I got a question for all who want to put in thier 2 cents. Is it possible for Thrall 4750 Covered Hoppers to be bought out bya company or private owner and be used to carry plastic pellets?

railroader9731 Wrote:I got a question for all who want to put in thier 2 cents. Is it possible for Thrall 4750 Covered Hoppers to be bought out bya company or private owner and be used to carry plastic pellets?

Possible, but not plausible, as the 4750 (well 4700, 4740 as well) are center discharge, pellet cars generally use a side discharge tubular outlet (who's terminology escapes me at the moment).

I think most private name cars are leased rather than bought by the company who's name is on them. Smaller companies would probably just use railroad owned cars. If the industry standard for unloading a type of car is different than the car in question was originally designed, then the car would either be rebuilt to industry standard or it would not be used, depending on costs involved. Generally the method used by an industry to do anything is based on what experience is found to be the most efficient. If a system is found to be more efficient, an industry will redesign their plant to take advantage of the better efficiency. Bringing in a car that is not compatible with the plant's design would just not be cost effective. If you look at the entire issue, I think it is safe to say that efficiency is what caused diesel to replace steam on the railroads to the extent that even the Appalachian coal haulers finally had to give up on steam and convert to diesel.

In a modeling sense, it is perfectly plausible. Perhaps your railroad took them over as assets in a mergers, or otherwise acquired them cheaply.

I don't see why not.
Prototypically, anything can be modified for a specific need. Since plastic pellets cars, are similar to regular hopper cars, just welding the clam shell doors shut, and adding some pipping to the side of the discharge would be all that's need. Some sort of airline , either pressure or vacuum to unload the pellets would be required.

Just remember, rail cars have been used for multiple purposes for years. Box cars modified to haul grain and cars. Flat cars built for piggybacks have been used for hauling steel plates. Anything is possible.