Information about HORA1 hoppers for ASO Portland Cement

[David]

While looking for some short freight to run under steam power I came across this Microace set(s):

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100537  2x HORA1
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100535  1x HORA1 + 1x SEFU1

I also tracked down a video by the guy who does minicurve tests, though I don't understand any of the Japanese:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/0HF2N_XmkR8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/0HF2N_XmkR8</a>

The hopper cars themselves are simple enough, basic 17t ton hoppers. What really caught my eye was the SEFU -> SE=a coal car, FU=conductor car. According to the information these are for the ASO Portland Cement company, though the auto-translation gets a bit confused as to whether these originally carried limestone, or only later carried it (it looks more like coal to me, especially given that the conductor car is SE). Any idea what would, or perhaps could, have pulled these, and maybe how big a train would have been prototypical?

[bill937ca]

The first thing that comes to mind with today's railways is the Chichibu.  It runs trains with similar cars and most of its freight traffic is cement related. It is affiliated with the Seibu Railway which operates some through trains on the Chichibu, Chichibu operates ex-JR Series 103 (I think) trains, electric locos in a blue paint scheme and C58 steam excursions.

http://tomo-jrc.cocolog-nifty.com/tetsu/2008/05/post_8761.html

This web site is probably mainly JRF freight stock,but it may help.

http://www25.big.or.jp/~t_fukuda/index.htm

Also check out the further info link on the Hobby Search listing.  Cars with the Yellow Stripe were restricted to 65 kph.  It gives there origins as 1960 and 1954.

[bill937ca]

Chichibu freights are 10 car units with a built-in guard's van.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zwiv33L6xFk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Zwiv33L6xFk</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GXl0ZBZy30c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/GXl0ZBZy30c</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qx6Izk-PpwQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Qx6Izk-PpwQ</a>

[Fenway Park]

The HORA 1 and SEFU hoppers were an integral part of the Kyushu coal workings.  The ASO Portland cement works required coal as well as limestone workings. I think the branded wagons were for dedicated coal workings to and from the coal mines to the works. However they became mixed up with the other hoppers.

Later some had yellow bands painted meaning they were restricted to 65kmh maximum. 

Also 18 of the coal hoppers were converted into cement hoppers for the ASO works. Modelled by Micor Ace.

What is unclear concerns the use of hoppers for limestone. It is possible that some were used this way but they had bottom doors while the bogie cement hoppers had side doors.

I have also found a photo with one of the empty hoppers being used to transport pit props.

The Brake van or conductor car could be found in other freight workings in Kyushu. Not very comfortable.

Try http://shimpei.3.pro.tok2.com/0001/001_entrance/index htm

An excellent site mainly for private wagons and tank cars.

Malcolm

[westfalen]

The Micro-Ace Chichibu electric loco and limestone hoppers.

[disturbman]

Kawaaiii! Nice loc westfalen. I like it.

[westfalen]

Kawaaiii! Nice loc westfalen. I like it.

I've ridden the Chichibu a couple of times and when Micro-Ace bought out the loco and limestone hoppers I just had to have one.

[Fenway Park]

You requested information as to train lengths for these wagons.  Most of the time they were in block workings of between 20 and 30 wagons, but there were shorter trains on branch lines. On one branch line in Kyushu they could be found in a mixed train of freight cars and passenger coaches behind an 8620 2-6-0.

The wagons survived the end of steam and were then hauled by DE10s mainly until the demise of the Kyushu Coal Mines.

So they are not a modern wagon to be found in use today. The Chichibu cement wagons are short bogie vehicles while the Hora and Sefu 1 are 4 wheel. Hokkaido used the Seki 3000 and 6000 bogie hoppers.
What I cannot find out is whether these wagons were used through the Kanmon Tunnel between Moji and Shimonoseki. Most coal appeared to be transported by sea from Wakakmatsu and other locations.

Finally it would appear these hoppers were used to deliver coal to loco sheds in Kyushu and could be found in mixed freight trains obviously in the steam era.

[Mudkip Orange]

The Micro-Ace Chichibu electric loco and limestone hoppers.

So it's just occured to me that there's no thread over in "personal projects" with pictures of your layout. It's a nice layout! You should start one....