Re: Sand question

guymonmd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would think that if the sand is already in the
> sand tower it would be much easier to use that
> lifting bags of sand by hand to put in the sand
> dome.
> How is the sand tower filled?
> How was it filled historically?
>
> I would think someone could come up with a
> machine/method to fill a sanding tower from a sand
> source at the bottom of the tower.

You're correct, -if- the upper hopper is full. If not, the sand is loaded into a lower hopper in the house, and the reservoir tank outside (see picture, seems to be a surplus locomotive air tank) is pressurized via a gladhand, to locomotive air, and the sand is blown up to the top hopper.

When we rebuilt the sand house apparatus in, I think, 2016/17, we wanted to put a compressor in the sand house, but this was nixed, I think, because of spotty power available to the building.

I'm not sure how many "sand dome fills" the upper hopper has, or how many bags it takes to fill it. And, of course, it matters how empty the locomotive dome is.

As well, of course, a locomotive has to be available for the transfer operation.

As far as I know, this is how it was done historically.




~

Doug Frederick, Chama, New Mexico.

"Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?"

Slimrail Fan is 6.5 time zones, Pacific to Atlantic.

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