22 April 2011, 5:32 pm
I don’t know why this popped into my mind just now and after so many years, but it got me thinking. There is a wide demographic that visits the ol’ rail category so I am hoping for an answer. For background info, when shipping coil steel rolls from the mills, all I had ever seen was these 25 ton coils in flat cars built for that purpose alone. The centerline of the car was a simple, V shaped trough that cradled the coils. So it was only natural that these cars were dubbed with the moniker of “hog troughs.” Some of these cars also have a removable canopy. I’ve always guessed these were for stainless steel, but I don’t know. Coil steel in gondolas is just as common, I would think. Here’s the tale: I was on a typical northbound dog consisting of mixed freight. We had to make a pick-up at a place called Black Butte. We were past Mt Shasta City, and got a rolling inspection from a southbound train at a place called Upton. They called the conductor on the radio and said it looked like a roll of news print wad come unsecured and had pushed out the bottom of the door. The next station was Black Butte where we had work anyway, so the conductor decided we’d inspect there. Then when we were heading into the siding, the conductor in the caboose said simply, “Stop the train, Bob.” The reason why is there was a roll of coil steel laying in the toe path. This thing had been loaded into a box car. News print is very heavy too, does ship in box cars, but it isn’t a roll of coil steel. I can’t think of how they loaded it, since it wasn’t from the top. Using a super forklift doesn’t fit, to my mind. I mean, as soon as the front wheels roll onto the cars floor, that car is going to tip. So, has anyone ever heard of this nutty method of shipping coil steel? Or was it a ‘one of’ sort of deal to your mind? But here’s the kicker: Black Butte is a 10 mph siding, so the roll just let gravity help it out of the car. But when we went through Mt Shasta City, we were clickety-clacking along at 40 mph. We crossed six grade crossings. It scared me to think this thing could have wound up in someone’s lap. This was under the noon day sun so there were people all over the place. This is why I always suggest stopping back at least 50 feet from a passing train, whether on foot or as a driver. A coupe of weeks ago, a motorist was killed while sitting at a crossing waiting for a train to pass. There was a very low speed derailment that derailed five cars. One turned over on its side and killed the guy. But, if he had been back that 50 feet, he may have lived to tell of his own experience. So, again. Has anyone known of shipments of coil steel in box cars? Thanks . I never dreamed of it. But then again, I didn't care about the wheeler, bills or anything else. Just the profile. Then the last piece of the question would be, "Haven't the shippers heard of plug doors?" Not one employed here, which probably now explains the 20 year old mystery. Thanks for the info. It'll go to a vote.... Read More »
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