Cotton Seed back in Lake O

[GrandTrunkFan]

Drove through Lake Odessa today and noticed on the old elevator track, that the cotton seed has resumed to come into town. A BAEX ex SP boxcar was at the loading dock while two AEX, what appear to be old woodchip hoppers, were at the end of the spur. Kinda curious how these were unloaded here...




The scenery here looks a lot different than it used to. The old Smith Bros elevator has been completely torn down, and actually had suffered a collapse during demolition. This siding used to serve the elevator.

[AARR]

Are the wood chip cars loaded with cotton seed? If yes how do they empty them? Do they have a tarp covering them? It seems the wood chip cars would be better for cotton seed service than box cars. The way they are loaded in box cars reminds me of the old days when they loaded grain in box cars

[cnw8835]

I would doubt those were loaded with cotton seed. They are the same type and number series as the high-side trash gons stored on the GRE in 2009. I would guess they are being used for loading construction or demolition debris into.

[rob]

I would doubt those were loaded with cotton seed. They are the same type and number series as the high-side trash gons stored on the GRE in 2009. I would guess they are being used for loading construction or demolition debris into.

they were i look them up in the computer

rob

[AARR]

I would doubt those were loaded with cotton seed. They are the same type and number series as the high-side trash gons stored on the GRE in 2009. I would guess they are being used for loading construction or demolition debris into.

Ok - thanks. Trash makes more sense for those green cars but box cars seem so ineffecient for loose cotton seed that i keep my eyes open for something else carrying it.

I recall seeing UP with a 100 box car unit train (mostly 50' RBOX) of cotton seed. Think it originated in the sooutheast and was heading to Mexico IIRC.

[cnw8835]

I would doubt those were loaded with cotton seed. They are the same type and number series as the high-side trash gons stored on the GRE in 2009. I would guess they are being used for loading construction or demolition debris into.

they were i look them up in the computer

rob

"they were" debris or cotton seed? If they were cotton seed, I stand corrected.

[GrandTrunkFan]

COTTON SEED! I say again COTTON SEED. From Vienna, Ga last time I looked. I will assume they use a clamshell bucket of some type. The boxcars are unloaded with a Bobcat/skidsteer. Its a feed additive for dairy cows. Adds to the butterfat content in the milk.

One would think but Caledonia Farmers Elevator doesnt have a clamshell in Lake O, at least one in plain sight. Theres really nowhere to keep anything that large hidden. Seen the Bobcat used in the boxcar. Unless they put some stuff in the AEX cars from the elevator demolition. But I dont remember much at all debris there before they showed up, some pieces of grain bins and some pipe, maybe. Dont know on this one.

[DLM]

Cars are covered when they arrive. The cover is removed and the cotton seed is unloaded. If it is loose, it could be vacuumed out. Not sure it the cover is reusable or plastic thrown away.

[cnw8835]

It appears that 2 more of the high side gons came in on Q335 this morning. They were the last two cars in the train sitting at the east end of 2 Track earlier. Reporting marks on the car I could see are MWCX 101391. Both cars had tarps ratchet strapped down across the tops.

[Jetlink]

Was up in Lake Odessa today and saw the cottonseed cars. The tarps were pushed to the side and they were full of cotton seed. Looked like Q tip tips. There was a front end loader on the loading ramp with a set of forks as well as a small conventional loader. No clamshell.