re: #114 wheat-dogghazi

Hopper cars are death traps, because of the residual dust in the air inside, and the heat as the train rambles through the desert in 100 degree heat.

Also hard to get out of after you get in as compared to a box car.

Lots of covered hoppers used in the industry I do IT support for. Carrying polypropylene pellets about. Grain transportation is probably the largest use of covered hoppers though. Coal and energy industry will use open hoppers since the coal is generally heavy enough that if you load it right it won’t bounce out over the side. (or not much will)