locomotive question

[R L Smith]

this is directed to any professional railroaders or consultants out there:

Some of you will recall that I work at a shop that restores PCC streetcars.  One of my clients in the southwest is requesting a domestic source for traction sand; our supplier is in Quebec. Shipping is obviously exorbitant.  Can anyone provide a suggestion for locating what sand that BNSF or UP use? (trade name, spec sheet, etc.)

Yes, Google can be your friend, and I have reached out to a source in Texas but no response to my inquiry yet.

Thanks!

Ron

[Hyperion]

I actually used to source and purchase BNSF's sand a few years back.  We have a few suppliers capable of supplying correctly spec'd sand across the Western US.

Is the gentlemen in question looking for truckloads of sand or bagged sand?

[R L Smith]

Thank you Mark. They are looking for bagged sand, 30 to 50 pound range.

Ron

[coosvalley]

The tourist RR used to work for used what they called "Black Beauty", which I think was sandblasting media. Another local shortline used bagged "playground" sand.

[peteski]

Black Beauty could make a really nice N scale coal load.

[Hyperion]

Thank you Mark. They are looking for bagged sand, 30 to 50 pound range.

Ron

We only source bags from 1 company -- Kaw Valley Company in Kansas City.  Their Sand and Gravel contact is:  913-281-9950

He just needs to ask for traction sand, they'll know what he's looking for.   If he wants to make certain he's getting the right stuff he can say he wants the ATSF or BNSF-spec.  They normally ship in full pallet quantities of a few-dozen 50lb bags.  I assume they'd be willing to ship in smaller ones.

The tourist RR used to work for used what they called "Black Beauty", which I think was sandblasting media.

We use Black Beauty to media-blast freight cars... can't say I've ever considered putting in the sanders before.

[R L Smith]

Thank you!!

[Englewood]

This sand stuff must be very expensive. UP locos never have any!