Master Creations - Hyde Pulp Mill Woodracks

A Part of B.T.S.

Woodracks

Pulpwood is often transported to the mill in railcars. Some lines uses gondolas for this task or some home-built modified box or flat car, but the majority of these cars were specially-designed for the purpose. These pulpwood cars, also called woodracks, have V-shaped floors and bulkheads on the ends.
Pulpwood is cut into lengths around 4 feet - it is and loaded in two stacks running down the length of the car. The V-shaped floor causes each stack to tilt toward the middle of the car and this helps hold it in place. In addition, the weight of the load causes a slight sag in the middle of the car, causing the bulkhead ends to push the load tighter. No chains were needed.
The photo below shows three cars being loaded in central Florida in the 1980's. Please note that these cars did not leave the yard in this condition; the loads were leveled and pushed into place by a unique version of a forklift. Pulpwood ranges in size up to around twelve-to-eighteen inches in diameter and the sizes in each load varied greatly.

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