Russell,
Thanks for the offer of the track chart. I have several from different
dates, but not one from as late as that. I would be interested in a copy if
you didn't mind. Maybe we could arrange that off-list?
Walter tells me that from his memory they used an old truck with a drawbar
on the back to move cars at the Hubinger plant so I may just have to be
satisfied with switching strings of cars in and out. Thanks for the info
about how different plants handle that sort of thing. I know that Keokuk
Electrometals had its own switcher at one time, but wasn't sure about
arrangements at Hubinger.
Duncan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Russell Strodtz" <vlbg@p...>
To: <BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] Hubinger in Keokuk, Iowa
> Duncan,
>
> Have a 1969 track arrangement at Keokuk if you need one. Let me know.
>
> Don't think any industry would expect the RR to move individual cars.
> Also would have no desire to pay for an Intra Plant Switch.
>
> So how do they move their cars? Could have the track graded so the
> cars move by gravity. Just a matter of hand brakes then.
> Or, a rope on a capstan was fairly common although they claim a lot of
> fingers. A cable system with an underground motor is the next step up.
> Then you move up to an end loader, a farm tractor, or small cat.
> Trackmobiles are all over the place but are expensive and can only do
> one thing. Also just about worthless in snow.
>
> All in all the end loader is probably the best solution. There is a lot
to
> clean up when unloading grain, especially from box cars, and the loader
> can do both jobs.
>
> There are plenty of elevators that load unit grain trains with cars on 3
or 4
> tracks and no locomotive. Just keep pulling or pushing them around
> with that end loader until they're done.
>
> Russ
> >
> > Another general question -- with a large plant like this which received
> > strings of cars, would the switch engine have to return to the plant
each
> > time a car was finished being loaded (or emptied) and push the string of
> > cars along so the next one could be attended to? I don't see evidence
of
> > facilities to load (or empty) more than a car at a time. Or, does
someone
> > remember an engine being assigned to Hubinger most of the time?
> >
> > Thanks as always.
> > Duncan
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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