"The Coal Hump"

[evan123]

As part of my growing series, Didder Mills, the next idea was to build a small route that's primary commodity is coal. (And I think it's only commodity for now). I took a quick gander through some online resources and developed a hump track for the coal tipple. It's still in its testing stage, but I have most of the problems worked out. I'm using Guido's Trinity hoppers from RRMods.com.

The hump track works one way, and can hold roughly 26 cars. Depending on the cars you use, I've seen tonnage of almost 3,000 tons. Also, as you can tell the route is nowhere close to being finished. I have much to do. It requires lots of practice to get the timing right. You need to have a balance of speed & breaking power, to properly yank the train back and to let the uncoupled car forward.

 

[evan123]

And if you look closely, the first hopper missed the loading area and went down the hump. (I know it's a play on word, but you get the idea.)

 

[ish6]

nice start!!
ish

 

[cascaderailroad]

It would be highly unlikely that hoppers would be humped, and handbraked by a car rider at a tipple. The load would not be distriuted consistantly throughout the car. And getting the loaded car to roll again downhill would require several men with wheel bars (long crowbar) to wedge them under the wheels.

Usually a loco using an extremely slow speed creeps under the tipple, dragging, or pushing the draft of cars, consistatly distributing the coal during loading.

However, rotary coal dumpers had kickbacks, and did hump cars, and roll the cars to the ship loaders, and the empty receiving yard.

 

[evan123]

Thanks for your input. Good thing this is just a video game and not a professional engineering draft.