The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

SELF-EMPTYING RAILWAY WAGONS 5°5 6o-Ton Self-Propelled Hopper Wagon.—Self-unloading trucks with the large capacity of 60 tons have been installed by the Virginian Railway Co. in connection with their coal loading and shipping scheme at Sewell Point, Norfolk,’Virginia. Ihese self-unloaders deserve special notice, as they are motor-driven or self-propelling; one of them is shown in Fig. 713. The motive power is produced by two 90 H.P. electro- motors, one at each end of the wagon. The unloading doors are manipulated by compressed air. Self-Unloaders of the Pennsylvanian Railway.—This company has recently Fig. 713. 60-Ton Self-Propelled Hopper Wagon. installed one thousand coal and coke wagons, which are some of the largest ever macle. One of these is illustrated in Fig. 714. The wagons unload through bottom outlets on each side, affording eight openings for the material to pass, presenting a total apeitiue of 80 sq. ft. The length of the body of the wagon is 40 ft., the carrying load 45 tons, and the capacity is 2,400 cub. ft. Bulk Transit of Grain by Means of Railway Trucks.—The bulk transit of grain bas been brought to great perfection in the United States, and there is no doubt that in this country some progress has been made amongst the larger inland flour millers. It may freely be admitted, however, that to many mills in this country the bulk tiansit of grain would be of little or no use, but on the other hand there seems to be a large field for its adoption in granaries and merchant mills of fair capacity, of which the inland position makes the mechanical handling of material (at least at the terminals) a matter of vital importance. The mills that may fairly dispense with the bulk handling of grain are at the two