta and G3 at Pasqua Saskatchewan and Colonsay Saskatchewan and under construction at Wetaskiwin Alberta and Carmangay Alberta. I'm still trying to find the others.

Tim
mp35mountain



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/18 07:25 by mp35mountain.

thanks for the details.
Regards,

Clif

Changes the center of gravity of the cars. Wonder what these will do on bad trackage