Aluminum Covered Hoppers have been built sporadically since 1963.
Steel is a less expensive material to fabricate, but that cost alone can not dictate the production of a freight car.
Aluminum is commonly used to build Coal Hoppers and Coal Gondolas.
Why are the Covered Hoppers for Grains and Chemicals rarely built out of Aluminum?
Andrew
A logical reason is that coal and gravel score paint, and unpainted steel can rust. Aluminum doesn’t rust. But Aluminum can react chemically with certain chemicals and with foods, contaminating them, and the paint used on the interior of steel cars does not react and is inert.
…Here in Muncie on NS, Frankfort line incoming…We see cut after cut of grain cars and quite a few of them are the aluminum sided and I believe steel ends cars.
I thought soda and beer tasted a little odd . . . .
In CP’s case, old grain covered hoppers get cascaded into Potash service which will quickly destroy an Aluminum Hopper.
Plastic, especially LDPE (low density polyethylene) is so “dry”, and aluminum so “dry” as well, that they bond together and have to be swept out of the car, a back breaking task. I know from experience. You can really go nuts trying to get pellets out of a car, using the “approved” non-scratch brooms they specify so the interior of the car is not damaged. Now, DO NOT get me started on the coloring agents, which love to bond to Aluminum car interiors, too![banghead]
Are there any special coatings or fabrics just for the inside of Aluminum Covered Hoppers?