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Woodchip Loading

 

There is probably more than one method of loading woodchips in a woodchip car but here is the method they use at the Longfibre mill in Winton, WA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The woodchip loading facility at the Longfibre Lumber mill in Winton, WA.

 

 

 

 

The woodchip loading facility at the Longfibre mill has two tracks that pass underneath a structure. This structure supports two hoods that cover the cars during the loading process and brings the piping that carries the woodchips up and over the cars to the spouts used to load the cars. 

 

A wall next to the loading tracks keeps woodchips from blowing or spilling onto the mainline and siding seen in the front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This picture shows the hoods used to keep the woodchips from spilling over the sides. The one on the right is placed on a car being loaded. The worker is visible on top of the structure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a woodchip car is spotted underneath the loading facility using a winch or front-end loader, a large hood is lowered on top of the car to keep the woodchips from spilling over the sides. The piles of woodchips on the ground show that a lot of woodchips still spill onto the ground during the loading and moving of the car. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The worker operates the winch that lifts the hood of the car. He is standing behind the cable drum of the winch that moves the car under the loader.

 

 

 

 

 

The (lone) worker loading the car climbs on top of the facility and controls the winch pulling the car back and forth under the loading spout that blows the woodchips into the car. He can see the progress through the slot in the top of the hood where the spout moves through.

 

 

 

 

As soon as the woodchip car is filled the hood gets removed from the car. The operator climbs down from the loading facility and operates a winch that lifts the hood off the car. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The woodchip car rolls down the track away from the loader after a front-end loader gave it a shove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A front-end loader gets called in to move the car from the loader to the pick-up spur. 'Move' is perhaps too nice a word for the shove it gives the woodchip car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The worker has climbed on top of the car and has started to unfold the net used to cover the load.

 

 

 

 

 

After the car has stopped the worker climbs on top off the car and, after attaching his safety harness, starts putting a net over the top of the load that is used to prevent spillage during transit.

 

The woodchip car is now ready for pick-up by the next local to stop at the mill for the start of its journey to the customer. (The Longfibre mill is actually the only local industry on Stevens Pass!)