I've been told...

that the solar panels create energy to open and close the discharge gates of the ballast hoppers.  The gates are also operated remotely so the train remains on the move.  

Life is getting harder by the moment....

Nick

BTW it probably wouldn't be a good time for the train in the picture to demonstrate its advanced capabilities...

Great information...

Great information Nick. Thank you!

The new MassDOT ballast cars

The new MassDOT ballast cars are similarly equipped 

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/mow/news/MassDOT-acquires-remote-operated-ballast-cars--51433

Could be this product

http://hrsi.com/services/solar-ballast-car-automation/

Would be a cool thing to model on a MOW train...

jeff

Here's one from 2013

Hi all,

Here's one I spotted on a ballast hopper in loop near Shuswap in 2013 on a CP work train during my Canadian trip on the Rocky Mountaineer.

I'm not sure what the solar panel was powering. 

In Australia, trains of coal hoppers have been fitted with solar panels. These are backup power for the 'smarts" that control the ECP-brakes (Electronically-controlled pneumatic brakes) . At present, most ECP-trains are hard wired. However from 2015, there are at least two hopper consists with solar panels where each hopper can be linked by radio to the locomotive cab that:

• reports the consist of the train to the locomotive by individual wagon
• reports the load in each wagon
• controls the in-train ECP brakes on each wagon
• will report and alarm excessive brake linkage travel 
• can isolate a defective brake system on a wagon remotely from the locomotive cab
• controls the dump doors of each wagon.
• can be used for "condition monitoring" that will automatically report on other wagon defects like hot bearings/sticking brake shoes/vibration/door security (I'm not sure if these consists was fully rigged with all these sensors). 

For those who are not familiar with the benefits of ECP brakes over conventional Westinghouse continuous air brakes have a look at  https://www.eex.gov.au/resource/potential-energy-efficiency-opportunities-in-the-australian-road-and-rail-sectors/electronically-controlled-pneumatic-brakes  (Caution - technical real railroady stuff - you have been warned). In summary,  30% to 70% decrease in stopping distances, fuel savings of between 4% and 10% because of the brakes coming off faster) These links are mostly pre-2010. A lot more work has been done in the past couple of years. 

The age of the "smart rail wagon" is coming. Maybe soon we'll need model solar panels (3D-printed??) for some of our models of "smarter wagons?     

Satellite trains

On the UP they were called "satellite trains".  The solar panels power a GPS satellite system that allows the train to know where it is.  The railroad programs an unloading pattern into the computer on the cars.  When the train reaches the lat-long of the planned dump the system triggers the doors to open to release the amount of ballast required (pre-programmed).  When the train reaches the lat -long of the end of the dump, the dump doors close and the train runs to its next dumping location.  There is a regular train crew on the train and a MofW guy in a pick up that monitors the train.  The dump doors are electricaly controlled, but air operated.

Back in the day (circa 1980), the last time I unloaded a ballast train, it took a couple section gangs to unload a train of "belly dumps" (conventional hoppers) loaded with ballast.  The would chain the doors so they didn't open all the way, and put a crosstie in front of the wheels of the trailing truck of the car being dumped.  Then they would crack the doors open and dump ballast, the crosstie would plow it level with the tops of the trail.  There were men on each side working the doors, plus the foreman and another couple guys moving the crossties in position, about 4 guys for every car being dumped plus the foreman.  It was hot, dirty work.  By the end of the day, everybody was grey, the black guys were grey, the white guys were grey, the Hispanic guys were grey.  Completely coated with dust.

You mean like this

Weird

The panels should get whacked quite often in the loading process. Using a passenger locomotive providing HEP power and running power cables through all the car should be more reliable and incur in less damage.

Maybe I'm a pessimist and the people operating the front loaders are good... Maybe the damage is not expensive or hard to do...

Regards

Or Not

They have been in service for probably 5-10 years with no problems so its probably not as much of concern.

All they need is 5-12 v to run the computer, why would they need a 400+ volt several kw HEP generator?  You have more or less the same electronics in your car, you don't need to drag around a trailer with an HEP on it to run the GPS display in your dashboard.

another example

Just passed over Horseshoe Curve. You can see them the ends.

FYI..

https://georgetownrail.com/Material-Handling/Solaris

http://hrsi.com/services/solar-ballast-car-automation/

Marc

my bad

You are right, I just thought about damage and reliability, although I still think it is a risk to have solar panels over any kind of top loading cars of any kind. Perhaps using a air turbine out of the train line? A dynamo on the axle like oldtime passenger cars?

Regards,

One more set of solar panels.

Very common now.

Nick

i can see it now. a 100 car

i can see it now. a 100 car train of ballast. all the doors opening up and dumping the loads due to a computer glitch.

Satellite trains

Satellite trains have been around for decades and work really well, they allow ballast to be dumped 24x7 and maximize the equipment usage.  Haven't had a major problem yet.

The major waste in MofW is waiting to get out on the track.  Just getting the crews on the track when scheduled can easily result in a 10% increase in production, more work being done = safer track. 

On the railroad I worked for the dispatch office or MofW had to explain every instance when a system gang did not start on time.