Barge to rail

[Ralph]

I've been working on an industry that transfers bulk commodities such as coal, sand, or aggregates from river barges to hoppers on a track along the shore. This structure is based on a kit I've seen in many model RR photographs. I think its originally a rock crusher. For my purposes it stores commodities until freight cars on a track behind it are ready to load.
Ralph

 

[Ralph]

Here's another shot. I made the cilos from metal chain link fence post caps. The rest is strip wood and assorted doo dads from my scrap box.

 

[Ralph]

Whoops!

That first picture is wrong. Here's what it was supposed to be.

 

[Ralph]

I "imagineered" an unloader that is connected to the cilos via conveyors.

 

[Ralph]

The coal in the barge is a removeable "eoad". Its aquarium sand glued to a piece of florist foam carved to shape.
Ralph

 

[jimmybeersa]

Nice structure and an interesting industry for a layout
nice work

 

[Lackawanna Jim]

Nice work, Ralph! I like your use of the fencepost caps. Great job... I'm a big fan of rail-marine ops...

Jim

 

[60103]

Ralph:
I like the look of it too.
Suggestion for an alternate eoad: have one with some piles in it. I have some that were made from the "egg crate" type foam packing that computer boards (used to) come in. You get some that doesn't have too high bumps and cut along the side of the bumps to the dimensions of your barge (or hopper/gondola/...). Then add the aquarium sand.

 

[Ralph]

Great idea David! Thanks!
Ralph

 

[Blake]

Very cool. The very thought reminds me of sitting atop of an old Erie Lackawanna covered hopper in the the middle of what was once the Lehigh Valley's Greenville NJ yards watching them unload gons of scrap metal into cargo ships bound for Japan back in the mid 80's. If you want some more ideas about that kind of operation, do a search on Cleveland rail operations on Lake Erie. They had tons of that sort of thing.

 

[UP_STEVE]

that looks great ralph! good work.

 

[Woodie]

Ralph,

What a novel thought for the tops of fence posts.

I'll keep that one in mind, I think.