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FREIGHT CAR PROFILE

Covered Hoppers

Covered hoppers move dry bulk commodities that need protection from weather, including grain, cement and plastic pellets.

Modern covered hopper freight car showing roof hatches and bottom discharge bays
Covered hopper — roof loading hatches and sloped discharge bays are the key spotting features.Photo: Wikideas1 • CC0 1.0
Covered hopper freight car
A covered hopper in Canadian Pacific service. Photo: Gary Todd, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Why the roof matters

Unlike an open hopper, a covered hopper has a roof with loading hatches. That keeps moisture-sensitive dry bulk commodities protected during transport.

Covered hopper freight car on railroad tracks
A covered hopper: enclosed roof, top loading hatches and bottom discharge gates are key spotting features.Photo: Wikideas1 · CC0 1.0 · Wikimedia Commons

How it unloads

The car body slopes toward discharge gates underneath. Gravity lets the load flow out through those outlets into pits, conveyors or other receiving systems.

What covered hoppers carry

Common loads include grain, cement, flour, fertilizer, sugar, salt and plastic pellets. Different cars are optimized for different densities and unloading systems.

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What does a covered hopper carry?How is a covered hopper loaded and unloaded?What is the difference between a covered hopper and an open hopper?