Questions about CSX and prototypes in general

[Exohead]

CSX Road Slug and UP2CSX, you guys should be able to help me out on this. Does CSX ever carry 3-bay open-top hoppers? If not I can just look at Norfolk Southern, but I'd like to get some CSX going too. I was also wondering what a "road slug" is because I see it all the time.

Thanks for your time guys. You're all super awesome!

 

[IronBeltKen]

... Does CSX ever carry 3-bay open-top hoppers? ...

Yeah, they got 'em; heres a few pix:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=504691
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=525600
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=437661
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=700296

A road slug ("RDMT" in CSX parlance) refers to the body of an old GP30 or GP35 that has had its prime mover and fans removed and its fuel tank filled with cement, but it still has the traction motors and controls. These are semi-permanently MU'd to a GP40-2 whose prime mover supplies the electrical power. Crews often enjoy using the road slug as the lead unit since its cab is so much quieter without the roar of a prime mover.

 

[railBuilderDhd]

good photos Ken
Dave

 

[UP2CSX]

To further Ken's answer, the 12 panel, three bay hoppers are still in common use. They are used mostly to service factories and power plants that don't have rotary dumpers with coal. I've also seen them occasionally with rock and sand loads, so it seems tghey are pretty much a general purpose smaller hopper.

 

[mikeingeorgia]

Just south of Atlanta there's an interesting business that gets 3 bay open top hoppers full of broken glass. The glass comes in all colors but normally the entire car will be filled with the same color of glass. The glass is ground up and used to make home insulation. The cars are unloaded by having a large tractor pull them over a shallow (about 6') deep pit and manually opening the bottom doors. They can receive 2 cars at a time. They also every so often grind up glass into powder, load it by conveyor belt into covered hoppers (usually with reporting marks SIRX) and ship them out. I've delivered lots of CSX cars to them and even some former LEF&C that had been restenciled.