The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. recently announced the addition of a newly designed, covered hopper railcar to its broad line of railcar product offerings. Specifically made for grain, this covered hopper railcar introduces the Tsunami Gate, a door and hatch system that permits shippers to customize the discharge speed of grain. The railcar has a capacity of 5,185 cubic feet and a 50' 6" length that is shorter than traditional models, allowing more railcars per fixed amount of track. Other design features include:
- Longer hatches for improved filling efficiency
- Rounded stiffeners for stronger sides
- Tsunami Gate for customized unloading speed – as quickly as 30 seconds
- Automated unloading for improved worker safety
- "Align to close" tabs for clear indication that the Tsunami Gate is closed, locked and sealed for transport
- Aerodynamic performance for up to 53% reduction in drag.
"A shorter, higher-capacity covered hopper railcar with the Tsunami Gate is a long-awaited and highly valued product for grain shipping customers. The new design increases worker safety by automating the unloading process, and it optimizes space on the tracks,” said Peter Jones, Vice President of Engineering at Greenbrier. “By shortening the length of traditional grain railcars by more than 5 feet, while maintaining the same cubic volume, the result is less fuel consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower overall operating costs for our customers.”
About Greenbrier
Greenbrier, headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets. Greenbrier designs, builds and markets freight railcars and marine barges in North America. Greenbrier Europe is an end-to-end freight railcar manufacturing, engineering and repair business with operations in Poland, Romania and Turkey that serves customers across Europe and in the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Greenbrier builds freight railcars and rail castings in Brazil through two separate strategic partnerships. We are a leading provider of freight railcar wheel services, parts, repair, refurbishment and retrofitting services in North America through our wheels, repair & parts business unit. Greenbrier offers railcar management, regulatory compliance services and leasing services to railroads and related transportation industries in North America.
