06-16-2011, 10:29 PM
It's my understanding that box cars are still used for grain loading on many Canadian branch lines due to the condition of the branch and very light rail. Like in the U.S., a railroad isn't too likely to upgrade a branch line to handle cars weighing 130 tons plus that only sees traffic moving on it a few times a year. We had many such light branch lines here on former RI, CBQ, GN, and MILW lines to name a few, but they are pretty much all gone now.
Even back in the late 70's we'd still receive an occasional 40ft box car loaded with grain at the distilleries around here. I remember seeing a couple of former CBQ 40ft box cars (restenciled BN) equipped with 8ft plug doors that also had grain loading doors in them. Another one seen a couple of times was a 40ft box car with 6ft doors that carried FDDM reporting marks. The distillery used a vacuum hose to unload the cars. Seems like they were loaded with barley.
Even back in the late 70's we'd still receive an occasional 40ft box car loaded with grain at the distilleries around here. I remember seeing a couple of former CBQ 40ft box cars (restenciled BN) equipped with 8ft plug doors that also had grain loading doors in them. Another one seen a couple of times was a 40ft box car with 6ft doors that carried FDDM reporting marks. The distillery used a vacuum hose to unload the cars. Seems like they were loaded with barley.
Ed
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"