Greetings,
I’ve just finished building and placing on my layout walthers medusa cement company structure kit and need information as to what type of trucks (vehicules) would be used to transport by road the powdered material to local ready-mix plant to be mixed with sand, aggregate (crushed rock and stone) and water to produce concrete. Any and all information as to manufacturer, price, availability or other suggestion will be much appreciated. Shipping by rail in covered hoppers not an option as i would like to ship by truck transport. Hoppers are already used to receive cement at plant so I’d like something different for shipping. Walthers instruction sheet mentioned that trucks were used to carry cement to ready-mix plant but they dont mention what kind of trucks were used . Thanks again for forthcoming info.
Regards - Keep on trackin -
Rudy Montreal Canada
Hi Rudy,
The powdered stuff you refer to is called Gypsum.
They usually haul it in various types of dump trucks, covered with tarps or tank trailers that haul similar products like sugar and sand. Hope that helps.
-Wolv33
Here are two links to the whole process of making cement-which would be educational for anyone wanting to add the Medusa Cement Plant to their layout. A second idea would be to purchase the Blue Star RediMix plant as an addition to the Medusa plant facility.
http://www.ppc.co.za/Cement/c_cement_manprocess.asp
http://www.portcement.org/cb/concretebasics_history.asp
When I worked at a Spancrete in 1978, semis would arrive with what I can best describe as a cylindrical covered hopper. These were aluminum, or maybe stainless? and had maybe 3 conical hopper bottoms that were connected with a large tube. This was hooked up to the plant, and perhaps air was used to pu***he powdered cement through the attached hose to the plant. They would rap on the sides at the end of unloading to jar loose any cement clinging to the inside walls. This tube and hose hookup was 6-10" in diameter, I am guessing/trying to recall. I watched, but did not actually unload, and that was a while ago.
If you are looking for a much different era, like the 50’s or earlier, I don’t have a clue. I imagine today things are done much the same.
Dean
Thanks for clarifying Dean. My Dad used to work as an over-the-road trucker and he hauled Gypsum a lot. The tanker trailer that I was referring to was what you described, but he also hauled Gypsum in open dump-bed trailers with tarps over them.
The loads would be brought up to the cement plants from the Gypsum mines. He also used to haul silica sand in the same tanker/hopper trailers. According to Dad, they mostly haul the gypsum by rail now, since rail cars can hold more than tractor-trailers. They are also faster with arrivals.
-Wolv33
Thanks guys,
Believe have found in Walthers catalog page 805 Herpa trailer dry bulk carrier that would do the job - To Dean and yourself many thanks for info - Keep on trackin
Rudy
No Problem, Rudy. You are quite welcome. I like to help when I can, especially when so many have helped me and continue to help me here.
-Wolv33