Paper Company Covered Hoppers

I recently purchased a pair of models of ACF 55' covered hoppers painted for the Simpson Lee Paper Company. I have a question that I hope is a simple one. What would a paper company be shipping in a covered hopper? Thank you for your time!

I don't KNOW what paper companies ship in covered hoppers, but here's a guess: many kinds of paper contain, in addition to cellulose fibers, materials like chalk or china clay.

Paper company's ship in Corn starch It gets mixed in with the wood pulp which makes the paper stiff. They also use Corn Starch when making cardboard and paper board. Its like an alternet to using Kaolin or Clay which are also other products used in making paper.

ever see a 55' clay car? all the ones i've seen are the shorties (34 feet long) ps-2's. kaolin (white clay) is very heavy. a 55' car would weigh out long before it cubed out. waste of a car. thats why you see shorties.

GOLDEN-ARM wrote:ever see a 55' clay car? all the ones i've seen are the shorties (34 feet long) ps-2's. kaolin (white clay) is very heavy. a 55' car would weigh out long before it cubed out. waste of a car. thats why you see shorties.

thats a good point and never would have gave that a thought on the larger cars not being able to handle powdered Clay.

Sandersville Railroad, for one, has 4000 Cu Ft, three-bay, 50' cars in kaolin service.