I lived in Sewell, NJ, on the P-RSL in the 1950s and saw exactly the same thing.; sand in long gondolas. I don't remember any Reading hoppers. Sewell was on the line that passed through Vineland to Millville.

You could always tell if the train had stopped because there would be little piles of sand where it had leaked through any opening in the floor.

John C. La Rue, Jr.

Bonits Springs, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: Drew M. via groups.io <phillydrewcifer@...>
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@realstmfc.groups.io>
Sent: Tue, Jun 16, 2020 3:25 pm
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Hauling Sand before Coverd Hoppers Became Popular

The CNJ regularly hauled sand out of the Vineland, NJ and Millville, NJ areas in 52' gondolas. The sand was just piled in the car - CNJ employees would joke that SJ-2 looked like a rolling sandstorm. The RDG had a series of 2 bay offset side hoppers they assigned to the same area to haul sand on the PRSL.

Drew Marshall, Philly, PA

Modeling the pre-Depression years.

Sent from TypeApp

On Jun 16, 2020, at 12:56, "reporterllc via groups.io" < yahoo.com@groups.io target=_blank>reporterllc= yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

What kind of car was used? I am referring to bulk sand from a pit that ships out sand and gravel. Perhaps this sand would not be that specialized. Wouldn't it need to be protected from the weather? On a side note, In the early 1970s (long after covered hoppers became popular) I remember a tower operator referring to an ancient gondola in a consist loaded with sand. I did not see it and wondered if it was covered.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com