Rotary train car coal dumping - GIF and video

**PJs** · Dec 28, 2018, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by mklotz

I'm still puzzled about what happens at the couplers that link the car-to-be-tipped with its adjacent, non-tipping car(s). In the first gif, I don't see any car movement that might suggest the cars are being un-coupled prior to tipping.

Are the couplers on these cars mounted such that they can rotate about a horizontal axis to allow the tipping without uncoupling?

I believe the coupler is on a captive yoke shaft that allows it to spin. There are some pics in a google search for "coal dumping train coupling" Here is a link to a model railroad exact replica of an FMC4000. ExactRail HO scale FMC 4000 rotary-dump coal gondola | ModelRailroader.com

The pics not great but the article talks about magnetic coupler and proper height.

One of our techs back in the day took some pictures of the Coal Mountains and the trains feeding from the coal mountains to an eastern coal fired plant. Not a long run...maybe a mile max. Coal was brought in from farther away. The heaps dwarfed the loaders. @¿@

**ranald** · Dec 30, 2018, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by PJs

I believe the coupler is on a captive yoke shaft that allows it to spin. There are some pics in a google search for "coal dumping train coupling" Here is a link to a model railroad exact replica of an FMC4000. ExactRail HO scale FMC 4000 rotary-dump coal gondola | ModelRailroader.com

The pics not great but the article talks about magnetic coupler and proper height.

One of our techs back in the day took some pictures of the Coal Mountains and the trains feeding from the coal mountains to an eastern coal fired plant. Not a long run...maybe a mile max. Coal was brought in from farther away. The heaps dwarfed the loaders. @¿@

Thanks, like Marv, I was wondering about that & train breaks.
In early 70's I visited a friend managing a mine in central Queensland & saw the coal being washed & separated by what could be described as giant sieves (one for each level of a multi story open concrete building). Really cool stuff. The coal was then trained to the coast for export. It was a major financial boost to the state government earning $5 a ton in royalities somewhat like the Beatles (in the early days) earning 3 % and making so much that they paid 19shillings & 6 pence in every pound in tax=no wonder they were offered MBE s by the Queen.