I model steam era and cannot find info on the preferred container in steam era to transport hay bales. I have read that grain was often the car of choice during that time. Thanks for your info.
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Probably box cars. There was no need to refrigerate hay bales, and cleaning out "reefers" after hauling bales would be a time-consuming headache.
Cattle cars deadheading back?
Thanks for the replies.
Originally Posted by pennsynut:
Thanks for the replies.
Back in 1985 north carolina had one of the worst drought.Some farmers in upper midwest sent hay to help the farmers out.Csx steped up and pulled a train of 50 to 60 boxcars free no charge.The train pulled into the moroe n.c. rail yard.Were the hay was given to the very greatful farmers.My grand dad was a farmer so he got some hay for the livestock he had.
Normally, as far as I know, hay was not normally moved far enough to justify rail shipment. Southern California dairies concentrated around Artesia had to import hay because there was not adequate local pasture land, but it was never grown more than about 50 ms away and was trucked. When possible, hay is grown close to the place of consumption.
Yes outside of an unusual situation like a drought as Seaboard Streak mentions, hay would normally be grown and used by the farmer / rancher to feed his animals. He might buy hay from (or sell hay to) a farmer 'down the road' but I'd think that would just be moved by truck. Hay isn't normally considered a 'cash crop' like say wheat.
I suspect you are correct that hay does not usually travel by rail today. However in the steam era, especially in the 19th century, hay would have travelled by rail. The only picture I've seen of it was a drawn illustration of hay in a boxcar being delivered in New York City.
I have no first hand knowledge of shipping hay by rail but there is a reason that barn hay mows are well ventilated -- minimizing the potential for spontaneous combustion from drying hay after harvest. Seems like the same ventilation concern could apply to rail shipping. Might argue for something like a cattle car with good ventilation. Straw would be a different situation, of course.
Poppyl
As a farm owner, I too really doubt hay was hauled by rail very often. It just isn't worth that much money. I collect old RR photos and have never seen a photo of hay on a train. It's possible it could be inside a box car, but again I've never heard of that. It would likely cost more to haul than what it was worth. Current hay price is something like $140 per ton, I think. (Big round bales weigh about half a ton.) Hay is very bulky.
Kent in SD
Kent in SD
I am also curious about if and when railroads have shipped hay. Searching the web has produce very few resources but yet some hits:
http://maltedmedia.com/people/...y/waam-20060608.html
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/facul...fs/Buffalo/PB44.html
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa1998019632/PP/
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/facul...fs/Buffalo/PB39.html
If you are looking to model a dairy farm, I know they do receive train cars (box cars) of cotton seed to feed to the cattle. My uncle did this in Montana, they unloaded the car with a small skid steer loader.
Has anyone else found anything?
Sorry for the double post, missed one
http://www.mainememory.net/artifact/8063
...and the circus trains must have carried hay for their 4 legged performers.
