Greenbrier announces new covered hopper grain car design
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
AOKX car is seen in Omaha August 2019.
Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. announced this week the addition of a newly designed, covered hopper railcar to its broad line of railcar product offerings. Specifically made for grain, this covered hopper railcar introduces the Tsunami Gate, a state-of-the-art door and hatch system that permits shippers to customize the discharge speed of grain. The railcar has a capacity of 5,185 cubic feet and a 50′ 6″ 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.
AOKX car is seen in Omaha August 2019.
Peter Jones, Vice President of Engineering, said, “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.”
Greenbrier will unveil the new covered hopper railcar featuring Tsunami Gate at Railway Interchange 2019, September 22–25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Railway Interchange is the largest railway exhibition and technical conference in North America. The event, which is hosted by Railway Supply Institute and other leading railway-related associations, attracts more than 9,000 rail industry professionals from around the world.
A Greenbrier Companies news release. gbrx.com.
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