AOCX (Alcoa) Hoppers

[Robbman]

I heard that almost the entire ex-Conrail rebuild fleet of coal porters is sidelined due to some sort of mechanical problem - like the tubs falling out - which is why CSX is badly short of hoppers.

NS has pretty much all of theirs stored as well... they won't pass the inspection needed for life extension.

It was one class, the G52X or the G52R. Apparently they have problems with the center sill cracking.

It's the entire fleet of rebodies... G52L, G52H and G52R.  NS has had them stored for several years now awaiting disposition... with the rate they were failing inspections, it simply wasn't cost effective to try to inspect every car to get a few passable.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ouch! I didn't realize it was all of em.

That really sucks (for NS).

[Packer]

To answer my own question:

Original arrangement:

http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2049807

Sounds like they were a PS/Alcoa experiment?

More like an Evans/Alcoa experiment. Looks like an Evans 4780 with a different roof.

[Robbman]

Ouch! I didn't realize it was all of em.

That really sucks (for NS).

Not really... the only thing that sucks is scrap prices, thus they're all in storage rather than sfs'd.  The TopGon fleet is still in good shape, and NS has made quite a few fleet additions over the last few years... mainly the 1800 some SS triple hoppers and the I forgot how many hybrid Coalprters.  Add in the dozen or so trainsets of AF3s and RDVIs for dedicated unit service and they've been good to go. 

[jmlaboda]

One of the reasons that the Alcoa hoppers looks so stocky is because of what they haul.  Bauxite, the mineral used to make aluminum, is a clay-like substance and is a bit on the dense side.  While I have seen CSX and NS 100T covered hoppers formerly used for grain in the same sort of service in the past I imagine that they were not filled to their full capacity because of the weight involved...

[ljudice]

Jim - I remember in the 1990's those Alcoa cars were always in a block along with ex-ADM CRDX blue and white 4750's, and a couple of heavilly weathered Louis Dreyfus grain cars - clearly now hauling bauxite.

The PS4000's look pretty close - with some changes to the roof. The tough part will be painting - as these cars always looked black to me - but they are not - Aluminum cars seem to develop very distinctive weathering patterns.

[bbussey]

Lou, use Alclad II aluminum.  That will give you the effect you are seeking.

[lock4244]

The PS4000's look pretty close - with some changes to the roof. The tough part will be painting - as these cars always looked black to me - but they are not - Aluminum cars seem to develop very distinctive weathering patterns.

I think the tough part will be taking a knife to the PS4000.

[bbussey]

All existing models are fair game for parts if they can help you get to a model you want.  The more intricate and detailed the model, the better the source of parts.

[ljudice]

Bryan - thanks for the tip - I will check it out!

Mike - I'll use an Exactrail car and think hateful thoughts as I cut into it!!! Take that you imposter!!!

[jmlaboda]

I suspect that the odd roof hatch pattern is a throw back to earlier three-bay covered hoppers.  There were some that had this sort of arrangement.

I miss the plant down in Badin, N.C.  Shame that they shut the plant down instead of updating it.  Now the Whitney Rwy. is mainly used for CSX and N&W rolling stock storage with cars arriving for storage and being pulled out as needed.

[Robbman]

The cars have had their original pattern modified over the years...

Original


In process


Complete

[Robbman]

One of the reasons that the Alcoa hoppers looks so stocky is because of what they haul.  Bauxite, the mineral used to make aluminum, is a clay-like substance and is a bit on the dense side.  While I have seen CSX and NS 100T covered hoppers formerly used for grain in the same sort of service in the past I imagine that they were not filled to their full capacity because of the weight involved...

I highly doubt they carry crushed bauxite... that stuff is at least 80lbs/cu ft if not more, depending on how small it's crushed... a 4100 cu ft hopper is overkill for that density...

Aluminum oxides (alumina) is far more likely, which average ~50lbs/cu ft. 

[GaryHinshaw]

On the topic of hopper roof bashing, does anyone make hatches like this as a separately available detail item?  MT maybe?

[Bob Bufkin]

I know Kato sells some hatches but they are square.  I had some old cars that I cut the round hatches off (believe they were MT) to graft unto a X29 and X31 boxcars for some early grain cars.