11-28-2009, 11:05 AM
I think that it would also depend on the cars' intended service: some privately-owned or leased cars are in dedicated service and carry only one product. An example that springs to mind is carbon black covered hoppers - the carbon black would contaminate any other cargo and, I suspect, any other cargo would probably contaminate the car for carbon black service, too.
Many of these cars (and even railroad-owned cars) can be assigned to a particular service or even a particular industry. Boxcars, flatcars, and gondolas are often fitted with loading devices or racks designed for a single commodity: notations such as "Ford truck frame lading only" or "When empty, return to ...." can be seen stencilled on these cars.
The free-lanced (although based on a CPR prototype) car shown below is an early attempt at a covered hopper. While it can still be used as a regular boxcar (there are floor plates which can be installed over the unloading hoppers to allow loading of packaged goods), its "specialised" features keep it in dedicated service.
With more modern covered hoppers now in service, this car often carries bagged flux, but can be pressed into bulk service when necessary.
Wayne
Many of these cars (and even railroad-owned cars) can be assigned to a particular service or even a particular industry. Boxcars, flatcars, and gondolas are often fitted with loading devices or racks designed for a single commodity: notations such as "Ford truck frame lading only" or "When empty, return to ...." can be seen stencilled on these cars.
The free-lanced (although based on a CPR prototype) car shown below is an early attempt at a covered hopper. While it can still be used as a regular boxcar (there are floor plates which can be installed over the unloading hoppers to allow loading of packaged goods), its "specialised" features keep it in dedicated service.
With more modern covered hoppers now in service, this car often carries bagged flux, but can be pressed into bulk service when necessary.
Wayne