Hopper Car Types for Hauling Ceramic Pellets

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Guilford Railman

Guilford Railman

Well-Known Member
Since I’m revamping my previous VTR layout, I’ve elected to change the industry types on the layout. I plan on modeling a manufacturer that produces ceramic pellets used for CNC milling, specifically the finishing process.

I know with plastic pellets, pneumatic hoppers would be used to transport those types of pellets and load/unload into silos. What about ceramic pellets? I assume these would be heavier so my thought process leads me to believe that pneumatic is not feasible. However, I read that unloading pellets of various kinds is not usually done via a dump pit and conveyor system.

Needless to say, I’m a bit stumped as to what type of hopper is best suited for this commodity. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 


These are used in Europe for dry bulk. Sugar, plastic/ceramic pellets, cement, dry chemicals, etc. They are called silo wagons.

17761a.JPG
 
cv_acr said:
I would guess regular two-bay gravity hoppers.

As you said they'll be heavy so it'll be a small car, and not pneumatic.

As a related aside, I know that some mills that produced wood pellets shipped them in large, 4-bay gravity cars, as wood pellets are pretty light.
Click to expand...
Two-bay hoppers are certainly a possibility. I have seen both wood pellets and plastic pellets shipped in four-bay hoppers. I know four-bays would be out of the question for ceramic pellets but I'm wondering if three-bay is also a possibility?

Through the power of Google and AI, I used it to help figure out the cubic ft volume based off of 200K of the average weight of a "standard" industrial use ceramic pellet. Here is a summary the AI provided:

Pellet weights.JPG

I also looked up the cubic ft volume of 2-bay, 3-bay, and 4-bay hoppers.

2-Bay is 2700 to 3500 cubic ft.

3-Bay is 3750 to 5200 cubic ft.

4-Bay is 5400 to 6500 cubic ft.

It would seem that two-bay hoppers are the best option for transporting the "standard" ceramic pellet. If I'm not mistaken, two-bay hoppers are usually only unloaded via gravity dump. This would seem to make sense for ceramic pellets as well, given the weight.
 
cv_acr said:
The follow up question would be though, how succeptible to damage are these pellets?

Would bagged in boxcars be more likely?
Click to expand...
That is a good question. I don't believe they are very susceptible given that the primary use (at least through my research) is for polishing metal components created through CNC. I would guess they can take a beating but maybe not?

The facility I am working on creating manufactures the pellets and ships out to a distributor that bags them at a different facility. Well, this was how I pictured the operation but maybe I'm not correct on the procedure lol. Learning as I go.
 
www.ebay.com

Athearn HO Rio Grande D&RGW #15998 ACF 2970 2 Bay Hopper EXCELLENT | eBay

NICE SHAPE LOOKS BRAND NEW LOOKS TO HAVE UPGRADED COUPLERS
www.ebay.com

Let's just cut to the chase: Always ship Rio Grande (or that other road*), when you can. In this case it's a 2970 ACF (American Car Foundry) 2-bay from the seventies or eighties. Adjust to your specific era with suitable substitutes.

[*mine]

You can work the western source into your idea too. We have dirt an' stuff...and heat...and all the other stuff way out here in the sagebrush needed to make ceramic pellets.

End sales pitch. 😁
 
Last edited:


Snowman said:
www.ebay.com

Athearn HO Rio Grande D&RGW #15998 ACF 2970 2 Bay Hopper EXCELLENT | eBay

NICE SHAPE LOOKS BRAND NEW LOOKS TO HAVE UPGRADED COUPLERS
www.ebay.com

Let's just cut to the chase: Always ship Rio Grande (or that other road), when you can. In this case it's a 2970 ACF (American Car Foundry) 2-bay from the seventies or eighties. Adjust to your specific era with suitable substitutes.

You can work the western source into your idea too. We have dirt an' stuff...and heat...and all the other stuff way out here in the sagebrush needed to make ceramic pellets.

Ende sales pitch. 😁
Click to expand...
Definitely a nice car! Unfortunately I just recently purchased two UP 2-bay hoppers so I’m not in need of another, at least for now. :)
 
Guilford Railman said:
Definitely a nice car! Unfortunately I just recently purchased two UP 2-bay hoppers so I’m not in need of another, at least for now. :)
Click to expand...
UP works too. Besides, I think you actually said you were planning this industry where your road(s) would actually SOURCE the pellets out rather than receive them, yes?

Of course you could always borrow a Rio Grande 2-bay...just sayin' :p
 
Snowman said:
UP works too. Besides, I think you actually said you were planning this industry where your road(s) would actually SOURCE the pellets out rather than receive them, yes?

Of course you could always borrow a Rio Grande 2-bay...just sayin' :p
Click to expand...
Can’t remember if I did say that lol but you’re correct. They’re a small manufacturer of the pellets and ship them out nationwide.

I certainly could haha
 
Actually. 4 bay and 3 bay hoppers. Look up how glass pellets are moved (glass hopper cars). ceramic is a little lighter. The same hoppers are used. The structural design of those hopper chutes acts a bit like a truss. adding decent capacity strength. I would think the pellets ar actually ball shaped like class. Either way, look for cars that carry glass pellets and you have found the hopper that carries ceramic
 
NVSrr1500 said:
Actually. 4 bay and 3 bay hoppers. Look up how glass pellets are moved (glass hopper cars). ceramic is a little lighter. The same hoppers are used. The structural design of those hopper chutes acts a bit like a truss. adding decent capacity strength. I would think the pellets ar actually ball shaped like class. Either way, look for cars that carry glass pellets and you have found the hopper that carries ceramic
Click to expand...
Well now I’ve got a conundrum. Guess I need to do more research. The pellets come in a variety of shapes and sizes but I believe the most common is spherical beads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top