A Cargill unit feed train rolls through Shawnee, Kan., in June 2009. The train consists of covered bathtub gondolas pulled from coal service.
Zach Pumphery
Q While traveling near Atchison, Kan., I noticed a BNSF Railway train with covered bathtub coal gondolas. What were the covers for, and could they be removed should they be rotary dumped? – Lyle Sentel, Arthur, Ill.
A That was likely a unit train of Cargill Sweet Bran, a brand of cattle feed, and not coal at all. This is a product created from the corn wet-milling process conducted at plants within the Midwest. The commodity is moved in bulk between the mills and Cargill’s distribution centers in Dalhart and Bovina, Texas.
BNSF Railway, Canadian National, and Iowa Interstate operate the trains, which originate at various plants in Iowa.
The cars are aluminum Bethgon Coalporters, usually with a majority sporting Burlington Northern markings, reassigned from coal service. They are equipped with Shur-Lok brand roll tarps, similar to ones manufactured for use on grain-hauling semitruck trailers, to prevent the slurry-like product from being exposed to the elements and spoiling en route.
When the trains arrive at a Texas distribution center, they are unloaded with a rotary dumper on a loop track in a method similar to a coal train for consumption at area feedlots, and the empties return north. – Zach Pumphery, locomotive engineer
Where can I learn what road names and road numbers these ‘protein cars’ have as identification??? I see Intermountain Railways has built an HO Scale version of this gondola car.
that is cool, Pump and a car that I had never heard of. I know regular gondolas but next time I see a train going by I will look. Glad to see your name on here along with your pics in Trains. Congrats.
Any time that I spend watching trains, either at a grade crossing or finding a special observation point like the depot I’m Marion, OH, I always find myself wondering what’s in those special cars, where are they going, and where have they been. Special thanks to Zach Pumphery for helping me understand some of the mystery.