Rail Loading Complex: CO-OP SWITCHES FROM PLATFORM SCALE TO BULKWEIGHER TO LOAD SHUTTLE TRAINS

摘要

Farmers Co-operative of Hanska, Hanska, MN had been using a platform scale to obtain origin weights at its 1.7-million-bushel rail terminal in New Ulm, MN (507-233-4850). The terminal is located on the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E), which interchanges with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) at Florence, MN. To remain competitive, however, the coop needed to be able to load 110-car shuttle trains, and that wasn't possible with a platform scale, says General Manager Randy Rieke. "We had to uncouple each railcar to weigh it, and that's not feasible, if you're trying to meet the BNSF's 15-hour deadline."