Basically it a water sprayer for coal trains.The purpose is to keep down the Coal dust.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC0yiJetgKY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC0yiJetgKY</a><!-- m -->

An interesting article about the various problems moving coal dust in open hoppers. A good reason to have a sprinkler system in place.

http://www.sightline.org/2016/05/04/coal...st-period/

At the Huber braker in Ashley PA. All out going coal loads were sprayed with a thin coat of oil to keep the dust down. This gave the coal a blueish tint, that along with the blue color flame it gives off when burned, earned it the blue coal brand name. The St Nichols braker also did something similar.

Hi,

water is not effectiv enough because it dries out very fast.
CP has a Latex Spray Construction.

See here: https://youtu.be/VFiV55zohC4

Why not just use covered hoppers in the first place? How many millions of gallons of water per year do they waste on that process?