01-17-2009, 02:33 PM
I'd imagine that shipping companies don't want their ships tied up in port any longer than necessary, therefore unloading quickly would be important. This is why I don't think hoppers would be spotted under the crane. In most photo's I have seen, there is a pit underneath the crane, where the ore, coal, or whatever is dumped. The sides of the pit slope inwards. This keeps the pile from spilling onto the crane's tracks. Imagine if one of those babies derailed!!
I've also seen photo's where there's a steam shovel (or modern version) that loads the hopper cars from the side of the ore piles. and of course there could always be conveyors for moving the ore.
It's funny that there's no entry in Wikipedia for the bridge crane or at How Stuff Works. Maybe our good friend Dr Wayne will illuminate us....
cheers
Val
I've also seen photo's where there's a steam shovel (or modern version) that loads the hopper cars from the side of the ore piles. and of course there could always be conveyors for moving the ore.
It's funny that there's no entry in Wikipedia for the bridge crane or at How Stuff Works. Maybe our good friend Dr Wayne will illuminate us....
cheers
Val