feed mill

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

what kind of load would be delivered or shipped in 2 bay covered hoppers from a feed mill?

thanks

mark

2

How familiar are you with the general operation and purpose of feed mills, and do you have a specific prototype and era in mind? Feed mills receive grains from various sources and combine them into feed mix. Wheat, oats, barley–any kind of grain could arrive by rail to be mixed into feed. Conceivably, large industrial-scale feed mills could then ship product onward by rail, but the feed mills I am familiar with are local suppliers so everything goes out by truck–either the mill’s or the farmer’s own vehicles. It’s strictly a “loads in-empties out” operation as far as the rail side is concerned.

At a feed mill spur you’ll generally see whatever rolling stock is typical for grain transport for your railroad and era–40-foot boxcars into the 1970s for my western Canada setting; covered hoppers for later. That’s why I asked about whether you have a specific prototype in mind–I haven’t typically associated 2-bay hoppers with feed mill traffic in my area. But if that’s what your railroad used to transport grain, then the answer to your question would be that those 2-bay hoppers are carrying any kind of grain that the mill needs to supply its product line.

3

Being blunt, non really. 3-bay covered hoppers were used in grain industry. There are large feed mills that use rail serve and jumbo covered hoppers, but in general once the jumbo’s became industry standard the smaller mills were shut out and shut down, or switched to truck service.

The 2-bay CH’s were more for dense (heavy) products like cement.

4

I seen C&O set out 2 bay covered hoppers full of hops at the August Wagner Brewery(The old Gambrinus brewery) in Columbus,Oh back in the 60s.

5

The Walthers 2-bay Airslide hoppers were used for goods such as flour and other powdered food-grade goods (Powdered sugar comes to mind). I have the 3-pack decorated for Brachs Candies. OK, so they’re a little out of place on my layout, I’ll send 'em to Nora Mills to pick up flour or cornstarch or something.

Brad