Cement Plant

At first glance, I thought they were part of the facility. I didn't realize until I read the statement. Nice project.

Don

That's a nice addition...excellent modeling.

Thumbs up! Looks very good, Chris!

Nice job and addition to the layout. I too am looking to build some day a siding for the unloading of concrete/cement. We have one here in Phoenix that several hoppers line up to with overhead tanks to unload to and then trucks load up the contents. Just a transfer station big enough for a smaller layout.

Wish it was easier to post photos here, like Ebay. This Jpeg/url thing sounds like I need to take a computer class. Just like the browse, click, post.

Phil 

"Wish it was easier to post photos here, like Ebay. This Jpeg/url thing sounds like I need to take a computer class. Just like the browse, click, post."

   It's about as easy as ebay to post pictures here , I just click on the add attachments below the posting box then browse my photos to select one..DaveB 

Nice job. I noticed the name "Alpha". Do you know that there was a real cement company, named "Alpha Portland Cement"? They had many plants across the country, until the company dissolved in the early/mid 80's.

Where's the kiln?

Dick

yes, there's an Alpha plant along the Delaware River in NJ. which is why I named it such.

the rotary kilns are inside the tall building. this plant has two smaller kilns rather than one large one outside.

Chris,

Great work.  Captures the feel of a cement plant.

Ed

Looks very nice.  I've been interested in a cement facility, but am confused on exactly how cement hoppers are unloaded.  Are pressure hoses attached from above and the contents dump into a bin below the tracks, or is there some type of closed recovery system?

Thanks...gregg

 "I've been interested in a cement facility, but am confused on exactly how cement hoppers are unloaded.  Are pressure hoses attached from above and the contents dump into a bin below the tracks, or is there some type of closed recovery system?"

   It might vary. The local cement plant shipped cement out in hoppers with plain sliding door outlets and also in hoppers with pressure pipes on the bottom. I never saw where they went for unloading.  

   BTW, When I first saw the plant it had rotating kilns inside the building then around 1978 or so they modernized it with a larger outdoor kiln along with some large pollution control structures. In addition to coal incoming they occasionally got some kind of mineral additives including one that was a fine black powder. They also got shipments of new equipment at times. ....DaveB

Very nice work. Chris.

thank you all.

I should mention this was a collaborative effort. Tom Mapes had built the trackwork, retaining wall and silos, I'm doing the rest.

the finished cement is loaded into either covered hoppers or cement 'bottles' in gondolas by pneumatic pressure. the unloading process is the same, by air pressure. I may wind up adding a loading dock for bagged cement into boxcars.

Don't forget to leave a lot of cement dust all around the tracks for the loading/unloading areas.  Not all of the cement made its way into silos or freight cars.  A fair amount ended up on the ground.

Depending upon the era, cement was shipped in barrels and bags in boxcars too.

Thanks DaveB  i was trying to use the above icon next to the smile face and cal.

 " i was trying to use the above icon next to the smile face and cal."

   Hi Phill, does the add attachment method work for you? ...DaveB 

"the finished cement is loaded into either covered hoppers or cement 'bottles' in gondolas by pneumatic pressure. the unloading process is the same, by air pressure. I may wind up adding a loading dock for bagged cement into boxcars"

   Those cement "bottles" in gondolas seem to be an east coast thing. I can't recall seeing them in Cali.   The local plant here shipped bagged cement in boxcars up till around the 1960's along with bulk cement in covered hoppers starting in the 1950s so there was a short overlap period . The cement hoppers had gravity outlets up til the end of plant operations around 2009 except for a few cars with some kind of pipes connected to the outlets.......DaveB

Very nice work, Chris.  Great addition to your layout.

Art

Dave,

yes an east coast thing. the NYC, DLW and LV all used cement canisters by the LCL corp. loaded onto gondolas. there were openings cut into the sides of the gons between the ribs to allow easier access for the loading hoses.

I believe the driving reason for the bottles was for trans-loading across the river into New York City for construction projects.

dave B I am sure it will now that I am playing on the correct field. Just remembered the photos I was looking for are on an old computer that broke and needs a new fan. Until my son can help me put it back together all my 90's and 2000's pics are in prison.

Phil

Cherry Valley RR Club • Looks great • Congratulations 

Very nice.  I'm not sure what era you are modeling, so the following may not be pertinent.  I recently obtained plans for the Lehigh Cement plant in Union Bridge, MD., as it existed in the early 1950s  (after a recent expansion, it is now the biggest cement manufacturer east of the Mississippi).  Many cement plants had their rotary kilns out in the open, but, in the 1950s, the Lehigh plant had three kilns completely covered by a large metal building.  It will sure make the plant easier to model.

Dear List,

    I have to pinch myself sometimes to be lucky enough to belong to the Cherry Valley Club and watch these true modeler's perform there craft. Chris has also taken decrepit buildings that were under our layout and transformed them into truly works of art. Every member has been busy preparing our layout for our Christmas open house which kicks off December 5th thru December 7th,2014 and first 2 weekends in January,2015.

  We are also starting a membership drive as we are looking for the person who just likes trains- 2 or 3 rail- and has a desire to work with others with our projects, and most importantly, HAVE FUN !!!  Happy Holidays to All, John P.Dunn Sr. President,CVMRR