HFCS (Corn Syrup) transloading...?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
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I have been collecting the Atlas 17.6k Corn Syrup cars from 2004 from day 1, so I have a large fleet. I figure it is time to get with the program and get my transloading operation into full operation other than trading out 4 to 5 tank crs every session.

I read the artical by Jim Lincoln in MRP 2010 (Good timing by the way) and this looks like a good place to start up the new transloading operation, but it was vague on a few points.

I have been trying to find info on the grades of HSCS and I can only find refrance to 3 in google
HFCS-42,HFCS-55 & HFCS-90.
The MRP 2010 artical mentions a few other grades but I can not seem to find them on the net.

I would also like to know about viscosity of the grades of HFCS. What grades need to be heated/preheated to remove from the tank car? I’m thinking that HFCS-55 should not need to be preheated as it is used for soft drinks…, But HFCS-90 would be…?

Other info I would like to know. What would the dwell time be for preheating a tank car? I’m giving it 24hrs, but would it be longer or less? I’m sure you might not need to preheat car in the summer when it is 115 but in the winter when it is 40 outside, I’m sure you need to pre heat the cars. Is ther a table some were that would give you this info?

I have 6 unloading spots and 6 storage spots. I would like to run 3 to 4 grades of HFCS.
1st grade should not need to be preheated but will turn around 3 cars per 24hr. Dwell time 24 hrs for unload per car…HFCS-55
2nd grade would be somthing heavy that will need to be preheated every time to unload the car and stay on the heat tell empty. avg 2 cars in an out per 24hrs with a dwell time of 48hrs per car for unloading. HFCS-?
3rd would be some midrange grade that will not needed to be preheated if it is put on the unload pipe when it gets in but the longer it sits the more likly it will need to be preheated. Dwell ti

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Have you looked at manufacturers’ websites?

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Yes, Seems the most info I can find is from people trying to ban HFCS in products. Nothing about grades other than HFCS-42 and HFCS-55. That is why I’m asking here. I have read all about how HFCS kills rats and makes children fat. I’m sure HFCS is a Government plot…

I’m just looking for info on transloading the stuff.

Thanks ,

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ADM and Cargill both have technical data sheets that include viscosities at various temperatures. Also, it appears any grade other than 42, 42 with 80% solids, 55, and 90 must be rare.

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Thanks, I will look into that.

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welcome back

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How did you know? :smiley: :joy: :rofl:

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The new forum software helpfully tells us that you’re back, and how long you’ve been away…

One note for transloading: Most facilities that would heat a car would use process steam, and the temperature would be related to saturation pressure. There is likely a restriction on how hot you want to get this stuff, and how quickly heat transfer will manage getting the contents to ‘dispensing’ temperature – there will be tracer lines in the connections and probably heating in the pumps used.

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Corn syrup if you’re heating it you don’t want it to boil it so no temperature above 212 as it will crystallize on cooling. If you need to heat it to flow just get it up to 130 140 and it will flow easily. I hauled a lot to a syrup factory in the 90s we just had a engine coolant heater in the tank jacket that circulated engine coolant from the engine through it.

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