Practices in rail wagon discharge are well-established and supported by a mature industry and it is unusual to develop a new way of emptying wagons. Conventionally, rail wagons are emptied by turning them upside down or on their sides, either individually or in pairs, to allow their contents to fall into a hopper below or to the side of the discharge rotator. The wagons to be emptied can either be uncoupled or remain attached through the use of special rotary couplings and pneumatic brake hoses. This is normally the only modification the rail wagon requires over a standard design if such a system is employed, thus making rail car costs low and sourcing competitive.
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