09-30-2011, 09:28 AM
Actually, I think modern hoppers used in cement service use center hatches. I'm going to the Cajon Division NMRA meet in Barstow on Oct. 8 and will go on a tour of the Cemex plant in Vistorville that afternoon. Part of the tour is to go into the room in the silo where they operate the machinery to load the hoppers. Out the window is a very good view of the loading operation of the hoppers. The operators window is 10 to 15 feet from the loading hatches.