Hot metal / bottle cars.

[Iain]

I believe that they use special brick on the interiors.

[AlkemScaleModels]

I believe that they use special brick on the interiors.

These subjects are covered in my book in more detail, but here are some points to consider.

Iron actually melts around 3000 degrees F.

Any object that has to contain molten iron is lined with refractory firebrick, and is usually water cooled. In the steel making, the firebrick is partly consumed by the process. So the firebrick has to be continuously repaired. The intense heat of molten steel caused a lot of technical challenges. The technique for open hearth ovens was discovered in 1860, but the widespread implementation had to wait 40 years before engineers and scientists could develop an oven that could withstand the heat.

The firebrick lining of a hot metal car helps insulate the molten metal. Molten iron can remain molten in a hot metal car for surprisingly long periods, but typically they like to keep it to a 15 hour cycle. Once the hot metal solidifies the car is ruined and must be cut up to retrieve the metal.  Operators can use an oxygen lance inserted in the hot metal to reheat it if necessary, but that will only work for so long.  So expedite those hot metal cars.

Hot metal can be dangerous in that it can "explode" from gas bubbles or contact with too much moisture.  So operators usually place a spacer car between the hot metal and the loco. I read of a worker at Weirton, WV who was killed by an exploding slag car as he was walking by it on his way back from lunch.

Hopefully this will spark your interest for more information and you'll get my book

[RockGp40]

When I worked at Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point (MD), the Patapsco & Back River RR often used a slug as their spacer and moved these cars in cuts of three to the BOF.

[amato1969]

I just ordered the book (along with my tax software), using the "promo" link from this forum.  It will be a nice companion to my TRP Beth Steel book.

  Frank

[Pomperaugrr]

I had a chance to check out a great product line by KenRay, at the Springfield Show this weekend.  He has incredibly detailed kits and accessories for bottle cars, slag, ingots, etc., as well as detail pieces for steel mills.  The owner is an N scaler and has really developed a nice product line at a good price point.

I have no affiliataion with the vendor and I am not a steel modeler, but I am impressed by what I saw.

Eric

[Philip H]

I had a chance to check out a great product line by KenRay, at the Springfield Show this weekend.  He has incredibly detailed kits and accessories for bottle cars, slag, ingots, etc., as well as detail pieces for steel mills.  The owner is an N scaler and has really developed a nice product line at a good price point.

I have no affiliataion with the vendor and I am not a steel modeler, but I am impressed by what I saw.

Eric

Peach Creek Shops in Laurel, MD has his stuff, and you are correct he does very good work.

[Mark4]

Dumb question, if the molten medal is at 2000F, what is the "container" made of that is holding it?

Mark

The iron furnaces at our plant (I know them rather well) are lined with 1.1 meter of refractory (specialized brick). It is a very poor conductor of heat and you can touch the steel shellplate of the furnace while there is molten iron the other side.

I don't think I would like one of those molten medals though!

[Mark5]

Thanks all - I learned something today! Or was it yesterday?

[John]

I just received the latest Dream Plan Build DVD from Kalmbach .. coincidentally  , it is on Steel Making and Railroads