In what parts of the country are Borax hopper cars likely to be seen? I model modern Union Pacific and BNSF in the Pacific Northwest, and wondered if the new Intermountain Trinity Borax hopper cars would be appropriate for this locale? Or are they seen all over the country?
Thanks, Mike
Definitely a western road car.
Looking up Borax on the enternet brings an answer. It is mined in the Southwestern US, and specificly in Boran California. The product is used by many manufactures across the US. You may find whole trains of covered hoppers in and around were it is mined, or you could find individual cars on any class i railroad. I hope that this is the information that you are looking for.
Borax is mined in California, but it is an ingredient in soap and detergents, so anywhere there is a Lever Brothers, Procter & Gamble, or Colgate Palmolive soap factory would probably receive hoppers full.
I’m not sure about current formulas, but Borax used to also be a key ingredient in rocket fuel.
Here is link that may help. Lots of interesting info. Borax cars would travel both BNSF and UP in Pacific Northwest.
A fair amount of chemicals originate from the SOCAL desert regions. Here’s the wiki on Trona RR: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trona_Railway
Lots and lots of NAHX, AJPX and DGHX covered hoppers.
Dan
I humped switched out a borax car yesterday. Just another ACFX Center Flow–nothing you’d notice unless you were looking in the right place.
Shaver, did she ask you for a cigarette afterwards? respectufully RIXFLIX
I saw a borax hopper off of us 24 in waterville at the manville plant last night.
stay safe
joe
Today’s big Borax covered hoppers aren’t too exceptional looking, but the smaller 1950-60s cars (such as were modeled by MDC) had some neat, attention-grabbing graphics on them.
Boron, CA (spelled with no “a”), located on the western edge of the Majave Desert) is home to California’s largest open-pit mine, which is also the largest Borax mine in the world.
Mark
Boron mine is located just east of the North end of Edwards Flight Test Center and is just north of California highway 58. The town of Boron is south of the highway and BNSF handles all switching from there mainline just south of the highway and runs through the town of Boron. This is on the former AT&SF mainline between Barstow and Tehachapi.
Al - in - Stockton
Like this one? Atlas “O” Scale 2-rail.
Haven’t seen any of these in the Ohio River Valley for a bunch of years.
(Carl, and others, haven’t checked to see if the car number is correct or not.)
Yes, indeed. Love those things!
Having never seen a “Boraxo” car in real life (or a photograph of a prototype version), I have to wash my hands of any debate on correct numbers.
Plausible, though.
(No cigarettes here, Rix.)
US Borax used to have tons of these cars at Boron, CA on the Santa Fe, although I do not remember the billboard specificaly, I do remember some carrying “U.S. Borax” on them. Santa Fe provided a lot of their own cars for the service, some labeled for captive service. US Borax was such a good customer, that Boron rated a little depot with an agent/operator in service until the mid 80’s if not mistaken. Incidentally, the loadout spur was unofficially known as the 20 mule team spur.
Go here…
http://www.socalrailfan.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=2834
photo of Boron depot.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=BORX&cid=4
roster of all 29 cars owned currently by US Borax and current photos of each one, complete with road numbers, reporting marks and history.
That rrpicturearchives.net website is very impressive. What an amazing collection of RR pictures!
Too bad that it also already has ads for TWO law firms calling attention to themselves just in case you might have a claim in the Chatsworth Metrolink case.
Maybe I should be glad that there aren’t more.
Borax cars today are pretty non descript not like the MDC small 2 bay cars posted previously. Cars tend to be 4750 cube 3 bay gravity covered hoppers, US Borax cars are USBX TCMX and BORX reporting marks. Tey ship out of Boron CA on the BN. Borate products are also made by Searles Valley Minerals at Trona CA on the Trona Railway which is a UP captive shortline. These cars tend to be AJPX, DJPX markings. Also 4750 cube 3 bay gravity cars.
Borates ship all over the US and into Canada, it is used in detergents and cleaners, fire retardant, paint additive, incedticides, and is largely used in making fiberglass and tempered glass, also the borates have uses in numerous cheimical applications, some derivitives even find their way into animal feed supplements.
