Greenbrier
LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. – The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. has introduced a new covered hopper designed for grain service. It introduces the “Tsunami Gate,” a state-of-the-art door and hatch system that enables shippers to customize the discharge speed of grain. The railcar has a capacity of 5,185 cubic feet and a 50-foot, 6-inch length that is shorter than traditional models, allowing more railcars per fixed amount of track. Other design features include:
- Longer hatches for improved filling efficiency;
- Rounded stiffeners for stronger sides;
- Tsunami Gate for customized unloading speed – as quickly as 30 seconds;
- Automated unloading for improved worker safety;
- “Align to close” tabs for clear indication that the Tsunami Gate is closed, locked and sealed for transport; and
- Aerodynamic performance for up to 53% reduction in drag.
Peter Jones, Greenbrier’s vice president of engineering, says, “a shorter, higher-capacity covered hopper railcar with the Tsunami Gate is a long-awaited and highly valued product for grain shipping customers. The new design increases worker safety by automating the unloading process, and it optimizes space on the tracks. By shortening the length of traditional grain railcars by more than 5 feet, while maintaining the same cubic volume, the result is less fuel consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower overall operating costs for our customers.”
Trains News Wire will have additional coverage of the car from the upcoming Railway Interchange 2019 trade show, to be held Sept. 22-25 in Minneapolis.
