SF bulk grain box car

John M.
Great work - as usual. The creativity of railroads (and RR modelers) knows no bounds!

The huge Transformer Car that uses the transformer load as part of the superstructure between two ends of the car supported by a ga-zillion wheels/axles is another example of such thinking. In scale terms, a O120 minimum radius curve would probably be required.

Mike Mottler   (ritrainguy)
LCCA 12394

UP grain hauling boxcar picture from the Internet.

 Inspector testing moisture content of a load of grain.  Courtesy of Bob Leese.

Lionel's Grain Hauling box car

Our Weaver Food Service box car with grain boards installed.  Later we may put in one or two more boards.   John

Now that is interesting. I've never seen a grain service boxcar with grain loading hatches added to the roof. All the photos I've ever seen of the early grain loading and unloading of grain service boxcars, show the grain being blown into the car through the side door, at the top gap of of the heavy cardboard side holders. When the car was emptied, the cardboard holders were simply knocked/cut out, and the grain spilled into the below track receiving area.

Could you provide any photos of the prototype Santa Fe grain service boxcar with the hatches on the roof?

Hot Water posted:

Now that is interesting. I've never seen a grain service boxcar with grain loading hatches added to the roof. All the photos I've ever seen of the early grain loading and unloading of grain service boxcars, show the grain being blown into the car through the side door, at the top gap of of the heavy cardboard side holders. When the car was emptied, the cardboard holders were simply knocked/cut out, and the grain spilled into the below track receiving area.

interesting unloading technique:

Hot Water posted:

Could you provide any photos of the prototype Santa Fe grain service boxcar with the hatches on the roof?

Jack,   I don't know if any grain service boxcars had roof hatches.  I thought sooner or later a rural elevator without  a flexible loading tube long enough to reach the door, would be able to load through a roof hatch.  And once the decision to add one hatch was made, may as well add several to be able to have a distributed load.  Ours most likely is not a scale model, but I think it looks neat.  John in Lansing, ILL

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Hot Water posted:

Now that is interesting. I've never seen a grain service boxcar with grain loading hatches added to the roof. All the photos I've ever seen of the early grain loading and unloading of grain service boxcars, show the grain being blown into the car through the side door, at the top gap of of the heavy cardboard side holders. When the car was emptied, the cardboard holders were simply knocked/cut out, and the grain spilled into the below track receiving area.

Nice photo but, there are no roof mounted hatches. What is showing, however are all the ribs on the roof.

The grain doors and roof hatches add significant detail to this car, unique and practical solution in converting a basic boxcar design for grain service. 

rattler21 posted:

Hot Water posted:

Could you provide any photos of the prototype Santa Fe grain service boxcar with the hatches on the roof?

Jack,   I don't know if any grain service boxcars had roof hatches.  I thought sooner or later a rural elevator without  a flexible loading tube long enough to reach the door, would be able to load through a roof hatch.  And once the decision to add one hatch was made, may as well add several to be able to have a distributed load.  Ours most likely is not a scale model, but I think it looks neat.  John in Lansing, ILL

Aparently, the Milwaukee Road had some for spent grain leftover from the beer brewing process. Note the Miller Brewing logo outline on the door:

Rusty

Rusty Traque

Rusty

Using the photograph Rusty was kind enough to share, our car was placed on the rip track for correct placement of its hatches.  One man hour to cut the holes and attach the hatches, twenty-two man hours to form the roof panels to cover the old holes and paint.  In reality, about one minute to remove four hatches and place two of them in the proper position by the doors.  Isn't rubber cement wonderful?

Except, now you need to repaint & re-letter the car for the Milwaukee Road.

Nice build, John.

Interesting topic and very nice job on your build, John!

John