Hood (rail transport)

Summary

A hood is a rigid cover to protect a load on a flatcar, gondola or a coil car.[1] Gondola hoods developed from loose tarpaulin covers that were deemed unsatisfactory in damp climates;[2] but tarpaulins are still used as hoods in some cases.[3] For some gondola loads, hoods made of fiberglass were sufficient.[4] The hoods on coil cars were originally permanently attached to the cars when they were developed in the mid-20th century.[5]

A steel coil car owned by Norfolk Southern Railway. The load is covered by a hood

Hoods could also be mounted on wheels enabling them to slide out of the way toward one end of the car for loading.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "(untitled)". Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Newsletter. Vol. 14–17. Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society. 1982. p. xiv – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "(untitled)". The Railway Age. Vol. XXXIV, no. 17. Chicago. October 24, 1902. p. 416 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ EP 0609655, Schnelting, Heinrich & Lemmer, Hugo, "Railway freight car", published 1997-05-07, assigned to Waggonfabrik Talbot GmbH & Co. KG 
  4. ^ "D.5.1.1 Site to Site on Rail". Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Niagara Falls Storage Area, Long Term Management of the Existing Radioactive Wastes and Residues at the Niagara Falls Storage Site. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Energy. August 1984. p. D-13 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "(untitled)". Headlight. Vol. 23–28. Public Relations Department, New York Central Railroad. 1962. p. 73 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ US 4986707, Reemtsema, Karl-Dieter; Wackermann, Peter & Ahlborn, Guenter et al., "Railroad freight car", published 1991-01-22, assigned to Waggon Union GmbH